The Berlinale Issue

ISSUE 1-2019 PRODUCERS DIRECTORS SHOOTING STAR NEW GERMANFILMSAT THEBERLINALE THE BERLINALEISSUE Katrin Gebbe Grown Up Films Emma Drogunova & Bastian Günther GFQ GERMAN FILMSQUARTERLY

GFQ 1-2019 CONTENTS IN THIS ISSUE BERLINALE LYSIS Rick Ostermann ...... 41

DER GOLDENE HANDSCHUH SWEETHEARTS Karoline Herfurth ...... 42 THE GOLDEN GLOVE Fatih Akin ...... 4 UNHEIMLICH PERFEKTE FREUNDE DOUBLE TROUBLE – ICH WAR ZUHAUSE, ABER … THE MAGICAL MIRROR Marcus H. Rosenmüller ...... 43 I WAS AT HOME, BUT… Angela Schanelec ...... 5 DER VORNAME HOW ABOUT ADOLF? Sönke Wortmann ...... 44 SYSTEMSPRENGER SYSTEM CRASHER Nora Fingscheidt ...... 6 NEW DOCUMENTARIES

UMBRA Florian Fischer, Johannes Krell ...... 7 GERMANIA Lion Bischoff ...... 45

ALL MY LOVING Edward Berger ...... 8 GRENZENLOS – GESCHICHTEN VON FREIHEIT & FREUNDSCHAFT BEYOND BORDERS – STORIES OF FREEDOM & FRIENDSHIP O BEAUTIFUL NIGHT Xaver Böhm ...... 9 Johanna Bentz, Sandra Dajani, Madeleine Dallmeyer, Nazgol Emami, Khaled Nawal, Diana Menestrey, Camilo Colmenares ...... 45 ARMED LULLABY Yana Ugrekhelidze ...... 10 ICH BIN ANASTASIA I AM ANASTASIA Thomas Ladenburger ...... 46 BERLIN BOUNCER David Dietl ...... 11 DUST Udita Bhargava ...... 12 DER ILLEGALE FILM THE ILLEGAL FILM Martin Baer, Claus Wischmann ...... 46 DIE EINZELTEILE DER LIEBE THE COMPONENTS OF LOVE Miriam Bliese ...... 13 IN SEARCH… Beryl Magoko ...... 47 DIE GRUBE THE PIT Hristiana Raykova ...... 14 JOY IN IRAN Walter Steffen ...... 47 DAS INNERE LEUCHTEN THE INNER Stefan Sick ...... 15 PLAYLAND USA Benjamin Schindler ...... 48 OFF SEASON Henning Beckhoff ...... 16 SCALA ADIEU – VON WINDELN VERWEHT SCALA ADIEU Douglas Wolfsperger ...... 48 BRECHT Heinrich Breloer ...... 17 STRESS Florian Baron ...... 49 PORTRAITS UNSER STEIN OUR STONE Alessandro Soetje ...... 49 REALIZING HER DREAM A portrait of actress Emma Drogunova ...... 18 UNZERTRENNLICH INSEPARABLE Frauke Lodders ...... 50 DOING HER OWN THING NEW SHORTS A portrait of director Katrin Gebbe ...... 20 DIE BEERDIGUNGSTÄNZERIN CURIOSITY AND CHALLENGE THE FUNERAL DANCER Natalie MacMahon ...... 51 A portrait of director Bastian Günther ...... 22 JAMIL Michele Gentile ...... 51 SETTING HIGH STANDARDS A portrait of production company Grown Up Films ...... 24 UPCOMING FILMS NEWS & NOTES ...... 26 8 TAGE Stefan Ruzowitzky, Michael Krummenacher ...... 52 NEW FEATURES BODY OF TRUTH Evelyn Schels ...... 52

1000 KÖNIGE 1000 KINGS Bidzina Kanchaveli ...... 31 DER CLUB DER SINGENDEN METZGER Uli Edel ...... 52

ALFONS ZITTERBACKE – DAS CHAOS IST ZURÜCK DER FALL COLLINI Marco Kreuzpaintner ...... 53 ALFONS ZITTERBACKE – THE RETURN OF CHAOS Mark Schlichter ...... 32 HANNES Hans Steinbichler ...... 53 ALL EYES ON YOU Felix Maxim Eller ...... 33 DAS HAUS Tatjana Kononenko, Matilda Mester ...... 53

BECAUSE WE DREAMT OF FLYING Lillian Loveday Erlinger ...... 34 HAVEN – ABOVE SKY Tim Fehlbaum ...... 54

EXTREME NUMBER Irina Arms ...... 35 NÖ Dietrich Brüggemann ...... 54

FÜNF DINGE, DIE ICH NICHT VERSTEHE RETTET DAS FEUER Jasco Viefhues ...... 54 THINGS I DON’T GET Henning Beckhoff ...... 36 SPIDES Rainer Matsutani ...... 55 IMMENHOF – DAS ABENTEUER EINES SOMMERS IMMENHOF – THE ADVENTURE OF A SUMMER DAS VORSPIEL Ina Weisse ...... 55 Sharon von Wietersheim ...... 37 DIE WOLF-GÄNG Tim Trageser ...... 55 DER JUNGE MUSS AN DIE FRISCHE LUFT THAT BOY NEEDS FRESH AIR Caroline Link ...... 38 Shareholders & Supporters ...... 57 KALTE FÜSSE COLD FEET Wolfgang Groos ...... 39 Film Exporters ...... 58 KIDNAPPING STELLA Thomas Sieben ...... 40 Imprint ...... 59

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IN COMPETITION

amburg-St. Pauli in the 1970s: At with the drama THE EDGE OF HEAVEN (2007) SOUND OF ISTANBUL (2006), THE EDGE OF first glance, Fritz “Fiete” Honka for which he won the prize for Best Screen- HEAVEN (2007), NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU is a pitiful loser. The man with the play at the Festival de Cannes. The film also (episode, 2008), SOUL KITCHEN (2009), broken face carouses through his received the European Film Award and the POLLUTING PARADISE (2012), THE CUT Hnights in the neighborhood dive, the “Golden German Film Award. For his following film, (2014), IN THE FADE (2017), and THE GOLDEN Glove”, chasing after lonely women. None of SOUL KITCHEN (2009), he was honored with GLOVE (2019). the regulars suspect that the apparently the Special Prize of the Jury at the Venice harmless Fiete is actually a monster. Film Festival. With his production company GENRE Horror CATEGORY Feature YEAR OF corazón international, founded in 2004, he has PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Fatih Akin Fatih Akin’s horror film THE GOLDEN GLOVE produced several films alongside his own SCREENPLAY Fatih Akin CINEMATOGRAPHY is based on a true story and the novel of the productions, including the internationally Rainer Klausmann CAST Jonas Dassler PRO- same name by Heinz Strunk. It tells the story successful films CHIKO, TAKVA and MIN DÎT. DUCERS Nurhan Şekerci-Porst, Fatih Akin, of Fritz Honka, a man who murdered numer - He has been directing his films exclusively for Herman Weigel CO-PRODUCERS Willi Geike, ous women, and his favorite bar, the “Golden his production company bombero interna- Jérôme Seydoux, Sophie Seydoux, Ardavan Glove”, where schmaltzy German songs move tional since 2012. THE CUT was the com- Safaee PRODUCTION COMPANY bombero the boozy bar hounds to tears and drinking is pany’s first production and premiered in 2014 international, in co-production with Warner a reflex against pain and longing. in Venice. In 2017 his film IN THE FADE with Bros. Film Productions Germany, Pathé Diane Kruger and Denis Moschitto in the RUNTIME 115 min LANGUAGE German FATIH AKIN is an internationally successful leading roles premiered in Cannes in Com - FESTIVALS Berlinale 2019 (In Competition) filmmaker. He won the Golden Bear for HEAD petition, where Diane Kruger won the award ON in 2004 and at that time he had already for Best Actress. The film also won the SALES completed film school, two short films, one Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language The Match Factory documentary about his parents’ migration Film. A selection of his films includes: SHORT [email protected] from Turkey to Hamburg, and three feature SHARP SHOCK (1998), IN JULY (2000), HEAD- www.the-match-factory.com films. He then achieved international success ON (2004), CROSSING THE BRIDGE – THE

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IN COMPETITION

hillip lives with his mother and his ANGELA SCHANELEC was born in 1962. She GENRE Drama CATEGORY Feature YEAR OF eight-year-old sister in middle- studied Acting at the College of Music and PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Angela class conditions. The film begins Performing Arts in Frankfurt am Main from Schanelec SCREENPLAY Angela Schanelec when he returns home after a week 1982-1984, and worked at the Thalia Theater CINEMATOGRAPHY Ivan Markovic CAST inP which he disappeared without a trace. The in Hamburg, Berlin’s Schaubühne and the Maren Eggert, Franz Rogowski, Lilith mother and his teachers can only guess what Schauspielhaus in Bochum from 1984-1991. Stangenberg, Jakob Lasalle, Clara Möller, he was looking for, being at the mercy of She studied at the German Film & Television Alan Williams, Jirka Zett, Dane Komljen PRO- nature or an approach to death, triggered by Academy in Berlin from 1990-1995, gradu- DUCER Angela Schanelec PRODUCTION the death of his father. The first weeks after ating with MY SISTER’S GOOD FORTUNE, COMPANY Nachmittagfilm Angela Schanelec, his return are narrated, in which the normal - winner of the German Critics’ Prize 1996. Her in co-production with Dart Film RUNTIME ity of daily life, which stumbles back into other films include: SCHÖNE GELBE FARBE 106 min LANGUAGE German FESTIVALS action, stands in stark contrast to the prox- (1991), WEIT ENTFERNT (1991), PRAG, MÄRZ Berlinale 2019 (In Competition) imity of death to which Phillip has gone. His 92 (1992), I STAYED IN BERLIN ALL SUMMER mother fails at the necessity of accepting that (1993), PLACES IN CITIES (1998, Cannes Un SALES her son is leading a life of his own which she Certain Regard), PASSING SUMMER (2001, Deutsche Kinemathek can only influence to a limited extent. After Berlinale Forum), MARSEILLE (2004, Cannes [email protected] she believed that she at least no longer had Un Certain Regard 2005), AFTERNOON (2007), www.deutsche-kinemathek.de to worry about his physical integrity, Phillip ORLY (2010, Berlinale Forum), THE BRIDGES goes to the hospital with blood poisoning. The OF SARAJEVO: PRINCIP TEXTE (2014, Cannes mother loses her nerves between renewed Special Screenings), THE DREAMED PATH concern for the child, fears of failure and feel - (2016, Locarno In Competition), and I WAS ings of guilt. But the children do not turn AT HOME, BUT... (2019, Berlinale In Com- away. The structure of the family disinte- petition). grates in order to form itself anew.

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IN COMPETITION

SYSTEM CRASHER

n her wild quest for love, 9-year- While being acutely authentic, first-time GENRE Drama CATEGORY Feature YEAR old Benni’s untamed energy director Nora Fingscheidt transcends a OF PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Nora drives everyone around her to psycho logical study and crafts vibrant, Fingscheidt SCREENPLAY Nora Fingscheidt despair. visceral and emotional cinema, which CINEMATOGRAPHY Yunus Roy Imer CAST O evokes unforgettable performances. Helena Zengel, Albrecht Schuch, Gabriela She is small, but dangerous. Wherever Benni Maria Schmeide, Lisa Hagmeister, Melanie ends up, she is immediately expelled. The NORA FINGSCHEIDT was born in Braun- Straub, Victoria Trauttmansdorff, Maryam wild 9-year-old girl has already become what schweig in 1983 and spent her childhood in Zaree, Tedros Teclebrhan PRODUCERS child protection services call a “system Germany and Argentina. From 2003 onwards Peter Hartwig, Jonas Weydemann, Jakob D. crasher”. And she is certainly not looking to she supported the development of the self- Weydemann CO-PRODUCER Frauke Kolb - change her ways. Because Benni has one organized film school filmArche in Berlin. müller PRODUCTION COMPANIES Kineo single goal: to be back at home with her At the same time, she completed her training Filmproduktion, Weydemann Bros., in co- mommy! But Bianca is scared of her own as an acting coach with Sigrid Andersson. production with Oma Inge Film, ZDF Das daughter. Mrs. Bafané from child protection From 2008-2017, she studied Fiction Di- kleine Fernsehspiel RUNTIME 118 min services is trying her best to find a permanent recting at the Film Academy Baden-Würt- LANGUAGE German FESTIVALS Berlinale placement for Benni. She hires the anger temberg. Her graduation film, the full-length 2019 (In Competition) manage ment trainer Micha as Benni’s school documentary WITHOUT THIS WORLD about a escort and suddenly there is a seed of hope. conservative Mennonite colony in Argentina, SALES Will Micha be able to succeed where all won the Max Ophüls Prize and First Steps Beta Cinema others despaired? Award in 2017. Her fiction debut SYSTEM [email protected] CRASHER has already won several awards at www.betacinema.com script level. It also won the “Works in Pro- gress” section at Les Arcs Film Festival.

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BERLINALE SHORTS

shimmering light, the rustle of the FLORIAN FISCHER was born in 1981 and GENRE Experimental, Nature CATEGORY leaves, round spots of light in the studied Communication Design and Image Short YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2019 DIREC- shade of a tree. The sun reflects Sciences. His films include: STILL LIFE TORS Florian Fischer, Johannes Krell on the water. It is an element and (2014), KALTES TAL (2016), NO SEX PLEASE SCREENPLAY Florian Fischer, Johannes counterpart.A Can nature observe itself? A (2017), and UMBRA (2019). Krell CINEMATOGRAPHY Florian Fischer, cinematic reflection on the presence and Johannes Krell PRODUCERS Ray Peter absence of things. JOHANNES KRELL was born in 1982 and Maletzki, Stephan Helmut Beier PRODUC- studied Cinematography and Media Arts. His TION COMPANY RosenPictures Filmproduk- The film UMBRA deals with rare and common films include: the shorts ROOM ONE (2009), tion, in co-production with Kunsthochschule optical phenomena that occur in nature. STATION (2010), A CLOUD OF UNKNOWING für Medien Köln and Johannes Krell RUN- These phenomena evoke familiar images (2011), STILL LIFE (2014), KALTES TAL (2016), TIME 20 min LANGUAGE English FESTIVALS such as shadows or reflections on a water and UMBRA (2019). Berlinale 2019 (Berlinale Shorts) surface, but also unusual ones like the “Brocken spectre” or the pinhole effect dur - SALES ing a solar eclipse. These ancient and natural RosenPictures Filmproduktion projections can be considered as pre-cultural [email protected] and independent of any apparatus. They www.rosenpictures.com occurred even before mankind and are united by their intangible, ephemeral presence. In Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln their immateriality and fragility, they are pre- [email protected] cursors of the cinematic image. www.khm.de

UMBRA develops a visual dialogue between phenomenon and apparatus, archetype and image, self and self-perception.

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or the siblings Stefan (41), Julia (44) mistakes and insecurities they are trying to GENRE Drama CATEGORY Feature YEAR OF and Tobias (34) life is seemingly find their own piece of happiness. PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Edward alright. Working as a pilot, Stefan Berger SCREENPLAY Edward Berger, Nele has a big apartment, a fast car and EDWARD BERGER, born 1970 in Germany, Mueller-Stöfen CINEMATOGRAPHY Jens manyF women. However, the disappearance of graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Harant CAST Lars Eidinger, Nele Mueller- his daughter Vicky, the result of a former Arts and directed his debut GOMEZ in 1997. Stöfen, Hans Löw PRODUCERS Jan Krüger, affair, triggers the longing for a more sub- He won the German Grimme Award for A Jörg Trentmann, Raimond Goebel PRO - stantial form of love. Julia and her husband GOOD SUMMER (2012). His film JACK (2014) DUCTION COMPANY Port au Prince Film & Christian are spending a long weekend in Italy premiered in competition at the Berlinale and Kultur Produktion, in co-production with to give their relationship a boost. But when a won the German Film Award in Silver for Best Pandora Film Produktion, WDR RUNTIME dog gets hurt in the street, she immediately Film. It also won Best Director and Best Film 118 min LANGUAGE German FESTIVALS shifts her attention to the little animal and at the German Director’s Guild Awards. His Berlinale 2019 (Panorama) obsesses over its well-being. Tobias, father of TV series DEUTSCHLAND ’83 (2015) pre- three kids and married to a successful busi- miered at the Berlinale and was the first SALES nesswoman, is finally trying to get his univer- German TV show to be released in the US. It Beta Cinema sity degree, when his siblings send him to won the award for Best International Drama [email protected] their hometown to take care of their sick Series at Séries Mania, the International www.betacinema.com father. Once there he realizes his parents Emmy and the Peabody Award. In 2017 he cannot live alone anymore, and he is con- was named one of Ten Europeans to Watch by fronted with his own dilemma: will he con- Variety. Recently he directed Showtime’s tinue to give himself up for other people’s PATRICK MELROSE (2018) starring Benedict needs? All three have reached a point in their Cumberbatch, which was nominated for five lives where something has to change, before Emmy Awards and for a Golden Globe. the rest of their lives begin. Among chaos,

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lthough Juri is young, he lives in XAVER BÖHM is a freelance animator, GENRE Drama CATEGORY Feature YEAR OF constant fear of dying. Nightly illustrator and filmmaker. He studied Visual PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Xaver Böhm panic attacks for him are routine Communication at the London College of SCREENPLAY Xaver Böhm, Ariana Berndl – but one night he meets a dark Communication and the University of the Arts CINEMATOGRAPHY Jieun Yi CAST Noah figureA who claims to be Death incarnate. So Berlin Weißensee. His award-winning Saavedra, Marko Mandić, Vanessa Loibl begins a bizarro-Faustian trip together graduation film ROADTRIP (2014) was PRODUCERS Janine Jackowski, Jonas through the night, during which Juri meets screened at over 100 international film Dornbach, Maren Ade PRODUCTION COM- Nina and falls in love with her. But come festivals and was also nominated for the PANY Komplizen Film, in co-production with dawn, one of them must die. German Short Film Award. His work as a ZDF Das kleine Fernsehspiel, ARTE RUNTIME freelance animator and director include 89 min LANGUAGE German FESTIVALS projects for clients such as the New York Berlinale 2019 (Panorama) Times and the British National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) SALES and music videos for diverse artists. Xaver The Match Factory lives and works in Berlin. His other films are [email protected] DOWN DOWN DOWN (short, 2018) and his www.the-match-factory.com feature debut O BEAUTIFUL NIGHT (2019).

