Rolf Thiele was a German filmmaker who worked as a director, writer, and producer. After studying philosophy and sociology, he entered the film industry following World War II and helped establish the production company Filmaufbau Göttingen. From the 1950s through the 1970s, he created a wide range of films, often combining sharp social observation with irony and wit, and he frequently collaborated with actress Nadja Tiller. Thiele is best known for films such as Das Mädchen Rosemarie and Lulu, and his contributions to German cinema were recognized with the Ernst Lubitsch Award in 1963.