Bernd Lichtenberg worked as a journalist producing radio features and documentaries during his studies. He later studied philosophy and religious studies in Cologne, Bonn and Berlin. From 1991-92, he was a fellow of the Munich Screenplay Workshop and studied film at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne from 1992-95.

As a freelance screenwriter, Lichtenberg won the screenplay prize of the Kultusministeriums North Rhine-Westphalia in 1993. For his screenplay “Good Bye, Lenin!” he was awarded the German Screenplay Award in 2002 (prior to production) and the European Film Award in 2003.

In 2005, Bernd Lichtenberg published his first collection of short stories entitled Eine von vielen Möglichkeiten, dem Tiger ins Auge zu sehen (2005). His novel Kolonie der Nomaden was published in 2010. Bernd Lichtenberg lives in Cologne and Berlin.