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BERLINALE GENERATION

he film shows four routes of flight YANA UGREKHELIDZE studied at the Aca- GENRE Animation, Drama CATEGORY Short that were taken by four children demy of Media Arts Cologne. In addition to YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR in order to escape the ethnical numerous installations, her films include: Yana Ugrekhelidze SCREENPLAY Yana massacre. One had to push through LA BRIQUE (2011), SUMMER STORY (2017), Ugrekhelidze CINEMATOGRAPHY Yana theT crowd to get to the last ship, another one ARMED LULLABY (2018), THE CASE NR. Ugrekhelidze ANIMATION Yana Ugrekhelidze to get to the last train, and a third to the last 79087 (2019), and WITH NIKITA THROUGH PRODUCER Yana Ugrekhelidze PRODUCTION plane, which explodes after takeoff. The THE RABBIT HOLE (2019). COMPANY Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln fourth child, who missed all three possibili- RUNTIME 8 min LANGUAGE no dialogue ties to leave his hometown, walks together FESTIVALS Berlinale 2019 (Generation) with his family and thousands of other ref - ugees over the snow-covered mountains. The SALES film is based on the real stories of people who Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln escaped the Sukhumi Massacre in 1993 [email protected] during the Abkhazian-Georgian war. www.khm.de

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PERSPEKTIVE DEUTSCHES KINO

ERLIN BOUNCER tells the story of David Dietl has built a trustful relationship GENRE Biopic, History, Music CATEGORY Berlin, from a divided city to a party with the three protagonists, opening a window Documentary YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2019 metropolis, through the eyes of its into their lives. Exploring their past, their DIRECTOR David Dietl CINEMATOGRAPHY most legendary club bouncers. ways of living in this pulsating city, finding a Eric Ferranti, Raphael Beinder PRODUCER BFrank came to Berlin in the late 1980’s to way to grow up and taking over responsibility Martin Heisler PRODUCTION COMPANY Flare study, while Smiley Baldwin was still guarding as well as sharing their memories of Berlin’s Film RUNTIME 87 min LANGUAGE German, the Wall as an American GI. Behind the Wall cultural development during the last de - English FESTIVALS Berlinale 2019 (Perspek- lived Sven, a young punk and photographer. cades. BERLIN BOUNCER is a film about tive Deutsches Kino) When the Wall came down in 1989 and Berlin Berlin’s historic and current club culture, became a reunited city with a dazzling, about the city’s vibe and about reaching SALES transitory nightlife in illegal clubs that adulthood at the age of 50. Flare Film popped up everywhere in the city, traditional [email protected] jobs and structured daily lives were soon for- DAVID DIETL studied at the German Film and www.flare-film.com gotten. Since then, the nightlife has cast a Television Academy Berlin. His films include: spell over them and Sven Marquardt, Frank AUF NUMMER SICHER (TV, 2007), KING OF Künster and Smiley Baldwin became three GERMANY (2013), ELLA’S BABY (TV, 2017), of the most famous bouncers in the city, RATE YOUR DATE (2018), and BERLIN handling the door policies of Berlin’s noto- BOUNCER (2019). rious electro clubs. To this day, they are still the ones to decide on the joy of hundreds of people every weekend. Meanwhile, their personal lives have suffered due to excessive lifestyles. Now, at the age of 50, the big questions of life come knocking at their doors and ask the men to finally grow up.

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PERSPEKTIVE DEUTSCHES KINO

hen David sets out to trace Mumtaz’s photo captures this horrific in - GENRE Drama CATEGORY Feature YEAR the final journey of his girl- cident. Fleeing the violence ridden surround - OF PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Udita friend Mumtaz, little does ings of the camp, Radha, a young girl, reaches Bhargava SCREENPLAY Udita Bhargava he know what awaits him. A the city. Years after, working as a surrogate CINEMATOGRAPHY Philipp Meise CAST Wphotographer by profession, Mumtaz died in mother, she is still seeking a sense of be- Morten Holst, Vinay Pathak, Kalyanee Mulay, the heartlands of central India, leaving behind longing in a world where survival comes at Golu Abu Bakr, Amrita Bagchi PRODUCER no more than a single photograph for him. He a heavy price. Moving seamlessly between Titus Kreyenberg CO-PRODUCERS Jörg seeks out Dr. Sharda, a cynical old man who a landscape of memories, dreams and Schulze, Philipp Kreuzer PRODUCTION COM- could help him reach the place, buried in the glimpses of the future, and referring to the PANY unafilm, in co-production with Film - interiors of the country, where Mumtaz last left wing insurgency that has affected large universität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, maze was. When he is turned away harshly by the parts of India, in particular central India, pictures RUNTIME 80 min LANGUAGE Hindi, doctor, David falls deeper into his void of DUST creates a multilayered portrait of English FESTIVALS Berlinale 2019 (Perspek- memories, until an unexpected turn of events people caught up in an inhumane conflict. tive Deutsches Kino) reunites him with the latter. They set off on a journey, a journey which opens David's eyes UDITA BHARGAVA was born in 1982 and SALES to the true identity of the doctor and takes studies at the Film University Babelsberg unafilm him back to that reality which Mumtaz has KONRAD WOLF. Her films include MIND- [email protected] been documenting – the war that reigns in the SPACE (short doc, 2011), PITCH BUILDS www.unafilm.de heart of India. Dr. Sharda is revealed to be the A BALL AND DESTROYS IT (short, 2012), commander of a camp training young boys in IMRAAN C/O CARROM CLUB (short doc, combat against an exploitative and violent 2014), and her feature debut DUST (2019). state. However, when one of the boys in his camp deserts, the boys' collective anger turns against their own comrade Krishna, the deserter’s brother. Krishna is brutalized.

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PERSPEKTIVE DEUTSCHES KINO

hen Sophie and Georg meet MIRIAM BLIESE was born in 1978. She GENRE Tragicomedy CATEGORY Feature and start to fall in love, she is studied Literature and Philosophy at the FU YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR pregnant from her ex-boy- Berlin and Directing at the German Film and Miriam Bliese SCREENPLAY Miriam Bliese friend who has left her. Georg Tele vision Academy Berlin (DFFB). Her films CINEMATOGRAPHY Markus Koob CAST Birte Wnaturally grows into the role of a father to the include: the shorts TANGO (2011), MY ANGEL Schnöink, Ole Lagerpusch, Andreas Döhler, newborn child Jakob. Meanwhile, the com- (2013), AT THE DOOR (2013), and her feature Justus Fischer PRODUCER Clemens Köstlin posed family has to deal with the usual issues debut THE COMPONENTS OF LOVE (2019). CO-PRODUCER Miriam Bliese PRODUCTION of modern parenthood: Who is allowed to COMPANY Deutsche Film- und Fernseh - work, who takes care of the kid? How much akademie Berlin (DFFB), in co-production freedom is possible, how much sacrifice must with RBB RUNTIME 97 min LANGUAGE be made? And is there room for passion in the German FESTIVALS Berlinale 2019 (Perspek- midst of all this? A few years later, Georg and tive Deutsches Kino) Sophie are separated. Jakob is six years old and his parents are desperately fighting over SALES his custody. Until Sophie’s new boyfriend Patra Spanou Film Marketing & Consulting starts to mediate between the frontlines. [email protected] www.patraspanou.com In fragmented scenes which all take place in front of the same apartment building in Berlin, the film draws the elliptical portrait of a modern patchwork family. The characters share their sorrows and longings between walls, pillars and on parking lots. Home is no longer a safe haven, but a windy intermediate space. A laconic look at the everyday irration- alities of love.

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PERSPEKTIVE DEUTSCHES KINO

THE PIT

t’s winter, 5 degrees and the water’s HRISTIANA RAYKOVA was born in 1985 in GENRE Society CATEGORY Documentary steam ing. People sit in the hot water, Varna/Bulgaria. After studying Political YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR leaning against the edge of the pool. Be- Science and working as a cinematographer Hristiana Raykova CINEMATOGRAPHY hind them the sea, an endless expanse. and video editor, she studied Directing at the Johannes Greisle PRODUCER Genia Krassnig I Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. PRODUCTION COMPANY Filmuniversität What at first glance looks like a beautiful Her films include: BABA DIMITRA (short doc, Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF RUNTIME 73 min spa by the sea, the people of Varna call it “the 2012), SEMSSUI (short, 2012), DER EINZIG LANGUAGE Bulgarian, Russian, German, pit”. A cinematic portrait of the Bulgarian pre- WAHRE WEINACHTSMANN (short doc, 2013), Roma FESTIVALS Berlinale 2019 (Perspektive sent and the investigation of a microcosm H – DER HERMANNSWEG KOMPLETT UND Deutsches Kino) that stands for an entire society. The regular AM STÜCK (short doc, 2014), KÖNIGE (doc, visitors of the basin are our protagonists: the 2014), and THE PIT (doc, 2018). SALES taxi driver Dimtscho, who finds love at the pit Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF at the age of 61. The retired musician Alexan- [email protected] der, who wants to rent his rooms to tourists www.filmuniversitaet.de and tells us about his time as a womanizer. Genadi, who takes care of the pit like a loving caretaker and who lives his dream of a petting zoo. And Bobi, who is homeless and who walks the streets at night near the pit. Indivi- dual biographies, touching personal stories, interpersonal conflicts and exciting dis- cussions combine to form a diverse picture. World views and political convictions meet in the pit and tell of social change and stag- nation on the edge of Europe.

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THE INNER LIGHT

ementia, a diagnosis that changes of the illness. The film offers a poetic inter- GENRE Society, Human Interest CATEGORY everything for those who are pretation of this special state of being and Observational Documentary YEAR OF PRO- affect ed and for their relatives. aims at reducing fears in dealing with people DUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Stefan Sick CINE- Accepting the disease can seem with dementia and at accepting each person’s MATOGRAPHY Stefan Sick PRODUCERS Ulla justD as difficult as finding an appropriate humanity. Lehmann, Andrea Roggon PRODUCTION approach. But perhaps it is much more about COMPANY AMA FILM, in co-production with compassion than about understanding? In STEFAN SICK was born in 1981. He studied SWR RUNTIME 95 min LANGUAGE German an observational way, THE INNER LIGHT Cinematography at the Filmakademie Baden- FESTIVALS Berlinale 2019 (Perspektive explores the everyday lives of people with Württemberg. His graduation film CLOSING Deutsches Kino) dementia and focuses mainly on positive TIME, directed by Nicole Vögele, premiered in situations and encounters. Locarno in 2018 and won the Premio speciale SALES della giuria Ciné+ in the section Cineasti AMA FILM Free of past and future, there is a possibility del presente. During his studies, he was [email protected] to live in the moment. The film dedicates it- mainly responsible for the cinematography of www.amafilm.de self to these kinds of moments. Alongside its creative documentary films and was rep - protagonists, we discover the slowness, the resented with his works at prestigious film struggle and the beauty of the rituals of their festivals all over the world. He was awarded everyday lives. Without commenting, the film with the prize for the Best Cinematography shows pure emotions of sadness, cheer - for NEBEL (which premiered at the Berlinale fulness and thoughtfulness. in 2014) at the Sehsüchte International Student Film Festival. Active as a freelance THE INNER LIGHT builds strong emotional cinematographer and filmmaker, THE INNER ties with the protagonists and attempts to LIGHT is his debut as a director. make their view on the world tangible, but does not avoid conflicts and the seriousness

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PERSPEKTIVE DEUTSCHES KINO

udith (40) is taken by her boyfriend Saint Rosalia, she recognizes a part of herself GENRE Drama CATEGORY Feature YEAR Gregor (41) on a wellness holiday in that she has long misjudged. OF PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Henning Sicily to get some rest and relaxation Beckhoff SCREENPLAY Bastian Köpf, Paula and recover from work. But the hotel HENNING BECKHOFF was born in 1991 and Cvjetkovic, Henning Beckhoff CINEMATOG - Jin the off season seems deserted and offers studied Film Directing at the Film University RAPHY Sabine Panossian CAST Franziska little to do apart from a tennis court and Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. Also active as a Petri, Godehard Giese, Patrizia D’Antona, empty beach chairs. Distraction. Since the freelance director, writer and producer, his Isabella Torre, Peter Lohmeyer PRODUCER couple’s relationship is going through a crisis films include: FAHRT ZU HÖLLE (short, 2017), Valeria Venturelli PRODUCTION COMPANY and Judith is not in the mood for a vacation, VOGELFREI (short, 2017), THINGS I DON’T Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF the calls from her father’s company are a GET (2018), and OFF SEASON (2019). RUNTIME 43 min LANGUAGE German FESTI- welcome change to escape the tutelage by VALS Berlinale 2019 (Perspektive Deutsches her boyfriend. It’s the last few months before Kino) the birth of their child and Judith does not see why the pregnancy should cramp her life- SALES style. But Gregor’s expectations for the future Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF family and the pressures by Judith’s job in- [email protected] crease her urge for freedom. The last days in www.filmuniversitaet.de the resort become a power struggle about reconciling family, professional success and self-determination. A letter about the future should determine how things continue, but Judith develops her own plans. She runs away. In Palermo she meets various women – and the patron saint of the city: through

16 GFQ 1-2019 BERLINALE

BERLINALE SPECIAL

will show the world how it really is,” interviews with Brecht’s employees and GENRE Drama CATEGORY Mini-Series YEAR “ the pupil Eugen Berthold Friedrich companions from recent years were added to OF PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Heinrich Brecht told a friend, and he said: “I’ll the current film. Together with documentary Breloer SCREENPLAY Heinrich Breloer come right after Goethe.” It was an material from the archives and intensive CINEMATOGRAPHY Gernot Roll CAST earlyI mission, and it looked like pure mega- research, they complete the documentary Burghart Klaußner, Tom Schilling, Adele lomania. The film traces the paths and wrong fiction. Neuhauser, Trine Dyrholm, Lou Strenger, ways in which the gifted sickly, shy and at the Mala Emde, Ernst Stötzner, Franz Hartwig, same time cheeky boy finally, despite the HEINRICH BRELOER was born in 1942. Active Friederike Becht, Leonie Benesch, Maria most turbulent times, became the most influ- as a writer and director, a selection of his Dragus, Laura de Boer PRODUCERS Corinna ential playwright of the German language in highly-acclaimed films includes: DAS BEIL Eich, Jan S. Kaiser PRODUCTION COM - the world – almost as much hated as admired VON WANDSBEK (1982), WEHNER – THE PANIES Bavaria Fiction, Bavaria Filmpro - on his way. Brecht’s love and friendship rela- UNTOLD STORY (1993), TODESSPIEL (1997), duktion Köln, SATEL Film, in cooperation with tionships, the competing ones, the temporary the Emmy award-winning DIE MANNS – EIN MIA Film, in co-production with WDR, BR, ones, the lifelong ones, are closely linked to JAHRHUNDERTROMAN (2001), SPEER AND SWR, NDR, ARTE RUNTIME 2 x 90 min this unique career. HITLER (2005), BUDDENBROOKS (2008), and ORIGINAL VERSION German FESTIVALS BRECHT (2019). Berlinale 2019 (Berlinale Special) Over a period of 40 years, Heinrich Breloer tells the story of the life of the most SALES frequently played German playwright of the Bavaria Media 20th century, a life so moved by art, women [email protected] and contemporary history. By the end of the www.bavaria-media.de 1970s, Heinrich Breloer had already ap- proached the figure of Brecht with a television documentary and had many conversations with contemporary witnesses. Numerous

17 ACTRESS PORTRAIT GFQ 1-2019

REALIZING HER DREAM A PORTRAIT OF ACTRESS EMMA DROGUNOVA © Florian Liedel © Florian

