Marco Johann Kreuzpaintner (born 11 March 1977)[1] is a German film director, screenwriter, showrunner and executive producer.

In 1999, he began his career in the role of German dubbing assistant for the Stanley Kubrick film Eyes Wide Shut.

In 2003, his first feature-length film, Ganz und gar, which describes the life of a young leg amputee, was released in theaters.

However, as he was involved in preparation for directing 10,000 BC at the time, another director was sought, and Emmerich chose Kreuzpaintner, having met him previously in Munich in 2003.

On 9 October 2008 Krabat, an adaptation of the youth novel of the same name by Otfried Preußler was released, starring Robert Stadlober, Daniel Brühl and David Kross.

Krabat had a successful release both in Germany and international markets, breaking the domestic record in 2008 for German language film.

Looking to expand into other areas of the filmmaking business, 2009 saw Kreuzpaintner co-found the production company Summerstorm Entertainment in Berlin, with producers Ossie von Richthofen and Fabian Wolfart.

In 2018, Amazon Prime Video commissioned, Beat, a German thriller television show created and directed by Kreuzpaintner.

The film stars Franco Nero, Elyas M'Barek, Heiner Lauterbach, Alexandra Maria Lara and Rainer Bock.

Paapa Essiedu stars as George in the lead role, a character who is forced to choose between the love of his life and the fate of the world.