From 1992 to 1995, Franziska Petri studied at the renowned βErnst Busch Academy of Dramatic Artβ in Berlin. Her cinema debut was a part in βThe Big Mamboβ (βDas Mambospielβ) by Michael Gwisdek in 1997, which opened the 48th Berlin International Film Festival. With her first leading role in in the award-winning βForget Americaβ (βVergiss Amerikaβ) she attracted both critics' and audiences' attention. After leading roles in the most diverse cinema productions like the historic drama βLeo & Claireβ by Joseph Vilsmaier, the quirky comedy βMax & Moritz Reloadedβ by Thomas Frydetzki, the gloomy thriller βThe Heart Is a Dark Forestβ (βDas Herz ist ein dunkler Waldβ) by Nicolette Krebitz, the political drama βLong Shadowsβ (βSchattenweltβ) by Connie Walther or the psychological drama βMemoryβ (βDer Tag, an dem ich meinen toten Mann trafβ) by Matthias Luthardt, she appeared in the psychothriller βFor Miriamβ (βFΓΌr Miriamβ) by Lars Gunnar Lotz. For her outstanding performance in βFor Miriamβ she was awarded Best Actress at the 59th Berlin International Film Festival 2009 (Perspektive Deutsches Kino), Best Actress at La Cabina. Festival Internacional de Mediometrajes de Valencia, Spain 2010 and Best Actress at the 11th Aubagne International Film Festival, France 2010. In 2011 she played the starring role in Kirill Serebrennikov's dark tale of love Izmena/Betrayal, which premiered in the official competition of the Venice Film Festival 2012. For her impressive performance she was awarded Best Actress at the 2012 Abu Dhabi Film Festival.