18 GFQ 1-2019 ACTRESS PORTRAIT

hen the exciting or the TV production TOTER WINKEL, news arrived that which was even nominated for the she would be fêted International Emmy last year. No as one of the Euro- wonder she can’t devote much time peanW Shooting Stars at the Berlinale at present to the course in Russian 2019, initially Emma Drogunova’s and French at Berlin’s Humboldt feelings ran away with her. “When University, in which she has been en- my agent rang up, I was sitting in a rolled for several semesters now: car on my way back to the hotel one “But anyway, I’m not doing it so that I evening after a long day’s shooting have a B.A. in my pocket one day. I’m in Cologne. The news bowled me simply doing it for myself, so that I over so completely that I let out can work on those two languages a great shriek of pleasure.” At a whenever I find the time.” distance of some weeks now, she is forced to smile a bit over her emo- Drogunova speaks French fluently, as tional reaction. “The poor driver got well as German and Russian, be- a nasty shock!” cause she attended a French school in Berlin for many years. One of her Certainly the 23-year-old Berliner greatest dreams is to make pro - makes no attempt to hide just how fessional use of this collection of much this prize means to her. For languages in the future, and the some time now, she has been follow- Shooting Star Award could be a first ing very carefully who is honored with step towards realizing this dream. the title of Shooting Star – and so she She is particularly drawn to the film can guess roughly what awaits her world in France – and would like to during the busy program days of the spend a longer period working in Berlinale. “It’s certainly very special Paris, perhaps. to follow in the footsteps of people like Franz Rogowski, Jella Haase, But first and foremost, her interest is Louis Hofmann or Anna-Maria not directed towards one country but Mühe, all of whom I admire greatly,” to the cinema in general. For as Drogunova says with delight. She is much as she may have let herself the youngest of the ten actors who drift in terms of professional plans will receive the award this year. initially, her passion for the cinema “And after all, it’s not just about the THE TOBACCONIST (© GLORY FILM/EPO-FILM/Petro Domenigg FILMSTILLS.AT) has definitely been kindled in the German market but the whole of mean time. Drogunova sums this up – Europe. It’s totally crazy that I will be rep - But when a few friends appeared in adver - “My love of the cinema grew greater and resenting Germany there.” tising spots, she also made the effort to join greater, the more I acted myself” – after tell - an agency for child actors. “It started from ing me about a friend of hers who is studying She just wants to let things happen, remain - there, in a very relaxed way,” she recalls. “By direction; she herself recently cast the actors ing as relaxed as possible and looking for- the time I finally made my first short film, I for his graduation film, which meant weeks of ward to it all, but she intends to prepare a had definitely developed a taste for it.” work. “Quite apart from my own projects, I’m little in the weeks before the event, none - really interested in what new developments theless: “I want to watch as many English- Key experiences were not only a brief appear - there are, in exciting work by colleagues language series as I can, so that I get myself ance in the successful two-part TV drama who are establishing themselves, and in what attuned to the language and I can talk to HOTEL ADLON – A FAMILY SAGA, but above all director works in which particular style. For everyone. And I want to watch all the films for her work on the short film NICHT DEN a few years now, for example, one compulsory which the other Shooting Stars are receiving BODEN BERÜHREN. “I enjoyed acting, even date for me has been the Filmfestival Max the award. Because getting to know them and at many castings where I was unsuccessful in Ophüls Preis in Saarbrücken, as there’s noth - gaining insights into work in other countries the end. But here I played my first leading ing I love more than watching as many films is the best thing about the whole business as role, and that meant a lot to me,” Drogunova as possible at a festival.” She assures me that far as I’m concerned.” recounts. “And above all, I got to know direc- none of this will change in the future, either. tor Mia Spengler, who has become my mentor Al though she can assume that during the For Drogunova, who was born in Tjumen/ since then – something like a big sister to me. 2019 Berlinale at least, she is unlikely to have Siberia in 1995 and moved to Germany I have learned a huge amount from her, much time to watch films. with her parents at the age of two, the award things about myself as well.” – which she is receiving not least for her Patrick Heidmann role as the dancer Anezka in the Austrian- Not least, it was Spengler – with whom she German film version of the bestseller THE later made the cinema film BACK FOR GOOD TOBACCONIST directed by Nikolaus Leytner – who advised her to pursue her acting after – represents the high point of her career school graduation as well. Nevertheless, to date, a career that has not progressed Drogunova flirted briefly with the idea of purely by chance but without specific plans, train ing as a dancer; because it left her in - certainly. Because, as she explains laughing, sufficient time for filming, though, she aban- it is not unusual for children of Russian doned her dance course after a while. Even families to be put on the stage quite early on, without much planning, one role began to so she already gathered her first experience follow another, including in much-acclaimed in children’s theater as a young girl. She did episodes of TATORT, cinema films such as A not feel particularly at ease there, however. JAR FULL OF LIFE and THE FINAL JOURNEY,

19 DIRECTOR’S PORTRAIT GFQ 1-2019

DOING HER OWN THING A PORTRAIT OF DIRECTOR KATRIN GEBBE © Katrin Gebbe 20 GFQ 1-2019 DIRECTOR’S PORTRAIT

atrin Gebbe seems com- you lose sight of your second cinema pletely relaxed during our film.” interview at a café in Hamburg-Altona. That is Instead, she preferred to keep the ex- Knot only astonishing because out- periences gathered in Cannes and side the Christmas rush is in full NOTHING other festivals in the back of her swing already, with people busy mind – and direct her eyes towards drinking mulled wine and frantically BAD the horizon beyond the German shopping for gifts. Above all, it borders. At the latest, it was a grant seems surprising because Gebbe CAN for the Villa Aurora in Los Angeles is actually under considerable pres- that triggered Gebbe’s desire to work sure working to complete her new internationally as well: she was so film PELICAN BLOOD, and you might HAPPEN enthused by the “excitement at trying expect her to be suffering from A FILM BY something new and the energy” that extreme cutting-room stress. But KATRIN GEBBE she encountered among American things often happen a little differ- producers there. And even in the final ently around the 35-year-old direc- stages of pregnancy she refused to tor, making her stand out among her turn down an offer from Tim League, colleagues. who had introduced NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN to US cinemas with It is six years ago now that Gebbe Drafthouse Films, to contribute a made a name almost overnight, not short film to his world-wide horror only within the German film scene anthology THE FIELD GUIDE TO EVIL, but on the international stage as which was premiered at the SXSW well. That was when the Berlinale festival. rejected her debut film NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN; however, this PELICAN BLOOD – although back emerged as a blessing for the direc- JULIUS FELDMEIER under the aegis of Gräfe-Höft’s com- tor, who was born in Ibbenbüren in SASCHA ALEXANDER GERSAK pany Junafilm – is again the outcome ANNIKA KUHL North Rhine-Westphalia but chooses SWANTJE KOHLHOF of networking that consciously ex- to live in Hamburg. For ultimately, JUNAFILM PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH ZDF – DAS KLEINE FERNSEHSPIEL / KATHARINA DUFFNER CASTING SIMONE BÄR tends beyond Gebbe’s own personal FILM EDITOR HEIKE GNIDA MUSICIANS PETER FOLK, JOHANNES LEHNIGER COSTUME DESIGNER ANNA WÜBBER MAKE-UP ARTIST LALE YILMAZ PRODUCTION DESIGNER IRIS TRESCHER DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY MORITZ SCHULTHEISS PRODUCED BY VERENA GRÄFE-HÖFT she was able to enjoy the film’s world WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KATRIN GEBBE sphere and the confines of Germany. premiere a few months later in the Her invitation to the Torino Film Lab, section Un Certain Regard at the with its workshops distributed over a Festival de Cannes. The film industry full year, not only brought welcome could hardly cover its amazement: a German For a year after the Cannes premiere Gebbe input from industry consultants from all over director whose name was largely unknown, travelled around the world and presented the world, but also earned her film world even to insiders, presenting a debut film on NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN – which later sales as well as a German distributor even the Croisette, and in addition this film – with received the German Film Critics’ Prize and before the start of shooting. The story – fea- its radical, disturbing story about the world of was nominated for the German Film Award – turing a top-class cast including Nina Hoss Jesus Freaks – did not fit into any category at festivals in Karlovy Vary, Zurich and Göte- as a horse trainer who is fighting desperately that we tend to associate with German borg, for example. “I enjoyed reaping the for her adopted daughter – was made for the cinema? No one was expecting that. Least of reward for my work so much, particularly be- most part in Bulgaria, involving the local film all Gebbe herself, of course, who had com - cause the production of the film had been so company Miramar Film, whose producer Mila pleted a post-graduate course in Direction at difficult,” she notes, and likes to remember in Voinikova had been invited to participate in Hamburg Media School after studying Art at particular the screening at the Fantastic Fest the EFP’s Producers on the Move in Cannes the Academy of Visual Arts in Enschede. in Austin, Texas. “It wasn’t about the critics alongside Gräfe-Höft in 2017. there, or intellectual movie buffs; in the main, The making of NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN they were genre and horror fans. When Elijah This time, as far as German funding and sup- was a long and difficult process, whereby she Wood came rushing up to me after the port are concerned it has been much easier and producer Verena Gräfe-Höft met with screening, at first I couldn’t believe it was me than it was for NOTHING BAD CAN HAPPEN, constant opposition from the usual funding he wanted to speak to. But in fact he just Gebbe tells me as we are saying good-bye. institutions when the latter encountered the want ed to say how enthusiastic he was about But she quickly adds: “I still can’t claim that remarkable story and the makers’ similarly the film. It’s very special to get to know people everyone cried out hurrah, though.” However, unusual narrative approach. To add to their who think the same way, people like him, at she is not going to let herself worry about difficulties there was the fact that, in Gebbe’s such festivals.” that, or stray from her intended path as a re- own words, she did not belong “to any of the sult. On the contrary: the prospect of finishing cliques in the German film world. At the most, However, this did nothing to change her posi- work on PELICAN BLOOD in time for a poten- you could say I belong to a generation of tion as an outsider in her home country. Initi- tial Cannes premiere immediately conjures a German filmmakers who are attempting ally, she rejected the customary opportunities broad smile of anticipation to her face. something a bit new and different,” the go-it- to make TV crime dramas offered to up-and- alone director explains. “Those who don’t fit coming directors, before finally bringing her- Patrick Heidmann into existing groups like the Berlin School or self to try one episode of TATORT at least. It the more conventional narrative cinema, but wasn’t exactly an ecstatic experience, accord - consciously take risks and follow a path that ing to Gebbe, but that also had a positive is totally their own.” She does not see herself aspect: “It was perhaps a good thing that my as being alone in the wilderness in this role. TV career wasn’t a huge success from the “But naturally we don’t meet every few weeks word go, as people can quickly start to feel too and moan about our lot, either.” comfortable in that field. And then suddenly

21 DIRECTOR’S PORTRAIT GFQ 1-2019

CURIOSITY © Beau Coulon AND CHALLENGE A PORTRAIT OF DIRECTOR BASTIAN GÜNTHER

he problem faced by headhunter arrive off-screen, overheard like a rumor: finally manifests itself in every movement Clemens in Bastian Günther’s film ice cubes clinking against a highball in his and image on-screen as his contact to the HOUSTON emerges only gradually. umpteenth drink. Then reality settles in world outside the anonymous, glazed hotel Contracted to make an offer to a close-up, in sunken eyes and pallor – we are complex, and finally even to himself, ceases Tshielded CEO at a conference in Houston, the witnessing a “headhunter” losing his own completely. first hints of the protagonist’s fatal flaw head. The truth of the character’s isolation

22 GFQ 1-2019 DIRECTOR’S PORTRAIT

HOUSTON, which was the second feature an interest in challenging the viewers. But Günther’s films revolve around characters length film by this 44-year-old director from even if it means breaking from the safe whose choices reflect larger social conflicts the Westerwald, follows a lonely man at the environment of a classical narrative arc, it’s and systems, worlds both within and beyond top of his career on a perilous downward the story that always determines the our control. His recently completed “touch the spiral. Alongside this character study, the structure.” car” drama paints an ambivalent picture of story’s setting and visual approach provide American success. In it, poor people are a critical analysis of our international busi- His aesthetically arresting early works are de- clearly exploited for the purpose of entertain- ness world with English as its operating fined by long, poetic takes – in addition to ment. He posits that some viewers won’t be language, with its clever headhunter tricks HOUSTON and END OF A TRIP, these include wild about a German making a film that is and traps and with its high-stakes pressure the road movie AUTOPILOTS and the hybrid critical of their country. Many of the actors, experienced by all involved. Günther com - docu-feature film CALIFORNIA CITY. None of however, found that the competition reflects pleted his studies in Direction at the German them follow narrative conventions. “Maybe the situation in their homeland. “In the US, as Film and Television Academy Berlin with his their narrative approach is more European,” everywhere, artists are sensitive and often award-winning short film END OF A TRIP in says Günther, even if both HOUSTON and politically progressive,” says Günther. 2005. However, the first ideas for HOUSTON CALIFORNIA CITY take place in the US. In any “They’re open to such stories.” came from his second home: the reserved case, “Film doesn’t stop at a national border. director has lived for several years with his It would be nice,” says the director, “if you In terms of language, working with native American wife and their son alternately in could throw these cinematic classifications – English speakers wasn’t a problem for the Texas and Berlin. German or American, or indeed the genre German director. Even the lead actress Carrie concept – right out the window.” Preston, who played the outspoken Southern Günther is in post-production on what is now belle Arlene Bellefleur in Alan Ball’s parable his fourth feature film. Once again, it is set in Günther understands well that the domi- about homophobia TRUE BLOOD and won an Texas, this time with an exclusively American nance of blockbusters in both the US and Emmy for her role on THE GOOD WIFE, was cast. “It is true that there is a vast gap be - Europe – where arthouse is regarded as niche impressed by the scripted dialogue. The new tween rich and poor all over the world,” cinema despite successes such as TONI film’s lead actor Joe Cole, well-known from admits Günther. But this story is inspired by ERDMANN or LA GRANDE BELLEZZA – PEAKY BLINDERS and A PRAYER BEFORE a so-called “touch the car” contest that took means that his films, along with all indies, DAWN, retooled his British accent to become place in East Texas. In this competition, put may take meandering paths to find their Texan with the help of a dialect coach. Cole on as a promotional event for a car dealer- audience. Films like Günther’s in which stayed in the role during the breaks in ship, people stand around a car and touch it characterization and pace deviate from the shooting, Günther recalls – Method Acting, with one hand for days on end until the last mainstream, that incorporate setting symbio- in other words. So his method for this inter- one touching the vehicle wins it. “The extreme tically into the hero’s inner development, are national production was as typically American poverty in the Deep South (US) predestines rare among productions based around the as the small Southern town where it is set. the region for this kind of story. Having such convention of a hero on a heroic trip. In 2015 limited options can lead to desperation – for the German TV crime series TATORT, Jenni Zylka and people who will clutch at that sort of Günther was bold enough to conceive of a opportunity,” explains the filmmaker. cunning, circular film-within-a-film structure with the “real” police inspector and his “real” Once again, the story of these characters will actor, whereby the characters are repeatedly not follow customary narrative structures. revealed as film characters themselves. The Günther has shaped the story into three playful film created a sensation in the media parts, each one with a different time and and controversy around the “rules” for this perspective – and visual approach. “I’m traditional German show which has been on interested in new or unusual structures,” the air for almost 50 years. Günther says. “Of course there’s curiosity and

23 PRODUCERS’ PORTRAIT GFQ 1-2019

SETTING Junghans) (© Kinderfilm/ Steffen König Ingelore HIGH STANDARDS A PORTRAIT OF PRODUCTION COMPANY GROWN UP FILMS

he film PAULA was the reason König, who was born in the former GDR and 1988,” she continues. “However, this screen- “ that I decided to set up the new studied Philosophy at Berlin’s Humboldt play was never made into a film. After a label of Grown Up Films in University, first learned about Paula series of unsuccessful attempts at arriving 2012,” recalls producer Ingelore Modersohn-Becker after reading a bio- at a script, I was very fortunate in finding KönigT who had already been heading up graphy. “I was fascinated that she was so both of them through the dramaturge and Erfurt-based Kinderfilm since 2000. “I had radical and courageous, that she was always screenwriter Laila Stieler and developing a been developing a biopic about the feminist testing and transcending her limits, and that new interpretation with them.” artist Paula Modersohn-Becker since 2008 she had this resolution never ever wanting and we had reached the stage where we had to be mediocre.” “Christian Schwochow proved to be exactly a convincing screenplay by Stefan Kolditz the right person to direct the film,” König and Stephan Suschke that was being drama- “She wanted to achieve something in her life recalls. “He told me on the phone that he turgically supervised by Cooky Ziesche, and and set herself very high standards. She could exactly empathize with what Paula’s we were now beginning to look for a director once said that she would like to have painted story is all about. Christian had himself and partners for the financing. It made at least three good paintings in her life and wanted to become a painter, but felt at some sense to have a separate label because she wanted to become a mother. That sen- point that he would never achieve anything when you have been running a company with tence has everything that motivates modern more than mediocrity. That personal con- a name like Kinderfilm, everyone assumes young women: they want love, happiness, a nection immediately won me over to him. I that you only produce children’s films,” family and self-realization – Paula was so was equally impressed by the way he saw all König explains. modern in the way she went through life and of the characters in the screenplay with a even though she is a historical figure, she is very modern approach and from a contem- “We had a whole list of names for the label, very much of the here and now.” porary perspective, and the resulting film but we felt most comfortable with Grown Up with the remarkable Carla Juri in the title Films,” she continues. “I liked the fact that “Stefan Kolditz and his co-author Stephan role only confirms this.” the name was open to several interpre- Suschke knew so much about Paula and her tations: Kinderfilm has come of age, the husband Otto [Modersohn] because they had “It was also thanks to Christian that our stories that it will now tell are more grown been studying the lives of the artist couple co-production with Claudia Steffen and up, and it will grow beyond itself.” and conducting intensive research ever since Christoph Friedel of Pandora came about.

24 GFQ 1-2019 PRODUCERS’ PORTRAIT

Our location is our USP,” König explains mis - CARLA ALBRECHT ABRAHAM ROXANE JOEL STANLEY JURI SCHUCH DURAN BASMAN WEBER chievously, “and this also includes support ing the up-and-coming generation from Central Germany.” One of these young profes sionals is Claudia Schröter, who grew up in the Erz- gebirge Mountains and studied at the Uni - versity of Television and Film in Munich.

