Harun Farocki (*1944 in Nový Jičín / Czech Republic, †2014 near Berlin) is one of the most influential German filmmakers in the genre of essay film – his life’s work includes more than 100 experimental and documentary films, essay films, shorts, and feature films. Starting in the mid-1990s, Farocki expanded his cinematic practice to include video installations in visual arts venues. Central to his approach is an investigation of the meaning of images, their creation, and, most importantly, the power structures inscribed within them. His work is concerned with the optics and visualization of violence, as well as the political dimensions of the filmic and the power of technical images. In addition to his artistic activities, Farocki also worked as a writer and editor for the magazine Filmkritik (Film Review), and taught at the University of California, the Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin, the Universität der Künste Berlin, and the Akademie der bildende Künste Vienna.