“ENDZEIT – EVER AFTER is, in many re- spects, an experiment. It is extremely difficult for German genre in the market. For the ENNDZEIE T most part, the narrative style is dominated by men. And that’s something we wanted to do differently because Olivia’s screenplay made it possible: showing three magnificent female lead characters whose conversations were, for once, not about men. And we wanted to give a chance to an up-and-coming My life shld be a celebrati Directed by director. I have been involved in the ProQuote CAROLINA HELLSGÅÅRD BaseddonaGraphicNovel by OLIVIA VIEWEG DIRECTED BY WRITTEN BY campaign for more gender equality in the

CHRISTIAN SCHWOCHOW STEFAN KOLDITZ AND STEPHAN SUSCHKE

film industry and looking to give more weight

ARTWORK: PROPAGANDA B PROPAGANDA ARTWORK: to women in the various crafts as far as the stories being told are concerned,” she explains. “The market tends to want to com- Their standing meant that the film could be partmentalize people, but I am for diversity, is also working for Kinderfilm on an adapta- financed and realized in this quality.” PAULA so why should a female director like Carolina tion of Antje Babendererde’s bestselling had its premiere on the Piazza Grande of the Hellsgård not make a zombie film?” And so youth novel Libellensommer as a co-produc- 2016 edition of the Locarno Film Festival and all of the key creative positions are taken tion with Canada’s Red Cedar Films – is now went on to win the Bavarian Film Award in by women: the three lead actresses Gro onboard to write the screenplay. the category of Best Cinematography as well Swantje Kohlhof, Maja Lehrer and Trine as Lolas for Best Production Design and Dyrholm, the director, screenwriter, cinema- At the same time, König doesn’t want to re- Best Costume Design at the 2017 German tographer, casting director, production de- strict herself to working on particular film Film Awards. signer, make-up, costume designer, score genres. That may have something to do with composer, editor and producer. her personal background growing up in the Strong women have also been at the center former GDR. “Once my parents gave me the of Grown Up Films’ second feature project “We didn’t really know what to expect when present of a book club membership and I ENDZEIT – EVER AFTER by Swedish-born the film premiered in Toronto,” König conti- was an avid reader,” she recalls. “I was a big Carolina Hellsgård, which celebrated its nues. “We were fascinated by the giant fan of science fiction and also read stories world premiere in Toronto’s Discovery side- queues outside of the cinema which was al- taken from real life. Perhaps that influenced bar. Based on the successful graphic novel by ways full. The audiences reacted in different me to the point where I now don’t want to tie Olivia Vieweg who also wrote the screenplay, ways, but I was pleased that people under- myself down to specific genres.” the action in ENDZEIT – EVER AFTER is set stood the film’s philosophical content. That two years after zombies have overrun the was really important for us because I didn’t Similarly, Grown Up Films won’t be working Earth, when the German towns of Weimar want to have us presenting a dystopia with - exclusively for the theatrical market: “We al- and Jena are probably the only remaining out a philosophical basis.” Following the ready tried our hand at a web series,” König places of human civilization thanks to a pro - world premiere in Toronto, ENDZEIT – EVER notes, “and, of course, we have a lot of ex - tective fence. AFTER had its German premiere at the Film- perience of working with television on TV festival Max Ophüls Preis in Saarbrücken movies based on classic fairytales which we The film follows two very different young and an invitation to the Göteborg Inter- have made at Kinderfilm.” women, who for better or for worse have to national Film Festival in Sweden in January. join forces in the fight against the undead “The label of Grown Up Films also sees us when they find themselves out in the open Looking to its future projects now in deve- showing a commitment to the young audi- countryside without any kind of protection. lopment, the company appears to be holding ences that are no longer children, but Their journey leads them to the apocalypse true to its focus on strong women as protag- haven’t yet arrived in the world of adults. where a stunningly beautiful nature has onists, which began with PAULA and conti- EINE SAUBLÖDE IDEE is a story for young started gaining the upper hand in the nued this year with ENDZEIT – EVER AFTER. people that the writing team of Anja absence of any humans. One project that König has been pursuing Kömmerling and Thomas Brinx have devel - since 2008 will introduce cinemagoers to the oped with us based on a true event of three As König points out, “our producer Claudia eventful life of one of Germany’s best-known A-level students from Munich who walk from Schröter brought the screenplay which had modern dancers and teachers, Gret Palucca, Munich to Berlin after a stupid drunken been awarded the Tankred Dorst Prize in (1902-1993) who was a pupil of the famous night through the Bavarian and Saxon 2015 from the Münchner Filmwerkstatt. She choreographer Mary Wigman in the early country side.” Brinx and Kömmerling have knew that I am a big genre fan. Olivia’s debut 1920s before founding her own dance school collaborated with König on more than a was an exhilarating display of visual fire- in Dresden in 1925. dozen films and series for children: “We works in the middle of the Thuringian coun- have grown along with each other, we trust tryside. And then it turned out that the “There is hardly anything about her private each other and try out more and more new talented young artist lives just 25 kilometers life available,” König says. “That’s quite dif- things – just what it means becoming grown away from us in Weimar. And so ENDZEIT – ferent from Paula Modersohn-Becker who up…” EVER AFTER is a perfect fit for our company. wrote lots of letters.” Scarlett Kleint – who Martin Blaney

25 NEWS & NOTES GFQ 1-2019 NEWS1 & NOTES 1

FACE TO FACE WITH GERMAN FILMS 2019

The FACE TO FACE WITH GERMAN FILMS – including the multi award-winning Sandra SILENT REVOLUTION (featuring one of the campaign enters its fourth edition this year Hüller (TONI ERDMANN) and Paula Beer of 2017 ‘Faces’ Ronald Zehrfeld and this year’s and will once again focus on outstanding the internationally acclaimed FRANTZ and ‘Face’ Jördis Triebel) screened as a Berlinale acting talents. Six of the most prominent the Golden Globe and Oscar®-nominated Special Gala at the 2018 Berlin Film Festival; German screen stars working today, Maria NEVER LOOK AWAY. In 2017, the second Anca Miruna Lazarescu, whose latest feature Dragus, Christian Friedel, Luise Heyer, Jonas phase of the initiative launched during the HAPPINESS SUCKS opened the 2018 Hof Nay, Jördis Triebel and Fahri Yardim will Festival de Cannes and featured six of Inter national Film Festival; Burhan Qurbani, represent the German film and television Germany’s most exciting actors, including whose highly-anticipated BERLIN ALEX - industry’s latest accomplishments and established names such as Alexander ANDERPLATZ is already creating a lot of dynamic voices, through upcoming activities Fehling (THREE PEAKS, HOMELAND) and buzz; and David Wnendt, whose THE SUNLIT at the Berlinale, including a Panel event in Tom Schilling (WOMAN IN GOLD, OH BOY, NIGHT premiered this year at Sundance. association with Variety at the Drama Series NEVER LOOK AWAY), as well as new faces Days. The FACE TO FACE WITH GERMAN such as Louis Hofmann (DARK & the Oscar®- This year’s actors and actresses will continue FILMS campaign celebrates current trends nominated LAND OF MINE). 2018 saw six to celebrate trends in German filmmaking, as in the German entertainment industry, pro- award-winning German directors heading well as being representative of the current moting German content to international the campaign’s 3rd phase, all of whom have international appetite for German story - audiences and fostering an awareness of garnered a great deal of international telling in internationally renowned series. modern German storytelling and styles. recognition for their varied works to date: They are undoubtedly at the heart of the Emily Atef, whose feature film 3 DAYS IN industry’s most recent national and inter - The initiative launched in 2016 with six QUIBERON was in Competition at the national successes, across both mediums. German actresses headlining the campaign Berlinale 2018; Lars Kraume, whose THE

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VFX from Baden-Württemberg: JIM BUTTON AND LUKE THE ENGINE DRIVER (courtesy of MFG) 2 3 4

FILM- UND MEDIENSTIFTUNG NRW BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG IS KEEPING FILMS ALIVE: FUNDING PARTNERING THE DRAMA SERIES GERMANY’S TOP LOCATION FOR FOR THE DIGITIZATION OF DAYS FOR THE FIFTH TIME VISUAL EFFECTS AND ANIMATION – NATIONAL FILM HERITAGE AND IT IS STILL GROWING. SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW is once again the official main partner for the fifth Through the Animation Media Cluster Region Since January 2019, the Federal Government, edition of the Drama Series Days. The plat- Stuttgart (AMCRS), the MFG Medien- and the federal states and the German Federal form for high-quality serial productions at Filmgesellschaft Baden-Württemberg pro- Film Board (FFA) have been working together the European Film Market as part of the motes and enhances the transfer of to preserve national film heritage. The fund - Berlinale will offer an extensive screening know-how and technology in the region. The ing program, which is financed equally by and event program at the Zoo-Palast from 11 AMCRS creates synergies and strengthens the Federal Government Commissioner for to 13 February, covering all aspects of inter- interdisciplinary cooperation. It currently Culture and the Media (BKM), the FFA and national serial events. EFM director Matthijs comprises 23 Baden-Württemberg-based the federal states, provides up to 10 million Wouter Knol and Petra Müller, managing companies and institutions, which in turn euros annually for the digitization of cinema director of the Film- und Medienstiftung draw on the services of countless micro- films. Funding is provided in three areas: NRW, will open the Drama Series Days on the enterprises and local freelancers. Up to 500 exploitation, curation and conservational morning of 11 February. artists may be employed, depending on de- necessity. mand. The Drama Series Days are an initiative of the After the cinema digitization completed in industry platforms European Film Market, In addition to the cluster; MFG has contri - 2014, which was also jointly financed by the Berlinale Co-Production Market and buted significantly to this boom at the Baden- FFA, the Federal Government and the federal Berlinale Talents. The EFM is one of the most Württemberg location through the line pro- states, this is another decisive cultural policy important platforms for international trade ducer funding. With its granting regulations, cooperation between the three partners to in film rights and audiovisual content. In the MFG enables Baden-Württemberg to benefit strengthen and preserve film culture in parallel program Berlinale Series, audiences from the direct support of line producers. Germany. Details on the funding can be found have the opportunity to experience series Applications may be submitted not only by at www.ffa.de. premieres on the red carpet and the big producers, but also by service-producers, screen. animation studios or VFX studios. Further- more, the funding can be combined with additional federal subsidies, e.g. the DFFF or the German Motion Picture Fund.

Over the past five years, MFG has supported 67 projects overall with a total investment of around 23.5 million euros in the field of VFX/Animation – and this trend is rising.

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MDM anniversary celebration (© Uwe Frauendorf) JETS international co-production pitch (© WEP FILMS) 5 6

MITTELDEUTSCHE MEDIEN - JETS AT THE 69TH BERLINALE follow with 13 MINUTES by Oliver Hirsch - FÖRDERUNG CELEBRATES ITS biegel, ADAM & EVELYN by Andreas Gold- 20TH ANNIVERSARY Each year at the Berlinale, JETS (Junior stein, EMMA’S BLISS by Sven Taddicken, Entertainment Talent Slate) invites young ENDZEIT – EVER AFTER by Carolina The Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung (MDM) filmmakers to an international co-production Hellsgård, EXIT MARRAKECH by Caroline celebrated its 20th anniversary in Leipzig on pitch. The initiative brings together young Link, IF NOT US, WHO by Andres Veiel, THE 28 November 2018 with numerous represen- talents with German, Canadian, Irish, CHAMBERMAID LYNN by Ingo Haeb, THE tatives of the Central German and national Finnish, Norwegian, British and US pro - EDUKATORS by Hans Weingartner, THIS IS media industry. Managing Director Claas ducers, sales agents, financing and distri - LOVE by Matthias Glasner, and UNDER Danielsen drew a positive balance at the re- bution companies for their debut, second and SNOW by Ulrike Ottinger. ception: “Thanks to the great commitment of third feature films. On the JETS event day, the our shareholders, the industry and the MDM selected teams pitch their projects and Rajendra Roy (Chief Curator Film Depart- employees, we have succeeded in implemen- select three of the other teams as potential ment MoMA) on this very special series: ting the vision of an efficient media industry co-production partners. The international “In 2020, Mariette Rissenbeek will become in Central Germany, bringing stories from jury nominates the six to ten most suitable the first woman to lead the Berlin Film the region to the world and making the local film projects for production development and Festival (as Executive Director, with newly media landscape the setting for outstanding financing. JETS is organized by WEP Produc- appointed Artistic Director Carlo Chatrian), international productions.” tions and WEP UK Productions. The initiative as well as the first to lead one of the top three is supported by Nordmedia, HessenFilm, European festivals (including Cannes and During an internal industry screening, the Tele film Canada, Screen Ireland, FilmInvest Venice). This is a milestone that took sixty- guests – including the prime ministers of and The Finnish Film Foundation. nine years to achieve, and it is cause for over- Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia – were due celebration. Known to lovers of German also able to gain a first impression of the film cinema through her leadership of the film and media projects that have been produced promotion agency German Films, she began in recent months with the support of MDM. her career in production. MoMA is pleased to 7 offer this opportunity for New York cinephiles to get to know this ground-breaking figure GERMAN WOMEN BEHIND THE and applaud her staunch support for women CAMERA AT MOMA NEW YORK throughout the industry. Here, she selects 11 films all shot by German women cinematog- Within the framework of a carte-blanche raphers. Rissenbeek states: “It was very ex- cooperation with the film department of The citing but at the same time quite challenging Museum of Modern Art in New York, German when MoMA offered me a carte-blanche to Films will present 11 feature films shot by present a number of recent German films. German women cinematographers from 1- For me personally, the female view on society 12 March 2019. The personal selection was and its topics has always played a crucial made by German Films’ managing director role. From its very beginnings, cinema tells Mariette Rissenbeek to honor the creative its stories in pictures and they are the center work of Sonja Rom, Daniela Knapp, Bella of cinematographic art. So it seemed not only Halben, Leah Striker, Sophie Maintigneux, natural, but rather mandatory to work with Ulrike Ottinger, Jakobine Motz and Judith exactly that point of view: pictures made by Kaufmann, who will all travel to New York to women, women behind the camera.” present their work. The series will open with THE POLL DIARIES by Chris Kraus, and

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AM CU CE (© Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg) 8

CLERMONT-FERRAND – A HOME and Video Art from Germany was presented TWICE by Rainer Kohlberger (AT/DE), and FOR GERMAN SHORTS as a market screening. This program of AG WELT AN BOARD by Eva Könnemann. For Kurzfilm and German Films was curated by the 17th time, the German Short Film Asso- Over the past 15 years, the Clermont- representatives of member institutions of the ciation will be representing German short Ferrand International Short Film Festival AG Kurzfilm. In January, the program had its filmmakers and their films at the most has developed into a well-established plat- official premiere during the Stuttgart Film important film market in Germany. form for the presentation of German short Winter. It is now available for booking by films. Not only were the German Short Film international festivals, galleries and Goethe- As a part of the German Films booth at the Association (AG Kurzfilm) and German Films Institutes. A further nine outstanding EFM, the association provides a meeting on hand with market screenings and a booth German short films were presented in the point as well as useful information and con- at the festival’s film market, but there were market screening “Matinée Allemande – tacts to industry professionals, such as film- also ten German shorts and co-productions Coup de foudre – Le court métrage alle- makers, producers, distributors and festival competing for the Grand Prix in the Inter - mand”. representatives. The latest edition of the national and Lab Competition during the short film catalogue GERMAN SHORT FILMS 41th edition of the festival: AM CU CE by will be also be available as well as the highly Hannah Weissenborn, ARE YOU LISTENING sought-after festival calendar for 2019, the MOTHER? by Tuna Kaptan (TR/DE), LAKE 9 indispensible assistance for everybody in the OF HAPPINESS by Aliaksei Paluyan (BY/DE), international short film circus. LAST DAYS OF THE MAN OF TOMORROW GERMAN SHORTS IN by Fadi Baki (LB/DE), LIEBE – ODER ROTTERDAM & BERLIN ERINNERUNG AN JUDITH R. by Oliver Adam Kusio, and TRACING ADDAI by Esther Numerous German short films and co-pro- 10 Niemeier were shown in the International ductions are presented in the competition Competition. FEST by Nikita Diakur, QUIET by sections of the International Film Festival KINO! GERMANY NOW! Sonja Rohleder, SCREEN by Matthias Müller Rotterdam (23 January – 3 February) and and Christoph Girardet, as well as SHOOTING Berlinale (7 – 17 February) – two of the first KINO! GERMANY NOW! is German Films’ STARS by Magdalena Jaroszewicz (DE/PL) major film festivals in 2019. For the Ammodo new promotional platform launching this were selected for the Lab Competition. Tiger Short Competition in Rotterdam, year on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for Another ten German short films and co-pro- FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT by Nina Fischer German film content in the United States ductions were shown in the various special and Maroan el Sani (DE/IT) and MAMAN with the goal of introducing German film cul- programs of the festival. MAMAN MAMAN by Lucia Margarita Bauer ture and creative film talent to US audiences. were selected. In the non-competitive section KINO! GERMANY NOW! social media cove- At the German market stand, representatives Bright Future Short COWTRAP by Callum Hill rage provides relevant information on film of international short film festivals and (DE/GB), FOREST ON LOCATION by Persijn exhibition, special events, film festivals and organizations picked up the latest edition of Broersen and Margit Lukács (NL/DE/PL), and coverage on streaming platforms all over the the popular catalogue GERMAN SHORT WALLED UNWALLED by Lawrence Abu Ham- US related to German films, series, TV and FILMS and its accompanying preview DVDs. dan were shown. SOUVENIR by Miriam Gos- further digital content by keeping followers Addi tionally, three programs were presented sing and Lina Sieckmann premiered in the informed of the latest German film releases by the AG Kurzfilm: The 14th edition of the section Voices Short. and screenings in the United States. “Soirée Allemande”, a French-German co - operation of AG Kurzfilm, German Films, the Six German short films were selected for the International Short Film Festival Clermont- Berlinale Shorts section: UMBRA by Florian Ferrand, the Goethe-Institute Lyon and the Fischer and Johannes Krell, CAN’T YOU SEE KurzFilmAgentur Hamburg, celebrated its THEM? – REPEAT. by Clarissa Thieme premiere at the festival on 4 February. The (DE/BA), BLUE BOY by Manuel Abramovich fourth edition of the program EMERGING (AR/DE), FLEXIBLE BODIES by Louis Fried, IT ARTISTS – Contemporary Experimental Film HAS TO BE LIVED ONCE AND DREAMED

29 NEW FILMS GFQ 1-2019

14 FEATURES 11 DOCUMENTARIES 2 SHORT FILMS 12 UPCOMING FILMS

39 more new German productions are presented on the following 25 pages. Please visit our website www.german-films.de for more information on German features, documentaries and shorts. DOUBLE TROUBLE – THE MAGICAL MIRROR (© VIAFILM/Marc Reimann) (© VIAFILM/Marc MIRROR – THE MAGICAL DOUBLE TROUBLE

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1000 KINGS

000 people live encaged in an immense BIDZINA KANCHAVELI studied Film Criticism GENRE Animation, Experimental, Fantasy, space and can only be distinguished and Directing in Tbilisi/Georgia and staged Science Fiction YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2019 from one another by their different social his first theater play at the Tbilisi Opera DIRECTOR Bidzina Kanchaveli SCREENPLAY positions, as in a beehive. and Ballet State Theater. He then directed Bidzina Kanchaveli CINEMATOGRAPHY 1 numerous other plays and the shorts NOVICE Patrick Popow CAST Effi Rabsilber, Helma The inhabitants’ only goal is to produce light. NO. 21 (1999) and 7 1/2 WOMEN (2005). 1000 Fries PRODUCER Pierre Durst PRODUCTION But only one of them has this ability. For this KINGS is his first feature film. COMPANY Thirsty Goldfish RUNTIME 92 min he is admired and exploited, until he makes a LANGUAGE no dialogue fatal decision. SALES Thirsty Goldfish [email protected] www.thirsty-goldfish.com

31 NEW FEATURES GFQ 1-2019

ALFONS ZITTERBACKE – THE RETURN OF CHAOS

hat would Alfons Zitterbacke ALFONS ZITTERBACKE is an action-packed GENRE Family Entertainment YEAR OF PRO- give to be a great athlete, a comedy about friendship, outer space, fathers DUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Mark Schlichter super student and an astro- and sons and the best plans for building SCREENPLAY Anja Flade-Kruse, Mark naut, just like Alexander rockets. Schlichter, John Chambers CINEMATOG - WGerst. But that isn’t what his world looks like. RAPHY Christof Wahl CAST Tilman Döbler, The 11-year-old stumbles from one mishap MARK SCHLICHTER was born in 1962. Alexandra Maria Lara, Devid Striesow, to the next. Everyone seems to gang up on Initially he studied Acting and worked as an Leopold Ferdinand Schill, Lisa Moell, Ron him. Unfair teachers, vicious classmates and actor in several feature film and theater pro- Antony Renzenbrink, Katharina Thalbach, a very strict father generally make life mise- ductions. After working as a unit and pro - Wolfgang Stumph, Bürger Lars Dietrich, Olaf rable for him – when out of the clear blue an duction manager on various feature film Schubert, Thorsten Merten, Stephanie aircraft competition offers the opportunity to productions he studied Directing at the Ger- Stumph, Louis Held, Laila Meinecke, Rosa participate in an astronaut camp and Alfons man Film and Television Academy (DFFB) in Meinecke, Tobias Krell, Helmut Roßmann, sees his chance: At last he can show the Berlin. In addition to numerous theater pro- Alexander Gerst PRODUCERS Nicole Keller- world what a brilliant inventor he is – parti- ductions and short films, his award-winning hals, Uwe Schott, Stefan Arndt CO-PRO - cularly Emilia, the new girl in class. The only feature films as a director include: EX (1995), DUCER Mark Schlichter PRODUCTION trouble is that Alfons’ rival, Nico, also decides DER AUSBRUCH (1997), SCHIMANSKI – COMPANY X Filme Creative Pool, in co-pro- to take part in the competition and challenges MUTTERTAG (1997), DER ELEFANT IN duction with MDR, ARD RUNTIME 90 min him to a dual: Are you chicken or what? In his MEINEM BETT (1999), COWGIRL (2004), LANGUAGE German dilemma, Alfons drags his best friend Benni, TATORT – STRAHLENDE ZUKUNFT (2007), into the affair, and now there’s no way out: ZORN – VOM LIEBEN UND STERBEN (2015), SALES They have to win the competition. But how? and ALFONS ZITTERBACKE – THE RETURN Beta Cinema OF CHAOS (2019). [email protected] www.betacinema.com

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hen the silent loner Marco FELIX MAXIM ELLER founded the production GENRE Coming-of-Age Story, Fantasy, Thrill - encounters beautiful Elena at company Lost Tape in 2016. His films include: er YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR a bar, his whole world seems MINIMAL (short, 2011), ZAHLEN BITTE! Felix Maxim Eller SCREENPLAY Felix Maxim to change. Fascinated, he (short, 2013) as well as the features YOUNG Eller CINEMATOGRAPHY Daniel Ernst CAST Wfollows her through the night, but as morning AND WILD (2014) and ALL EYES ON YOU Jannis Küster, Clara Imort, André Decker, rises he neither knows her full name nor if he (2018). Elvis Clausen, Anna Sacher, Kim Schütt, will ever see her again. Months later on a cold Michael Marwitz PRODUCERS Felix Maxim Halloween night, she is still vanished without Eller, Jan Scharfenberg CO-PRODUCERS a trace. Once again, he begins to comb the Martin Kesper, Michael Tracz PRODUCTION streets for her, yet no one seems to have COMPANY Lost Tape RUNTIME 87 min heard anything about this mysterious girl. LANGUAGE German FESTIVALS Shanghai Chased by an uncanny man, he soon dis- 2018, New York Festival of Cinema 2018, covers the darkest secrets of the city. During Mary land IFF 2018, Berlin Independent FF his escape, he runs into Mia – a girl with a big 2018 mouth but no place to stay. Together they initiate their search for Elena but soon Mia SALES gets caught up by her own persecutors. Only Lost Tape when the battle-skilled musician Gabriel [email protected] joins their group, odds are that the friends www.losttape.de will weather the night. Continuing their journey, they initiate a nightmarish race against time until Marco starts to doubt his own sanity...

33 NEW FEATURES GFQ 1-2019

he story of Marx and Mercedes privilege. Improvised on the basis of a treat- GENRE Drama, Experimental, Love Story begins in a sleepy Southern Italian ment, the film is a poetic adventure, a crime YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR town. Marx is a young German try- film without justice, a love story without a Lillian Loveday Erlinger SCREENPLAY Lillian ing to recuperate from his suicidal kiss, a documentary fairy tale. Loveday Erlinger CINEMATOGRAPHY Lillian depressionT along the rocky cliffs of Apulia. He Loveday Erlinger CAST Lena Tronina, Louis runs from his problems and straight into the LILLIAN LOVEDAY ERLINGER studied Docu- von Klipstein PRODUCER Estella Suplit PRO- mysterious Russian beauty, Mercedes, who’s mentary Film and Directing at Harvard DUCTION COMPANY Filmakademie Baden- more than happy to create new ones for him. University and at the Filmakademie Baden- Württemberg RUNTIME 88 min LANGUAGE She’s a vivid, visceral young woman with a Württemberg. Her films include: the shorts English, German, Italian, Russian deep loathing for boredom. The unlikely pair MANY PATHS (2006), LESPWA D’AYITI (2006), finds a strange fascination in one another and GRIEVANCE (2009), JESSIE’S TRACKS (2010), SALES a game begins as each spins a story about PUZZLE PIECE (2011), MIT HAUT UND Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg who they are, pushing the boundaries of truth HAAREN (2012), DAS ALTE BÖSE WIR (2014), [email protected] and fiction, rewriting their own pasts accord - DIE STILLE (2016), and her feature debut www.filmakademie.de ing to their dreams. Reality begins to blur as BECAUSE WE DREAMT OF FLYING (2018). they play their game out in the world, spiral - ing out of control until Mercedes’ lover Deo, with unfortunately powerful connections to the Mafia, ends up dead.

BECAUSE WE DREAMT OF FLYING takes notes from classic couple crime films like BONNIE & CLYDE, BREATHLESS and BAD- LANDS, but tells a story that is unmistakably modern, whose characters suffer the woes of

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ased on a true story, EXTREME IRINA ARMS studied Film, Music and Phil- GENRE Drama YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 NUMBER is the story of a young osophy in Moscow and Frankfurt. Active as a DIRECTOR Irina Arms SCREENPLAY Irina refugee from Chechnya who comes filmmaker, producer and journalist, her films Arms CINEMATOGRAPHY Sven Jakob-Engel- to Germany in 2004 and is thrown include: WEISST DU, WAS ICH MIR mann CAST Lidia Krebs, Jan Amazigh Sid, intoB prison in Berlin. He enlists the help of a WÜNSCHE (short, 2012), COME AND DIE/ Bernhard Schütz PRODUCER Irina Arms translator to escape. He then joins a terrorist GEGENSTEINE (short, 2014), RITUALS (doc, PRODUCTION COMPANY ARMS Filmpro- group in Berlin that gives him a very special 2017), and EXTREME NUMBER (2018). duktion RUNTIME 81 min LANGUAGE order. Authentic war documentation is em- German, Russian FESTIVALS Sacramento bedded in the film as the Chechen protago- Underground Film & Arts Festival 2018 nist’s flashbacks. This is real coverage of war, shot by a Chechen rebel from 1996-2000 in SALES Chechnya. Real and fictional levels of the ARMS Filmproduktion story blend together as a whole. [email protected] www.armsfilm.net

35 NEW FEATURES GFQ 1-2019

n a small town on the edge of the Ruhr HENNING BECKHOFF was born in 1991 and GENRE Coming-of-Age Story, Drama YEAR Valley, a boy from a farm is looking for his studied Film Directing at the Film University OF PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR Henning place in the world. Torn between the city Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. Also active as a Beckhoff SCREENPLAY Paula Cvjetkovic, and the country, between his best friend freelance director, writer and producer, his Henning Beckhoff CINEMATOGRAPHY Sabine andI his older brother, between the present films include: FAHRT ZU HÖLLE (short, 2017), Panossian CAST Jerome Hirthammer, and tradition, Johannes longs for recognition VOGELFREI (short, 2017), THINGS I DON’T Peter Lohmeyer, Henning Flüsloh, Michele and adventure. GET (2018), and OFF SEASON (2019). Tiemann, Victoria Schulz, Anna Böttcher PRODUCERS Genia Krassnig, Diana Hellwig, Henning Beckhoff PRODUCTION COMPANY Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF RUNTIME 71 min LANGUAGE German FESTIVALS Hof 2018, Poitiers 2018 AWARDS Best Costume Design & Best Production Design, Honorable Mention German Cinema New Talent Award Hof 2018, Audience Award Poitiers

SALES Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF [email protected] www.filmuniversitaet.de

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ummer is finally here! The Immen- SHARON VON WIETERSHEIM was born in GENRE Family Entertainment YEAR OF hof sisters Lou, Charly, and Emmie Fort Stewart/Georgia in the USA and trained PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Sharon von are looking forward to a relaxed at Lee Strasberg’s Actor’s Studio in New York Wietersheim SCREENPLAY Sharon von time with their horses. There’s just and with Ruth von Zerboni in Munich. She was Wietersheim CINEMATOGRAPHY Friede oneS catch – Immenhof is bankrupt. What’s an assistant director under Kurt Meisel at Clausz CAST Leia Holtwick, Moritz more, the girls are under constant attack Munich’s Residenztheater and as an actress Bäckerling, Heiner Lauterbach, Wotan Wilke from the mean owner of their neighboring she has appeared in numerous series. Her Möhring, Laura Berlin, Valerie Huber, Rafael stud farm and his arrogant horse trainer directorial debut, THE NECKLACE, was nomi- Gareisen PRODUCERS Frank Meiling, Sharon Runa. Runa is having trouble to control nated for the German Film Award for Best von Wietersheim PRODUCTION COMPANY Cagliostro, the new star racehorse, and she Short Film in 1995, and was followed by the Rich and Famous Film, in co-production with accuses Lou of being responsible for the hor- features WORKAHOLIC (1996), SUPERSINGLE Tele München Gruppe RUNTIME 105 min se’s difficult behavior. Lou only sees one way (1996), TIME SHARE (1999), HERZSTOLPERN LANGUAGE German out: she agrees to a risky deal, in which she (2000), DAS BISSCHEN HAUSHALT (2003), not only puts her favorite mare Holly on the AUF DEN SPUREN DER VERGANGENHEIT SALES line, but also risks the future of their entire (2004), DIE ZEIT, DIE MAN LEBEN NENNT Beta Cinema stables. Will the three sisters be able to save (2006), AUF DER SUCHE NACH DEM G. (2009), [email protected] their home? and IMMENHOF – THE ADVENTURE OF A www.betacinema.com SUMMER (2019).

37 NEW FEATURES GFQ 1-2019

uhr Valley, Germany, 1972. Hans- CAROLINE LINK’s career as a director began GENRE Biopic, Comedy, Drama, Literature Peter is a pudgy nine-year-old with immediate success both at the national YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR growing up in the security of his and international level when her first feature Caroline Link SCREENPLAY Ruth Toma CINE- family and fun-loving relatives. At film BEYOND SILENCE (1996) was nominated MATOGRAPHY Judith Kaufmann CAST Julius Rfirst sight he might not be the most popular for an Academy Award® as Best Foreign Weckauf, Luise Heyer, Sönke Möhring, Diana guy, but he has a talent for making others Language Film in 1997. After completing her Amft, Joachim Król, Maren Kroymann, Ursula laugh, which he refines on a daily basis in his second feature film, ANNALUISE AND ANTON Werner, Hedi Kriegeskotte PRO DUCERS grandmother’s corner shop. However, dark (1999), a children’s movie based on the Erich Hermann Florin, Nico Hofmann, Sebastian shadows soon loom over the boy’s everyday Kästner novel of the same name, she directed Werninger, Tobias Timme PRODUCTION life as his once cheerful mum becomes more NOWHERE IN AFRICA (2001), which won the COMPANY UFA Fiction, in co-production with and more depressed after an operation. Academy Award® for Best Foreign Language Warner Bros. Film Productions Germany, Hans-Peter’s sad and hardworking father Film in 2003. In 2013, she directed EXIT Gesellschaft für Feine Filme RUNTIME 95 leaves him mostly in the care of his two MARRAKECH, which premiered as a Special min LANGUAGE German grandmas, both of whom have big hearts and Presentation at the Toronto IFF and won the strong personalities. Their love and care Gryphon Award for Best Film at the Giffoni SALES make it possible for Hans-Peter to survive IFF. THAT BOY NEEDS FRESH AIR (2018) is Picture Tree International the ensuing emotional turmoil and use his Caroline Link’s latest feature film as a [email protected] comedic talents to heal his own wounds while director. www.picturetree-international.com also making people laugh along with him.

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COLD FEET

hrough a curious mix-up, the petty WOLFGANG GROOS was born in 1968. He GENRE Comedy YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 criminal Denis suddenly finds him- studied Production at the German Film and DIRECTOR Wolfgang Groos SCREENPLAY self in the position of a caretaker for Television Academy Berlin (DFFB), graduating Christof Ritter CINEMATOGRAPHY Andreas the stroke patient Raimund. All he in 2003. He directed the short WENN ZWEI Berger CAST Heiner Lauterbach, Emilio Sa- reallyT wanted to do was break into Raimund’s SICH STREITEN (2004) and various TV shows kraya, Sonja Gerhardt, Aleksandar Jovanovic, house in order to finally pay off his debts to such as FREUNDE FÜR IMMER (2005), Michael Ostrowski, Jasmin Gerat PRODU- some disagreeable crooks. Instead, he now SWITCH RELOADED (2006) and RUDI – THE CERS Uli Putz, Jakob Claussen CO-PRO - sits captive in the rich businessman’s house, RACING PIG (2007-2009). His award-winning DUCERS Tommy Pridnig, Peter Wirthen- who, since his seizure has been confined to a films include: HANGTIME (2008), THE sohn PRODUCTION COMPANY Claussen+Putz wheelchair. When Raimund’s granddaughter CROCODILES – ALL FOR ONE (2011), WHEN Filmproduktion, in co-production with Charlotte shows up to check on him, it’s INGE IS DANCING (2013), VAMPIRE SISTERS Deutsche Columbia Pictures Filmproduktion, finally too much for Denis. But escape is not (2012), VAMPIRE SISTERS 2 (2014), RICO, Lotus-Film RUNTIME 97 min LANGUAGE an option as a mighty snowstorm is raging in OSKAR AND THE BROKEN HEARTED (2015), German the region. And so he must continue to play ROBBY & TOBY’S FANTASTIC VOYAGER the role of the caretaker – very much to Rai- (2016), LILLY’S BEWITCHED CHRISTMAS SALES mund’s dismay, who is doing everything he (2017), and COLD FEET (2018). Picture Tree International can to fend off the intruder. In contrast to [email protected] Charlotte, Raimund has long since seen www.picturetree-international.com through Denis’ facade. A game of cat-and- mouse begins, in which the handicapped senior and the clever young man put their re- sources to terrific use...

39 NEW FEATURES GFQ 1-2019

wo masked men kidnap a young and ropes. When Vic leaves to send them to THOMAS SIEBEN was born in 1976 and woman in broad daylight in the Stella’s father with their ransom demand, studied Political Science, followed by Film middle of a street. They bind and both Tom’s and Stella’s nerves are strained to and Photography Studies at Massachusetts gag her and take her to an aban - the bursting point. Tom checks on her every College of Art in Boston. His films include HIT doned,T soundproofed apartment. She is 10 minutes, helps her drink and attends to AND RUN (short, 2002), DISTANCE (2008), Stella, a millionaire’s daughter. Her kid - her elementary needs. In this gruesome and THE DAM (2013), and KIDNAPPING STELLA nappers have worked out a detailed plan. But accurately planned crime, however, Stella is (2018). Stella is not going to play the perfect victim – not going to play the perfect victim and she she’s not giv ing in without a fight. cleverly will try to get as close to her masked GENRE Thriller CATEGORY Feature YEAR OF guardian as she can. PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR Thomas A gray van from a parking lot, a license plate Sieben SCREENPLAY Thomas Sieben CINE- from a car dump, scissors, padlocks and A highly atmospheric, merciless, modern MATOGRAPHY Sten Mende CAST Max von der ropes from the hardware store – the coldly thriller with a top-notch cast, starring Max Groeben, Jella Haase, Clemens Schick PRO- efficient Vic and his younger accomplice Tom von der Groeben (SUCK ME SHAKESPEER), DUCER Henning Ferber CO-PRODUCER Ste- systematically follow a very precise plan. Jella Haase (SUCK ME SHAKESPEER, fan Gärtner PRODUCTION COMPANY Henning In silence and concentration, they prepare a BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ) and Clemens Ferber Filmproduktion, in co-production with room in an uninhabited housing block and Schick (CASINO ROYALE, POINT BREAK) in SevenPictures Film, Film 1 RUNTIME 89 min turn it into a soundproof prison cell. It is the lead roles. Thomas Sieben (DISTANCE) LANGUAGE German tailor-made for Stella, the bright daughter of directs this tense power-play of greed and a millionaire. Everything goes just as planned intrigue with outstanding visuals, keeping us SALES as they wait for her in the middle of a street, on the edge of our seats until the very end. Global Screen kidnap her and take her to her cell. In her pre- [email protected] sence, they avoid talking and remain entirely www.globalscreen.de masked. Vic and Tom take pictures of their helpless victim, tied to a bed with handcuffs

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wo actors were left out in the wil- RICK OSTERMANN gathered his first film ex- GENRE Drama YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 derness, each with a story of their perience on set, working as a set manager, DIRECTOR Rick Ostermann CAST Oliver own given by the director, without a production manager and assistant director. Masucci, Louis Hofmann PRODUCERS Stefan script … but with three action cams His short film STILL premiered at the Film - Sporbert, Rüdiger Heinze PRODUCTION thatT are an integral part of the plot. We follow festival Max Ophüls Preis in Saarbrücken in COMPANY Zum Goldenen Lamm Filmproduk- their story as it unfolds for each character 2009. His first feature film WOLFSKINDER tion RUNTIME 91 min LANGUAGE German and step into a breathtaking story of survival, premiered during the Venice Film Festival in FESTIVALS Black Nights Tallinn 2018, Tertio guilt and hope! the Orizzonti sidebar. In 2017 he returned to Millennio 2018, Film festival Max Ophüls Preis Venice, presenting his new feature KRIEG, Saarbrücken 2019 once again in the sidebar Orizzonti. LYSIS is his latest film. SALES ARRI Media International [email protected] www.arrimedia.de/international

41 NEW FEATURES GFQ 1-2019

t’s double trouble when fate and an ill- KAROLINE HERFURTH was discovered in a GENRE Comedy YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2019 executed diamond robbery throw Mel and Berlin schoolyard at age 15 and soon there- DIRECTOR Karoline Herfurth SCREENPLAY Lise together in a race and chase against after found herself on the set of CRAZY (2001) Monika Fäßler CINEMATOGRAPHY Daniel time. Mel, a professional criminal and next to Tom Schilling (NEVER LOOK AWAY, Gottschalk CAST Karoline Herfurth, Hannah Isingle mum looking to pull off her greatest 2018). Herfurth went on to graduate from Herzsprung, Frederick Lau, Anneke Kim coup, and her nerdy, easily panic-stricken Berlin’s renowned Ernst Busch Academy of Sarnau, Uwe Preuss, Katrin Sass, Ronald hostage Lise are soon pursued by the relent- Dramatic Arts and soon launched her inter- Zehrfeld PRODUCERS Christopher Doll, less detective Ingrid, who always gets her national career as “The Plum Girl” in Tom Lothar Hellinger PRODUCTION COMPANY man, or woman, at any price. On the run, the Tykwer’s screen adaptation PERFUME: THE Hellinger/Doll Filmproduktion, in co-pro - mismatched and constantly fighting pair has STORY OF A MURDERER (2006). She then duction with Warner Bros. Film Productions to dispose of the loot in the face of a Berlin starred next to Kate Winslet and Ralph Germany RUNTIME 105 min LANGUAGE underworld also determined to get its hands Fiennes in THE READER (2008). She made German on them and the precious stones. As the for- her directorial debut with the romantic com - ces of law and disorder close in, Lise develops edy TEXT FOR YOU (2016). SWEETHEARTS SALES a liking for Mel, deciding she is going to help marks her second outing as a feature film Picture Tree International her ’captor’. Mel is far less than enthusiastic, director. [email protected] especially given Lise’s idea of support. With www.picturetree-international.com no other choice, the odd couple soon be - comes a perfect tag team. But when Mel then adds the good looking cop Harry to her collection of hostages and Lise immediately falls for him, the chaos becomes perfect – with a happy ending looking to be an impossibly long way off.

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rido is a fun-loving kid and just like MARCUS H. ROSENMÜLLER was born in 1973 GENRE Family Entertainment YEAR OF most kids his age, a little lazy in in Tegernsee and studied at the University of PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR Marcus H. school. One day during a town fair Television & Film in Munich. Also active in Rosenmüller SCREENPLAY Simone Höft, he encounters a magical mirror. theater, a selection of his award-winning Nora Lämmermann CINEMA TOG RAPHY FWith the mirror’s magic he is able to create a films includes: GRAVE DECISIONS (WER Stefan Biebl CAST Luis Vorbach, Jona double of himself – who is just perfect at FRÜHER STIRBT IST LÄNGER TOT, 2006), Gaensslen, Margarita Broich PRO DUC ERS everything he is not. With the help of his HEAVYWEIGHTS (SCHWERE JUNGS, 2007), Benedikt Böllhoff, Max Frauenknecht CO- double who is very smart in school Frido BEST TIMES (BESTE ZEIT, 2007), BESTE PRODUCERS Al Munteanu, Lars Wiebe starts to give up more and more responsibility GEGEND (2008), RÄUBER KNEISSL (2008), PRODUCTION COMPANY VIAFILM, in co-pro - not only in school but also at home. At first it LITTLE WHITE LIES (DIE PERLMUTTER- duction with MDR, KiKA, BR, WDR, is a lot of fun and he tells his secret to his best FARBE, 2009), SUMMER IN ORANGE SquareOne Entertainment, die film gmbh friend Emil, but then all of his classmates find (SOMMER IN ORANGE, 2011), SOMMER DER RUNTIME 92 min LANGUAGE German out and copy themselves. No one goes to GAUKLER (2011), WER’S GLAUBT WIRD school anymore but the freaky doubles start SELIG (2012), BESTE CHANCE (2014), SALES to take over. Slowly but surely, the kids realize BRENNA TUATS SCHO LANG (doc, 2015), ARRI Media International that they miss their old lives and decide to TRAUTMANN (2018), and DOUBLE TROUBLE [email protected] take action by setting up a trap that will have – THE MAGICAL MIRROR (2019). www.arrimedia.de/international the doubles return into the mirror.

43 NEW FEATURES GFQ 1-2019

HOW ABOUT ADOLF?

t should have been a wonderful evening. SÖNKE WORTMANN ranks among the most GENRE Comedy YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 Stephan and Elisabeth have invited family respected and most successful directors in DIRECTOR Sönke Wortmann SCREENPLAY and friends for dinner, but as soon as Germany. After his graduation movie DREI D Claudius Pläging CINEMATOGRAPHY Jo Heim Thomas announces that he and his preg- (1988) was nominated for a Student Oscar®, CAST Florian David Fitz, Christoph Maria Inant girlfriend Anna are planning to name his debut feature film MAYBE… MAYBE Herbst, Janina Uhse, Caroline Peters, Justus their unborn son Adolf, things get out of hand. NOT/THE TURBULENT MAN (1994) became von Dohnányi PRODUCERS Tom Spieß, Marc Even family friend René is drawn into the one of the most successful German films in Conrad, Martin Moszkowicz PRODUCTION fight, as secrets are revealed and truths are the 1990s. The touching post-war drama THE COMPANY Constantin Film Produktion RUN- dragged to light, kicking and screaming. It’s MIRACLE OF BERN (2003) took Audience TIME 91 min LANGUAGE German a clash of egos, of wounded prides, and as the Awards in Locarno, San Francisco and evening escalates and unforgiveable things Ashland and was released in cinemas around SALES are said on all sides, the argument about baby the world. The documentary DEUTSCHLAND. Global Screen names turns into a feast of childhood trans- EIN SOMMERMÄRCHEN on the Soccer World [email protected] gressions and hidden passions, served up for Cup 2006 is the most successful documentary www.globalscreen.de all to enjoy. in German cinemas to date. His other highly- acclaimed films include ALONE AMONG Director Sönke Wortmann deftly helms this WOMEN (1991), LITTLE SHARKS (1992), MR. incred ible, did-he-just-say-that story of a BLUESMAN (1993), THE SUPERWIFE (1996), family dinner gone awry, in which German CAMPUS (1998), ST. PAULI NIGHT (1999), THE guilt and angst over the Nazi past burst out HOLLYWOOD SIGN (2000), POPE JOAN (2009), into the open willy-nilly. HOW ABOUT ADOLF? THE WEDDING TAPE (2012), WRECKED is an outstanding social satire in which witty (2014), MS. MUELLER MUST GO (2014), and dialogue and perfect timing keep the audi- HOW ABOUT ADOLF? (2018). ence on the edge of their seats. A breakout hit at the German box office.

44 GFQ 1-2019 NEW DOCUMENTARIES

ERMANIA explores young men on their search for identity in a time of impermanence and constant change. Amidst current populist Gupheaval, “traditional values“ resurface while a surge of participation in fraternities be - comes fashionable again. Today there are more than 1,600 student associations internationally with over 190,000 members of Ger- man-speaking origin. In observing scenes, the film approaches the members of Corps Germania. For the members of the conservative fraternity, it is lived democracy and a school for life. For outsiders, it is a claustro- phobic cosmos with strict rules, rigid hier - archy and strange rituals. But what does it mean to be a man, what are they searching for in the digital age, where does a political attitude come from? The filmmakers take a look behind the usual lines of argumentation and find out how the young men find their © mindjazz pictures beari ngs in the tension between tradition and modernity. GENRE Culture, Educational, History YEAR OF Munich 2018, Innsbruck 2018, Flahertiana PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR Lion Bischof 2018, Kitzbühel 2018, This Human World 2018 CINEMATOGRAPHY Dino Osmanovic PRO - AWARDS Best Film Music in a Documentary LION BISCHOF was born in 1988. After DUCERS Johannes Schubert, Lion Bischof Saarbrücken 2018 studies in Philosophy, he studied Directing at PRODUCTION COMPANY Hochschule für the University of Television and Film Munich. Fernsehen und Film München RUNTIME 77 SALES Active as a cameraman and director, his films min LANGUAGE German FESTIVALS Film- mindjazz pictures international include: SUPERVISION (2012), STATION: festival Max Ophüls Preis Saarbrücken 2018, [email protected] PATHOLOGIE (2013), HINTERWELTEN (2014), Crossing Europe 2018, EDOC Encuentros del www.mindjazz-international.com and GERMANIA (2018). Otro Cine 2018, Sehsüchte 2018, DOK.fest

ow do we go about making films for children fleeing wars and cri- ses? What inspiration can cinema give these children? Can films Hrelieve suffering or provide hope? Seven young filmmakers from all over the world created seven non-verbal short films, each of which addresses in its own highly unique way the needs of the refugee children. Each one offers a glimpse of a brighter future. Seven films woven into an episode film, adding doc - umentary material from Lebanon, Jordan and Greece, which creates a near-poetic mel - ancholy that is repeatedly broken up by the energy of children – beyond all borders.

BEYOND BORDERS is a feature length episode film. The single short films (fiction, animation and documentary) can also be shown individually. © Bildersturm Filmproduktion

BEYOND BORDERS – STORIES OF FREEDOM & FRIENDSHIP

GENRE Episodic YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 FESTIVALS DOK.fest Munich 2018, Jakarta AWARDS VFF Documentary Film Production DIRECTORS Johanna Bentz, Sandra Dajani, Int. Humanitarian & Culture Awards 2018, Prize 2018 Madeleine Dallmeyer, Nazgol Emami, Khaled Tout Courts 2018, Busan 2018, Dresden 2018, Nawal, Diana Menestrey, Camilo Colmenares Zlin 2018, Jeunesse Tout Courts 2018, SALES PRODUCER Birgit Schulz PRODUCTION Cortoons Gandia 2018, Linoleum Int. Ani - NEW DOCS COMPANY Bildersturm Filmproduktion mation & Media Art Festival 2018, Respect [email protected] RUNTIME 80 min Human Rights FF 2018, Imaginaria 2018 www.newdocs.de

45 NEW DOCUMENTARIES GFQ 1-2019

his is the story of Anastasia Biefang, lieutenant colonel in the German military, who was assigned male at birth. At the height of her career she decidesT to finally come out as transgender. Much to her surprise, she does not face any negative consequences in her career in the military. After her transition she becomes the first female commander in the history of the German military, leading a German armed forces’ battalion for cyber and information domain service. The film follows her male to female transition and observes her taking over duties as a commander. Anastasia is not the only one transitioning – her battalion must also face up to changes in their men - tality.

I AM ANASTASIA

THOMAS LADENBURGER was born in 1975 (2013), and the feature documentaries FOR COMPANY Thomas Ladenburger Filmproduk- and studied at the San Francisco Art Institute, MYSELF AND THE OTHERS (2004), AL HALQA tion RUNTIME 52 min/95 min LANGUAGE the Kassel Art Institute, and at the University – IN THE STORYTELLER'S CIRCLE (2010), and German, English of Arts (UdK) in Berlin. Active as a camera- I AM ANASTASIA (2019). man, instructor and documentary filmmaker, SALES his films include: the shorts TRANCE UND GENRE Biopic, Society YEAR OF PRODUC- Thomas Ladenburger Filmproduktion SCHLANGEN – DIE AISSAWA (2013), BOUIA TION 2019 DIRECTOR Thomas Ladenburger [email protected] OMAR – BÄNDIGER DER DÄMONEN (2013), CINEMATOGRAPHY Thomas Ladenburger, www.thomas-ladenburger.com DIE HALQA DER SHRIFA AICHA BENBAHA Elfi Mikesch, Ralph Netzer PRODUCTION

y Car. Your House. Our Street. Someone’s property. But who owns the photo of your house? The color of my car? The image Mof our street? Can one own a view? Who makes money with all your images on Face- book or Whatsapp? Who will control the image of the world once reality is completely “augmented”?

People are filming and taking pictures of themselves like never before. Since the inven- tion of the photograph, trillions of photos have been taken. But the easier it gets to “expose” everything and everyone, the more our self- evident freedom to portray the world is re- stricted by rules.

THE ILLEGAL FILM

MARTIN BAER and CLAUS WISCHMANN GENRE Experimental YEAR OF PRODUCTION SALES are Berlin-based documentary filmmakers, 2018 DIRECTORS Martin Baer, Claus Wisch - Sounding Images active in the fields of cinematography, writing mann CINEMATOGRAPHY Martin Baer, [email protected] and directing. In addition to their own films, Sebastian Hattop, Marcus Winterbauer, Boris www.sounding-images.de together they have directed KINSHASA Fromageot, Thomas Kutschker, Martin SYMPHONY (2010) and THE ILLEGAL FILM Koddenberg PRODUCER Claus Wischmann (2018). PRODUCTION COMPANY Sounding Images RUNTIME 84 min LANGUAGE German, English FESTIVALS Hof 2018

46 GFQ 1-2019 NEW DOCUMENTARIES

s a young girl growing up in a rural village in Kenya, Beryl thought that all women in the world have to be circumcised by goingA through Female Genital Mutilation/Cut- ting (FGM/C) at a young age; therefore she went through the ritual at a tender age as a rite of passage. Little did she know about the effects of FGM/C. Many years later she learns about a rather new reconstructive surgery that promises to give back what was lost once. In her author-driven documentary IN SEARCH… she explores the emotional dilemma by talking to other women who went through similar experiences. Beryl is trying to find out whether she should undergo this surgery, a journey into the unknown for a second time.

BERYL MAGOKO studied Mass Communica- OTHER MOTHERS (2019, co-direction). Kikuria FESTIVALS DOK Leipzig 2018, IDFA tion and TV/Video Production in Uganda, 2018 AWARDS Audience Award (Leipziger followed by post-graduate studies at the GENRE Human Rights, Women YEAR OF Ring) 2018, Best Student Documentary IDFA Academy of Media Arts Cologne. Sharpening PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR Beryl Magoko 2018 her passion for cinema through documentary CINEMATOGRAPHY Jule Katinka Cramer films, her debut film THE CUT (2012) won PRODUCERS Beryl Magoko, Jule Katinka SALES several international awards. Her other Cramer PRODUCTION COMPANY Kunsthoch- Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln (KHM) films include WATER FOR JANET AND schule für Medien Köln (KHM) RUNTIME 90 [email protected] FELICITAS (2013), IN SEARCH… (2018), and min LANGUAGE English, German, Swahili, www.khm.de

OY IN IRAN accompanies the road- show of the artists Susie Wimmer, Andreas Schock and Moni Single from “Clowns Without Borders” to variousJ Iranian aid organizations for orphans and street kids, hospitals, psychiatric clinics and refugee camps. The film recounts not only intense human encounters but also the almost unbelievable story of the Iranian tour guide Reza Abedini. Travelling with the German artists, the smart guy from Tehran becomes infected with the “clowns-virus” and – in the end – performs in front of his own people as a new born clown. JOY IN IRAN is a cinematic reflection about altruism and the healing power of humor and joy – in Iran and elsewhere on our planet. The film sketches a very human portrait of this controversial country which is again in the focus of worldwide media coverage. © Konzept+Dialog.Medien

WALTER STEFFEN was born in 1955. Active GENRE Road Movie, Human Interest YEAR OF national Documentary FF 2018 AWARDS Best as a scriptwriter, producer and director, a PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR Walter Steffen Documentary Feature Bahia 2018 selection of his films includes: BULLDOGS CINEMATOGRAPHY Walter Steffen PRODU- (2007), END OF THE LINE SEESHAUPT (2011), CER Walter Steffen PRODUCTION COMPANY SALES MUNICH IN INDIA (2013), BAVARIA VISTA Konzept+Dialog.Medienproduktion RUNTIME Konzept+Dialog.Medienproduktion CLUB (2014), HAPPY WELCOME (2015), and 90 min LANGUAGE German, English [email protected] JOY IN IRAN (2018), among others. FESTIVALS Fünf Seen FF 2018, Bahia www.konzept-und-dialog.de Indepen dent Cinema Festival 2018, Iran Inter-

47 NEW DOCUMENTARIES GFQ 1-2019

poetic time travel fantasy through the imagined history of the United States as a modern fairyland, along the traces of our desire for illusionA and escapism – fatally bound between fact and fiction. PLAYLAND USA questions the possibilities and limits of the representation of history and is a self-reflection regarding film as a medium. The film draws a line in cinematic images from Noah’s Ark to the colonization of Mars and asks essential questions: What is seeing? How do we see the world? What is invisible, for us, for others? The director has made many “American Dreams” into one “American Nightmare”, in - scribing quotes of pop culture and Hollywood into a biblical history. When the film recounts the shooting at the Batman premiere in Aurora, reality and fiction have finally merged.

BENJAMIN SCHINDLER studied at the GENRE Fantasy, History, Science Fiction, LANGUAGE English FESTIVALS Filmfestival Academy of Media Arts Cologne. Also active Society YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2019 Max Ophüls Preis Saarbrücken 2019 in the fields of virtual stage design, space and DIRECTOR Benjamin Schindler CINEMA- video installations, and as a cameraman, his TOGRAPHY Benjamin Schindler PRODUCERS SALES films as a director include: COSTA DEL SOL Levin Hübner, Benjamin Schindler, Hübner/Wallenfels (2010), CHELLAPONNU (2011), PLAYHOUSE Fabian Wallenfels PRODUCTION COMPANIES [email protected] OF A. (2013), and PLAYLAND USA (2019). zeitgebilde Filmproduktion & Hübner/ www.hwav.de Wallenfels, in co-production with WDR, in cooperation with ARTE RUNTIME 88 min

n Lake Constance, the fifth store of Europe’s biggest pharmacy chain opened in 2017. Even more nappies and tooth - paste for the tourist shoppers from ISwitzerland. Until 2016, the location used to be the residence of the Scala Filmpalast. When Douglas Wolfsperger arrives, the pro- tests are just in full swing – it’s the last rebel- lion of a dying cinema. He talks to movie enthusiasts and bureaucratic local council- men. Town centers and the meaning of culture are changing. But who are the wire- pullers?

DOUGLAS WOLFSPERGER was born in 1957. DISCARDED FATHER (2008), DOUBLE LIFE DUCTION COMPANY Douglas Wolfsperger Active as a writer, producer and director, his (2011), BRUNDIBAR REVISITED (2014), and Filmproduktion RUNTIME 80 min LANGUAGE films include: LEBE KREUZ UND STERBE SCALA ADIEU (2018). German FESTIVALS Hof 2018, Biberacher QUER (1985), KIES (1986), PROBEFAHRT INS Filmfestspiele 2018 AWARDS Best Documen- PARADIES (1992), HEIRATE MIR! (1999), GENRE Educational, Film History, Tragi - tary Biberach 2018 BELLARIA – AS LONG AS WE LIVE! (2001), comedy YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 RIDERS OF THE SACRED BLOOD (2003), DID DIRECTOR Douglas Wolfsperger CINEMA- SALES Douglas Wolfsperger Filmproduktion YOU EVER FALL IN LOVE WITH ME? (2005), TOG RAPHY Frank Amann, Börres Weiffen- [email protected] LONG JOURNEY INTO THE LIGHT (2007), THE bach PRODUCER Douglas Wolfsperger PRO- www.douglas-wolfsperger.com

48 GFQ 1-2019 NEW DOCUMENTARIES

TRESS follows five young veterans from Pittsburgh who served in Afghanistan or Iraq after 9/11. Joe, Torrie, Mike, James and Justin tell storiesS of their experience in the war and their process of adjusting to civilian life back home. Veterans only make up 2% of the U.S. population, but they carry almost all of the physical and psychological burden of recent wars – a decade of trauma and injury. The film finds a unique visual language, using extreme slow motion to make the difficulties of adjusting to civilian life after the experience of war emotionally tangible for the audience.

FLORIAN BARON was born in 1984 and GENRE Society YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 SALES studied at the Film University Babelsberg DIRECTOR Florian Baron CINEMATOGRAPHY NEW DOCS KONRAD WOLF. In 2015 he founded the Johannes Waltermann PRODUCER Florian [email protected] production company Machnitzky Filmpro- Baron CO-PRODUCER Herbert Burkert PRO- www.newdocs.de duktion. His films include: RADIO TAXI (2010, DUCTION COMPANY Machnitzky Filmpro- short doc), THE FINAL CALL (2012, doc), JOE duktion RUNTIME 83 min LANGUAGE English BOOTS (short doc, 2017), and STRESS (doc, FESTIVALS DOK Leipzig 2018 AWARDS 2018). DEFA Sponsoring Prize DOK Leipzig 2018

aniele Kihlgren is a visionary entre preneur who tries to bring old Italian villages back to life and preserve their ancient charm, evenD at the cost of losing money. Though a sick man, he is a lively, eccentric character who uses all his stamina to fight against time and prevent Italian beauties from falling into oblivion.

OUR STONE

ALESSANDRO SOETJE is a Milan-based Prix for Advertising Strategies. He is currently Media, in co-production with Nantucket RUN- director and cinematographer. His work in- working on the documentary THE HAPPI- TIME 72 min LANGUAGE Italian FESTIVALS cludes the documentaries AFRICA AS SEEN NESS OF PURSUIT. Montreal 2018, FrontDoc Aosta 2018, Sondrio BY AFRICANS (series) and the award-winning 2018 AFRICA’S CHILDREN, as well as numerous GENRE Biopic YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 other television series and commercials. His DIRECTOR Alessandro Soetje CINEMATOG - SALES work on the international campaign Aware RAPHY Alessandro Soetje PRODUCER Ales- Alpenway Media Migrants was awarded the Best Social Cam- sandro Melazzini CO-PRODUCER Alessandro [email protected] paign prize at the 30th International Grand Soetje PRODUCTION COMPANY Alpenway www.alpenway.com

49 NEW DOCUMENTARIES GFQ 1-2019

ow does living with a seriously sick or disabled child influence the family structure? What specific role do the healthy siblings have? HUNZERTRENNLICH accompanies children and young adults from four completely different families and seeks to find answers to these questions in their everyday lives.

Over three quarters of the population in Germany have at least one brother or sister. These siblings are playmates, confidantes and often best friends for life. But with a sib- ling there also emerges rivalry in the competition for affection, attention, freedom and respect. Conflicts are part of every healthy relationship between siblings. They are important to establish a lasting balance and to support the healthy development of a child. But what happens if that is not possible be- © Kinescope Film

INSEPARABLE cause one child has a special, shielded status the feature MORPHEUS (2015). production with Soundbase Studios RUNTIME in the family, due to a sickness or disability 91 min LANGUAGE German FESTIVALS Kas- and is in need of constant care? GENRE Human Interest, Society, Family YEAR sel Documentary Film & Video Festival 2018 OF PRODUCTION 2018 DIRECTOR Frauke AWARDS Golden Hercules Kassel 2018 FRAUKE LODDERS’ other films include: Lodders CINEMATOGRAPHY Timo Schwarz, MONDSCHEIN SONATE (2008), UND SCHULD Fabian Schmalenbach PRODUCERS Mike SALES HAST DU (2009), VERLASSEN (2009), HIP Beilfuß, Matthias Greving, Frauke Lodders Kinescope Film HOP BRAUCHT KEIN MENSCH, ABER CO-PRODUCER Andreas Hellmanzik PRO- [email protected] MENSCH BRAUCHT HIP HOP (doc, 2015), and DUCTION COMPANY Kinescope Film, in co- www.kinescopefilm.de

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Specially designed for desktop and mobile devices, to keep you informed on all the latest German ﬁlms and ﬁlmmakers, and a whole lot more!

50 GFQ 1-2019 NEW SHORTS

THE FUNERAL DANCER

HE FUNERAL DANCER tells the GENRE Drama, Experimental, Science Fiction story of Jazz, who works as a funeral YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2019 DIRECTOR entertainer, a profession which has Natalie MacMahon SCREENPLAY Natalie become one of the best paid jobs in MacMahon CINEMATOGRAPHY Amber Ta world where funerals are a status symbol Palmer CAST Mara Scherzinger, Michael and at the same time an obligation to enter- Ihnow, Annette Pausch, Henry Morales, tain relatives, friends and work colleagues Saskia Mommertz, Frences Kulus, Natalie alike. Expectations are high, morals are low. MacMahon, Theresa Scherhag, Inken Grosse, While Jazz tries to entertain the mourners, Marian Böing, Jennifer Kristin Lindner, she is forced to face severe problems of her Gernot Edelmann PRODUCER Natalie Mac- own. Mahon PRODUCTION COMPANY Natalie MacMahon Films RUNTIME 9 min 31 sec NATALIE MACMAHON began her career as an LANGUAGE German actress and became more interested in writ - ing and directing her own films. Her award- SALES winning films include: THE MAN WHO Natalie MacMahon Films COULDN’T CRY (short, 2015), LIKE A SUM- [email protected] MER SONATA (short, 2016), the web series www.nataliemacmahonfilms.com THE SECRET OF BERLIN (2015) and SENSES (2016), LOLA WANTS TO SEE THE SEA (short, 2016), A UNIVERSAL LOVE STORY (short, 2017), IT’S GETTING DARKER EVERY DAY (short, 2017), THE REDHEAD (short, 2017),

Things have become quiet around Steve and Khaled. The fifth day has begun. It feels like an infinity. The air is so dry, nobody can speak anymore. The silence bursts all hope. When will Anja get in touch? Will Steve and Khaled ever see daylight again?

ime is of essence, trapped under MICHELE GENTILE is active as a director, wri- rubble, buried in the dust. Steve ter, cameraman and editor. A selection of his wakes up and realizes he cannot films as a director includes: IM EINSATZ move. Darkness lies before him. (short doc, 2009), THE PROJEKTIONISTIN ThenT he hears a voice, unknown and in a (2010), VERLUST (short, 2011), DIE PRO - strange language. Khaled has awakened from JEKTIONISTIN – DIE GESCHICHTE EINES a faint. He, too, realizes that he is under FILMS (doc, 2013), GOOD BYE SYRIA (doc, buried rubble and can’t move. Wasn’t he just 2013), PADDY’S MUM (doc, 2014), JAMIL with his daughter in the city? Didn’t he just (short, 2018), and MALIA (in development). want to go shopping and visit his parents? Where is his daughter? What happened? GENRE Drama YEAR OF PRODUCTION 2018 Steve tries to calm him down, but what is this DIRECTOR Michele Gentile SCREENPLAY American saying? Khaled hardly understands Michele Gentile CINEMATOGRAPHY Frank a word. Steve cannot understand Khaled Barbian CAST Tobias Langhoff, Beate Malkus, either. Both are trapped in complete darkness Sam Alexander, Fakhri Hamad, Alyssa close to each other... Harting, Maria Gorka Uchmann PRODUCERS Jennifer Schense, Michele Gentile CO-PRO- In the evening Anja packs her bag in a small DUCERS Holger Bergmann, Sascha Schmidt office in Germany. “Press” is written on it in PRODUCTION COMPANY Little Big Talents white letters. Concentrated, she puts pass- RUNTIME 29 min LANGUAGE German ports and cards into it. Her husband Leo is watching her closely. He knows that he has to SALES let Anja go again. Into uncertainty. The next Little Big Talents morning her flight is heading to the war zone. [email protected]

51 UPCOMING FILMS GFQ 1-2019

8 TAGE

tefan Ruzowitzky and the HFF Munich GENRE Drama, Melodrama CATEGORY Series graduate Michael Krummenacher are DIRECTORS Stefan Ruzowitzky, Michael Sco-directors of the eight-part drama Krummenacher SCREENPLAY Peter Kocyla, series 8 DAYS to be aired by Sky in Germany Rafael Parente, Benjamin Seiler CAST and Austria in early 2019. The doomsday Christiane Paul, Mark Waschke, Lena Klenke, scenario focuses on the last days of humanity Luisa-Céline Gaffron, Devid Striesow, as we know it as a giant meteor rushes to- Fabian Hinrichs, Henry Hübchen, Murathan wards Earth. Hidden and familiar conflicts Muslu, Claude Heinrich PRODUCER Florian break out and intensify as the disaster looms: Kamhuber PRODUCTION COMPANY NEUE- people suddenly can break the speed limit at SUPER, in co-production with Sky Deutsch- will, have wild unprotected sex, do all the land LANGUAGE German drugs they want, shop with no money, live without working, and love without any con- SALES sequences. But, in the end, the only thing that Sky Vision matters is what is really important in one’s [email protected] final days and hours... skyvision.sky.com

BODY OF TRUTH

he internationally famous artists GENRE Art CATEGORY Documentary DIREC- Marina Abramović, Sigalit Landau, TOR Evelyn Schels PRODUCERS Arek Gielnik, TKatharina Sieverding and Shirin Nes- Sonia Otto PRODUCTION COMPANY INDI hat have been influenced and politicized by FILM, in co-production with DokLab LAN - their personal experiences of war, violence GUAGE English, German and oppression in their respective countries of origin. These experiences infiltrate their SALES works. Their means of expression is the most Autlook Filmsales intimate medium they possess: their own [email protected] bodies. Their art challenges us to develop www.autlookfilms.com new perspectives and awareness, deepening our understanding of the issues of our times.

BODY OF TRUTH accompanies these artists on an emotional journey through their bio - graphies, chronicling the connections and parallels among them, exhibiting the aware- © Börres Wieffenbach/INDI FILM ness-raising power of art. DER CLUB DER SINGENDEN METZGER

dapted from Louise Erdrich’s US- GENRE Drama CATEGORY Mini-Series DI- bestseller of friendship and great RECTOR Uli Edel SCREENPLAY Doris Dörrie, Alove against the background of Ruth Stadler CAST Jonas Nay, Aylin Tezel, German emigration to the US in the early 20th Leonie Benesch, Sylvester Groth, Vladimir century, this is the story of WWI veteran Korneev, Therese Hämer, Claudia Kottal PRO- Fidelis Waldvogel, who emigrates to Argus, DUCERS Oliver Berben, Sarah Kirkegaard, North Dakota to establish an existence and Karsten Rühle PRODUCTION COMPANIES provide for Eva, the pregnant fiancée of a MOOVIE, Constantin Film Produktion, in fallen friend. Here, he meets the performing co-production with ARD Degeto, SWR artiste Delphine and her alcoholic father LANGUAGE German, English Robert, a clown. Delphine finds work with the Lakota Indian Cyprian in a traveling circus SALES while Fidelis opens his own butcher’s shop in Global Screen Argus, and, as a way of dealing with his home- [email protected] sickness, founds a German singing club. www.globalscreen.de When Eva arrives with her child she quickly

52 GFQ 1-2019 UPCOMING FILMS

DER FALL COLLINI

lyas M’Barek is cast as the young Ger- GENRE Drama CATEGORY Feature DIRECTOR man defense lawyer Caspar Leinen in Marco Kreuzpaintner SCREENPLAY Christian EConstantin Film’s screen adaptation of Zübert, Robert Gold, Jens-Frederik Otto CAST Ferdinand von Schirach’s international best- Elyas M’Barek, Alexandra Maria Lara, Franco selling courtroom drama The Collini Case. Nero, Heiner Lauterbach, Manfred Zapatka, Jannis Niewöhner, Rainer Bock, Catrin Strie- As Leinen searches for clues to explain why beck, Pia Stutzenstein, Peter Prager, Hannes his client brutally murdered a prominent in- Wegener PRODUCERS Christoph Müller, dustrialist, he discovers a personal connec- Kerstin Schmidbauer, Marcel Hartges PRO- tion to the victim and unearths a terrible truth DUCTION COMPANY Constantin Film Pro- at the heart of Germany’s legal system that duktion, in co-production with SevenPictures nobody wants to know... Film LANGUAGE German

SALES Global Screen [email protected]

HANNES

hooting was completed last autumn at GENRE Drama CATEGORY Feature DIRECTOR locations in Bavaria, Italy and Spain for Hans Steinbichler SCREENPLAY Dominikus SHans Steinbichler’s HANNES, an adap- Steinbichler CAST Leonard Scheicher, Johan- tation of Rita Falk’s moving bestseller of the nes Nussbaum, Lisa Vicari, Heiner Lauter- same name about friendship, loss and part - bach, Hannelore Elsner, Jeanette Hain, ing, adventure and love of life. Gabriela Maria Schmeide PRODUCER Nils Dünker PRODUCTION COMPANY Lailaps Pic- Leonard Scheicher and Johannes Nussbaum tures, in co-production with STUDIOCANAL are cast as Moritz and Hannes, who have Film, ARD Degeto LANGUAGE German been inseparable friends ever since birth. How ever, life for the 19-year-olds is radically SALES changed when Hannes is seriously injured on STUDIOCANAL a trip out on their motorbikes and remains in [email protected] a comatose state in the hospital. Moritz is www.studiocanal.com nevertheless convinced that Hannes will come through and decides to now live life as his best friend would have done... © STUDIOCANALl/Luis Zeno Kuhn

DAS HAUS

lumbering in the east of Ukraine lies GENRE Art, Experimental CATEGORY Docu- Derzhprom, the House of State mentary DIRECTORS Tatjana Kononenko, SIndustry. Built between 1925-28 in the Matilda Mester PRODUCER Myriam Eichler Constructivist style, it was meant to embody PRODUCTION COMPANY Deutsche Film- und the idea of communism. The film circles Fernsehakademie Berlin (DFFB) LANGUAGE around the building, opening up a kaleidos- Russian, German, Ukrainian cope of perspectives that include an aesthetic examination of the architecture, archive SALES material from the 1920’s and the Soviet Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin Revolution in Ukraine, careful portraits of the [email protected] women who now work in the building, and two www.dffb.de German filmmakers wandering about rather aimlessly. An associative and poetic musing over the historical possibility of building a new society, the material remnants of this possibility and the people inhabiting these

53 UPCOMING FILMS GFQ 1-2019

HAVEN – ABOVE SKY

hooting wrapped at locations in GENRE Fantasy, Science Fiction, Thriller Germany and Switzerland at the end of CATEGORY Feature DIRECTOR Tim Fehlbaum SNovember for the sci-fi spectacle SCREENPLAY Mariko Minoguchi, Tim Fehl- HAVEN – ABOVE SKY which sees the director baum, Jo Rogers CAST Nora Arnezeder, Iain Tim Fehlbaum being reunited with producers Glen, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Sope Dirisu, Thomas Wöbke and Ruth Waldburger and Sebastian Roché, Joel Basman, Bella Bading DoP Markus Förderer from his 2011 award- PRODUCERS Thomas Wöbke, Philipp Trauer, winning debut, the apocalyptic thriller HELL. Ruth Waldburger, Constanze Guttmann PRO- DUCTION COMPANIES BerghausWöbke Film- The screenplay by Fehlbaum and his co- produktion, Vega Film, in co-production with writer Mariko Minoguchi for the English- Constantin Film Produktion, Babelsberg Film, language production is set in a not-too- SRF LANGUAGE English distant future: after a global catastrophe has wiped out nearly all of humanity, Blake, an SALES elite astronaut from Space Colony Kepler, is Mister Smith Entertainment sent back to Earth to make a decision that will [email protected]

NÖ

ina and Michael are in their early 30s. GENRE Comedy, Love Story CATEGORY At first they are happy. Then he Feature DIRECTOR Dietrich Brüggemann Dsuggests they should split up. To SCREENPLAY Anna Brüggemann, Dietrich which she says, “Nö, not having it!” The film Brüggemann CAST Alexander Khuon, Anna then follows them over the coming years as Brüggemann, Hanns Zischler, Petra Schmidt- they try to navigate their way through life’s Schaller, Isolde Barth, Andreas Döhler, Nina pitfalls, live up to their own parents’ expecta- Petri, Mark Waschke PRODUCERS Martin tions, keep their careers on track and be good Heisler, Gabriele Simon PRODUCTION COM- parents themselves. NÖ is a film about love, PANY Flare Film, in co-production with Rotor our search for it and inability to live it when it Film LANGUAGE German is there. About the passing of time and that generation, now in their thirties, that has so SALES much, tries so hard and often fails silently. It The Match Factory is also a film about something that cinema [email protected] does especially well: showing those psycho- www.the-match-factory.com logical states that lie beyond the visible, but are no less real and decisive for our life’s © Alexander Sass/Flare Film journey. RETTET DAS FEUER

say: I believe in life, I believe in love, I GENRE Essay CATEGORY Documentary “ believe in death. This is why I believe in DIRECTOR Jasco Viefhues PRODUCER Jasco Itransience. I take a photograph, I pho- Viefhues PRODUCTION COMPANY Deutsche tograph a person. I photograph the world. I Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin (DFFB) exist. When I imagine the stream of my an- LAN GUAGE German cestors standing behind me, I see my adop- tive parents, my biological parents, and I see SALES my queer ancestors.” Jürgen Baldiga Deutsche Film- und Fernsehakademie Berlin [email protected] “Identity means history and vice versa. So www.dffb.de what does it mean to not know one’s own history? Today, AIDS no longer means what it did thirty years ago, but the stories from the collective memory are now becoming history and I want to tell them.” Jasco Viefhues

54 GFQ 1-2019 UPCOMING FILMS

SPIDES

irector-showrunner-producer Rainer GENRE Science Fiction, Thriller, Action CATE- Matsutani returns to his great GORY Series DIRECTOR Rainer Matsutani Dpassion of genre filmmaking with SCREENPLAY Rainer Matsutani, Eckhard SPIDES which will be aired on NBCUni- Vollmar, Peter Hume, Carola Lowitz, Mark versal’s SYFY channels around the world from Wachholz CAST Rosabell Laurenti Sellers, late 2019. Falk Hentschel, Florence Kasumba, Désirée Nosbusch, Damian Hardung PRODUCERS Set in modern day Berlin, the eight-part se- A. Kiening, R. Matsutani, B. Schlötterer, W. ries centers on a young woman who wakes Behr, J. Cabourne, D. v. Braun, H. Nemmert out of a coma without any memory of her pre- PRO DUCTION COMPANIES Spides Produc - vious life after taking a mysterious drug. tion, Katapult Film, Red Sun Films, in co-pro- When she sets out to discover what happened duction with Palatin Media, Aventin Film, to her, she begins to unravel a conspiracy of Nevision Ltd., Baby Giant Hollyberg LAN - aliens who are using a synthetic drug to infil- GUAGE English trate humans to use as host bodies. The more she starts uncovering, the more of her own SALES Palatin Media

nna teaches violin at a music school, GENRE Drama, Music CATEGORY Feature her husband is an instrument-maker. DIRECTOR Ina Weisse SCREENPLAY Ina AThey have a 10-year-old son, Jonas. Weisse, Daphne Charizani CAST Nina Hoss, At school, Anna champions young Alexander, Simon Abkarian, Ilja Monti, Serafin Mishiev, in whom she alone sees great talent. She de- Sophie Rois, Jens Albinus, Thomas Thieme votes much energy and attention preparing PRODUCER Felix von Boehm PRODUCTION him for the next stage exam to prove she was COMPANY Lupa Film, in co-production with right. Soon Anna devotes more time to him ZDF, ARTE, Idéale Audience, Port au Prince than to Jonas, bringing the two boys into Film & Kultur Produktion LANGUAGE rivalry. At the same time her marriage is German, French collapsing, she withdraws increasingly from her own family and starts an affair with her SALES colleague Christian, who is encouraging her Les Films du Losange to join a quartet. When she fails during their [email protected] joint concert, the pressure mounts. With Alex- www.filmsdulosange.fr ander now her vehicle, she drives him ever onwards and upwards. Come the day of the © Peter Hartwig/Lupa Film exam, events take a tragic turn... DIE WOLF-GÄNG

vampire who can’t stand the sight of GENRE Children & Youth, Family Entertain- blood, a fairy who has a fear of flying, ment CATEGORY Feature DIRECTOR Tim Aand a werewolf with an animal hair Trageser SCREENPLAY Marc Hillefeld CAST allergy: teenagers Vlad, Faye and Wolf are Aaron Kissiov, Johanna Schrami, Arsseni frequently the butt of jokes at the world’s Bultmann, Rick Kavanian, Christian Berkel, most famous magic school of the Penner Sonja Gerhardt, Axel Stein, Waldemar Kobus Academy, but the trio band together as the PRODUCER Christian Becker PRODUCTION Wolf Gang to uncover a secret conspiracy COMPANY Rat Pack Filmproduktion, in co- hatched by the mayor and his secretary that production with Deutsche Columbia Pictures could spell the end of the town of Crailsfelden Filmproduktion LANGUAGE German and its inhabitants of fairies, witches, trolls, dwarves and vampires. The fantasy adventure SALES – which also features top comedians Rick ARRI Media International Kavanian and Axel Stein – will be the first [email protected] cinema adaptation of a book by Wolfgang www.arrimedia.de/international Hohlbein, one of Germany's most successful

55 GERMAN FILMS: A PROFILE GFQ 1-2019 GERMAN FILMS SERVICE + MARKETING

is the national information and advisory SUPERVISORY. BOARD center for the promotion of German films worldwide. It was established in 1954 under Peter Herrmann Chairman the name Export-Union of German Cinema as Peter Dinges the umbrella association for the Association Antonio Exacoustos of German Feature Film Producers, the Kirsten Niehuus Association of New German Feature Film Sabine Pollmeier Producers and the Association of German Film Exporters, and operates today in the TEAM legal form of a limited company. In 2004, the company was reorganized and now operates Mariette Rissenbeek / Simone Baumann (from 1 April 2019) Managing Director under the name: German Films Service + Mai Anh Do Accounts Marketing GmbH. Christine Harrasser Press & PR, Television Angela Hawkins Communications & Marketing SHAREHOLDERS are the German Pro- Anne Heidebrecht Distribution Support & Animation ducers Association, the German Pro ducers Nicole Kaufmann Regional Coordinator: USA, UK & Northern Europe Alliance, the Association of German Film Ex- Dennis Ruh Festival Relations porters, the German Federal Film Board Fides Schäffer Regional Coordinator: Asia & Australia (FFA), the Deutsche Kinemathek, the German Maike Schantz / Johanna Buse (from 1 March 2019) Regional Coordinator: Southern Europe & Latin America Documentary Association, FilmFernsehFonds Martin Scheuring Project Coordinator & Short Film Bayern, Film- und Medien stiftung NRW, Andrea Schiefer Monitoring & Strategic Development, Business Affairs Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, and the Sabrina Schrödl Assistant to the Managing Director German Short Film Association. Bernhard Simek Regional Coordinator: Eastern Europe, Documentary Film

German Films’ budget of presently €4.85 RANGE OF ACTIVITIES million comes from film export levies, the office of the Federal Government Com - Close cooperation with major interna- Publication of informational literature missioner for Culture and the Media, and tional film festivals, including Berlin, Cannes, about current German films and the German the FFA. The eight main regional film funds Venice, San Sebastian, Locarno, Sundance, film industry, as well as international market (FilmFernsehFonds Bayern, Filmförderung Karlovy Vary, Toronto, New York, Shanghai, analy ses and special festival brochures Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Film- und Warsaw, Moscow, and Busan Medien stiftung NRW, HessenFilm, Medien - A website (www.german-films.de) offer - board Berlin-Brandenburg, MFG Baden- Organization of umbrella stands for ing informa tion about new German films, a Württemberg, Mittel deutsche Medien- German sales companies and producers at film archive, information and links to German förderung, and Nord media) make a financial international television and film markets and international film festivals and institu - contribution towards the work of German (Berlin, Cannes, AFM Los Angeles, Toronto, tions Films. Clermont-Ferrand, Annecy, MIP, FILMART) Organization of the selection procedure German Films is a founding member of the Staging of Festivals of German Films in for the German entry for the Oscar® for Best European Film Promotion, a network of selected inter national territories in coopera- Foreign Language Film European film organizations with similar tion with the Goethe-Institut responsibilities to those of German Films. Organization of the German Films Pre- The organiza tion, with its headquarters in Staging of industry screenings in key views geared toward arthouse distributors Hamburg, aims to develop and realize joint international territories and buyers of German films projects for the pre sentation of European films on an inter national level. Providing advice and information for rep- Selective financial Distribution Support resentatives of the international press and for the foreign releases of German films In association and cooperation with its share - buyers from the fields of cinema, home holders, German Films works to promote fea- entertain ment, and television Organization with UniFrance of the annual ture, documentary, television and short films. German-French film meeting Providing advice and information for In addition, German Films has foreign rep - German filmmakers and press on inter- Presentation of the annual FACE TO FACE resentatives for Eastern Europe and China/ national festivals, conditions of participation, WITH GERMAN FILMS campaign which Southeast Asia. and German films being shown shines a spotlight on some of the most in- fluential German talents currently working in Organization of the annual Next Genera- the industry, who represent just some of the tion Short Tiger short film program, which many dynamic ‘faces’ of German filmmaking presents a selection of shorts and is inter - today. nationally premiered in Cannes

56 GFQ 1-2019 SHAREHOLDERS & SUPPORTERS

Allianz Deutscher Produzenten – Film & Fernsehen e.V. German Producers Alliance Kronenstr. 3 | 10117 Berlin/Germany phone +49-30-2 06 70 88 0 | fax +49-30-2 06 70 88 44 | [email protected] | www.produzentenallianz.de

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dokumentarfilm e.V. German Documentary Association Schweizer Str. 6 | 60594 Frankfurt am Main/Germany phone +49-69-62 37 00 | fax +49-61 42-96 64 24 | [email protected] | www.agdok.de

Arbeitsgemeinschaft Kurzfilm e.V. German Short Film Association Förstereistr. 36 | 01099 Dresden/Germany phone +49-3 51-4 04 55 75 | fax +49-3 51-4 04 55 76 | [email protected] | www.ag-kurzfilm.de

Deutsche Kinemathek Museum für Film und Fernsehen Potsdamer Str. 2 | 10785 Berlin/Germany phone +49-30-30 09 03-0 | fax +49-30-30 09 03-13 | [email protected] | www.deutsche-kinemathek.de

FilmFernsehFonds Bayern GmbH Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Medien in Bayern Sonnenstr. 21 | 80331 Munich/Germany phone +49-89-54 46 02-0 | fax +49-89-54 46 02 21 | [email protected] | www.fff-bayern.de

Filmförderungsanstalt German Federal Film Board Große Präsidentenstr. 9 | 10178 Berlin/Germany phone +49-30-27 57 70 | fax +49-30-27 57 71 11 | [email protected] | www.ffa.de

Film- und Medienstiftung NRW GmbH Kaistr. 14 | 40221 Düsseldorf/Germany phone +49-2 11-93 05 00 | fax +49-2 11-93 05 05 | [email protected] | www.filmstiftung.de

Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg GmbH August-Bebel-Str. 26-53 | 14482 Potsdam-Babelsberg/Germany phone +49-3 31-74 38 70 | fax +49-3 31-7 43 87 99 | [email protected] | www.medienboard.de

Verband Deutscher Filmproduzenten e.V. German Producers Association Häberlstr. 5 | 80337 Munich/Germany phone +49-89-22 84 50 45 | fax +49-89-12 19 76 03 [email protected] | www.verbanddeutscherfilmproduzenten.de

Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien Federal Government Commissioner for Culture & the Media Köthener Str. 2 | 10963 Berlin/Germany | phone +49-30-18 68 10 fax +49-30-1 86 81 54 43 51 | [email protected] | www.kulturstaatsminister.de

Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein GmbH Friedensallee 14–16 | 22765 Hamburg/Germany phone +49-40-398 37-0 | fax +49-40-398 37-10 | [email protected] | www.ffhsh.de

HessenFilm und Medien GmbH Am Steinernen Stock 1 | 60320 Frankfurt am Main/Germany phone +49-69-15 32 404-0 | fax +49-69-15 32 404 99 | [email protected] | www.hessenfilm.de

Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung GmbH Hainstr. 17-19 | 04109 Leipzig/Germany phone +49-3 41-26 98 70 | fax +49-3 41-2 69 87 65 | [email protected] | www.mdm-online.de

nordmedia – Film- und Mediengesellschaft Niedersachsen/Bremen mbH Expo Plaza 1 | 30539 Hanover/Germany phone +49-5 11-1 23 45 60 | fax +49-5 11-12 34 56 29 | [email protected] | www.nordmedia.de

57 ASSOCIATION OF GERMAN FILM EXPORTERS GFQ 1-2019 ASSOCIATION OF GERMAN FILM EXPORTERS

Verband deutscher Filmexporteure e.V. (VDFE) Robert-Koch-Str. 1 80538 Munich/Germany Berlin office: phone +49-173-577 08 38 Winterfeldtstr. 56 fax +49-89-570 877 60 10781 Berlin/Germany [email protected] phone +49-30-8 61 23 93 www.vdfe.de

ARRI Media International Films Boutique GmbH Picture Tree International GmbH Türkenstr. 89 Köpenicker Str. 184 Husemannstr. 7 80799 Munich/Germany 10997 Berlin/Germany 10435 Berlin/Germany phone +49-89-38 09 12 88 phone +49-30-69 53 78 50 phone +49-30-420 824 80 fax +49-89-38 09 16 19 [email protected] fax +49-30-420 824 812 [email protected] www.filmsboutique.com [email protected] www.arrimedia.de/international www.picturetree-international.com

Beta Cinema GmbH Global Screen GmbH SOLA Media GmbH Grünwalder Weg 28d Sonnenstr. 21 Rotebühlplatz 29 82041 Oberhaching/Germany 80331 Munich/Germany 70178 Stuttgart/Germany phone +49-89-6 73 46 98 28 phone +49-89-24 41 29 55 00 phone +49-7 11-96 89 44 40 [email protected] fax +49-89-55 87 61 91 06 fax +49-7 11-96 89 44 51 www.betacinema.com [email protected] [email protected] www.globalscreen.de www.sola-media.com

Constantin Film Verleih GmbH Media Luna New Films UG Feilitzschstr. 6 Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring 38, 6th Floor 80802 Munich/Germany 50672 Cologne/Germany phone +49-89-44 44 60 0 phone +49-2 21-51 09 18 91 fax +49-89-44 44 60 666 fax +49-221-51091899 [email protected] [email protected] www.constantin-film.de www.medialuna.biz

58 GFQ 1-2019 IMPRINT & FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES

German Films Quarterly is published by: Editor FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES Angela Hawkins German Films Service + Marketing GmbH Herzog-Wilhelm-Str. 16 Contributors Eastern Europe 80331 Munich/Germany Martin Blaney, Patrick Heidmann, phone +49-89-5 99 78 70 Simon Kingsley, Jenni Zylka Simone Baumann fax +49-89-59 97 87 30 Saxonia Entertainment [email protected] Translations Altenburger Str. 9 www.german-films.de Lucinda Rennison 04275 Leipzig/Germany phone +49-3 41-35 00 45 36 Cover fax +49-3 41-35 00 77 45 36 Emma Drogunova [email protected] (© Florian Liedel) China Design & Art Direction Werner Schauer www.triptychon.biz Anke Redl ISSN 1614-6387 China Media Management Inc. Printing Office Galaxy SOHO, Tower D-50931 Credits are not contractual for any of www.esta-druck.de No. 7 Xiaopaifang Hutong the films mentioned in this publication. Dongcheng Beijing 100010/China German Films supports the use of paper from sustainable forestry. © German Films Service + Marketing GmbH The pages of this magazine are made of PEFC certificated cellulose. phone +86-10-65 20 64 30 PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification fax +86-10-65 20 64 50 schemes) is the largest independent organization worldwide for All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or securing and continuously improving a sustainable forest manage- [email protected] transmission of this publication may be made ment and it guarantees ecological, social and economic standards. Currently there are 265 million hectares of PEFC certificated forest without written permission. worldwide.

OPENING THE DOORS TO

GERMAN CINEMA. .

......

BERLIN

VENICE WARSAW

NEW YORK

SUNDANCE

SHANGHAI

CANNES

......

LOCARNO TORONTO . MOSCOW

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...... SAN SEBASTIÁN ...... BUSAN ...... . KARLOVY VARY .

59 OPENING THE DOORS TO GERMAN CINEMA ...... German Films at the European Film Market 2019 · Gropius Bau · Stand 17 · Niederkirchnerstr. 7 · 10963 Berlin · phone +49-30-220 088 415