Kunsthochschule für Medien (KHM)

Since 2007, Managing Director and Owner of MADE IN GERMANY Filmproduktion together with Knut Losen.

2002-2005: Studied “Creative Producing” at the ifs international film school Cologne.

2000-2002: Doctorate at Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich and University Panthéon Assas Paris.

1994-1999: Studied Law at Rheinische-Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Bonn and University Panthéon Assas Paris.

Selected Filmography:

2019:

• “TALKING ABOUT TREES,” Documentary, Directed by Suhaib Gasmelbari Mustafa.
  • Awards: Berlinale Panorama Audience Award, Glashütte Documentary Film Award at Berlinale.

2018:

• “GLOBAL FAMILY,” Documentary, Directed by Melanie Andernach and Andreas Köhler.
  • Awards: Best Documentary at Max Ophüls Festival and others.
• “DARK EDEN,” Documentary, Directed by Jasmin Herold and Michael Beamish.
  • Awards: German Documentary Film Grant and others.

2017:

• “NOTHINGWOOD,” Theatrical Documentary, Directed by Sonia Kronlund.
  • Festivals: Cannes Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival.
  • Awards: Pre-nomination for European Film Award.
• “1000 ARTEN, REGEN ZU BESCHREIBEN,” Feature Film, Directed by Isabel Prahl.
  • Awards: Best Emerging Film at Black Nights Film Festival.

2015:

• “CENSORED VOICES,” Theatrical Documentary, Directed by Mor Loushy.
  • Festivals: Sundance Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama).
  • Awards: Israeli Film Award.

2014:

• “DIE LETZTEN GIGOLOS,” Theatrical Documentary, Directed by Stephan Bergmann.
• “DIE ABMACHUNG,” Theatrical Feature Film, Written & Directed by Peter Bösenberg.
  • Festivals: Hofer Filmtage.

2013:

• “SCHNEE VON GESTERN,” Theatrical Documentary, Directed by Yael Reuveny.
  • Awards: DOK Leipzig (DEFA Grant).

2008:

• “DIE DINGE ZWISCHEN UNS,” Theatrical Feature Film, Directed by Iris Janssen.
  • Festivals: Berlin International Film Festival 2008 (Perspektive Deutsches Kino).

Education: Studied Film Production at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, with a focus on International and Creative Producing. Graduated in 2005 with the diploma film “ALLES IN ORDNUNG” (Director: Mark Rensing, Producer’s Award at the Sehsüchte Festival). Completed a one-year screenwriting training program at the Drehbuchwerkstatt München in 2009.

Work Experience: From 2000 to 2005, worked at the Filmbüro Baden-Württemberg, contributing to FILMFACTS/ Filmschau Baden-Württemberg and FMX Stuttgart. From 2005 to 2007, worked as a Junior Producer at Colonia Media Filmproduktions GmbH in Cologne. Projects included films like “ERLKÖNIG” (Director: Urs Egger), “DAS ZWEITE LEBEN” (Director: Florian Gärtner), “AN DIE GRENZE” (Director: Urs Egger), “WUT” (Director: Züli Aladag), “DER FREIE WILLE” (Director: Mathias Glassner). In 2007-2008, worked as a Program Editor at WDRmg, including projects like “DIE BESTEN FRAUEN DER WELT” (Director: Britta Becker).

In 2007, founded the FILM BOUTIQUE GBR in Cologne, supported by the AV-Gründerzentrum NRW. Notable works include “WORST CASE SCENARIO” (Director: Franz Müller, German Actor Award 2016 for Samuel Finzi), “HAPPY HOUR” (Director: Franz Müller, New German Cinema Production Award 2015), “UNITED INTEREST” (Director: Tim Weimann, awarded “particularly valuable” by the fbw in 2016), among others.

Oliver Schwabe has been working as an author, director, and cinematographer for over 20 years, creating fiction and documentary films for television and cinema. His portfolio includes numerous TV documentaries for channels like arte, NDR, WDR, and rbb, as well as cinema documentaries exploring pop culture themes. He also worked on the serialized format of “Videotagebücher” (video diaries), which he regularly supervised and edited for NDR in Hamburg from 1998 to 2010.

Furthermore, he is interested in documentary-inspired hybrid forms and formats that push the boundaries of the genre. He has realized such projects for both cinema and television.

Oliver Schwabe approaches his subjects with an open mind and curiosity, always seeking topics that reveal the unexpected. His drive is fueled by the desire for new and unknown experiences, coupled with the goal of getting close to his characters.

His films have been showcased and awarded at numerous national and international festivals. He received the Spiridon Neven Dumont Prize and was nominated for the Prize for Pop Culture and the German Human Rights Film Award, among others.

Selected Filmography:

CINEMA (Selection):

• 2019 “DIE LIEBE FRISST DAS LEBEN – Tobias Gruben, seine Lieder und die Erde” (Writer/Director)
• 2018 “ASI MIT NIWOH – Die Jürgen Zeltinger Geschichte” (Writer/Director)
• 2017 “TOKIO HOTEL – Hinter die Welt” (Writer/Director)
• 2017 “EXODUS – Berichte von vier unbegleiteten minderjährigen Flüchtlingen” (Writer/Director)
• 2012 “FRAKTUS” (Cinematography)
• 2009 “ZARTE PARASITEN” (Writer/Director, co-directed with Christian Becker, Cinematography)
• 2004 “EGOSHOOTER” (Writer/Director, co-directed with Christian Becker, Cinematography)

TV (Selection):

• 2019 “BEING DAVID HASSELHOFF” (Writer/Director)
• 2018 “Sexy Mother F***** PRINCE” (Writer/Director)
• 2017 “I’VE LOST MY MIND IN ESSEN – 40 JAHRE ROCKPALAST-NACHT” (Writer/Director)
• 2016 “DIE HÖHLE VON EPPENDORF – DAS LEGENDÄRE ONKEL PÖ” (Writer/Director)
• 2016 “Keine Atempause – Düsseldorf, der Ratinger Hof und die neue Musik” (Writer/Director)
• 2013 “HEINO – MADE IN GERMANY” (Writer/Director)
• 2009 “Berlin-Lost in Time and Space – Der Sound der geteilten Stadt” (Writer/Director)
• 2006 “My Generation – Der Sound der Revolte erzählt in 15 Songs” (Writer/Director)

Born in 1965 and raised in Karlsruhe, studied art at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under Gerhard Richter. Also pursued studies in cybernetics under Oswald Wiener. His artistic journey moved from painting to staged photography, performance, and experimental film formats. Created three short films and developed his first feature film screenplay. Involved in cinema programming as part of the filmmaker collective “Filmclub 813” and pursued postgraduate studies at the KHM under Michael Lentz and Wolfgang Becker.

Produced his first individual short film as part of the anthology film “Freitagnacht.” His final project and first full-length feature film “Science Fiction” premiered at the Berlinale. Joined the editorial collective of the “Revolver” film magazine. Spent an extended period in Los Angeles. Shot his second feature film “Die Liebe der Kinder” in Leverkusen. Contributed to cinema programming for the “Filmclub Berlin” collective. Created “Matelots d’eau douce” in Morocco as part of the anthology film “24h Marrakech.” Produced six short films with international directors through “Revolver.”

“Leichtmatrosen II” was produced in Berlin as a continuation of the Moroccan film. Following the financing failure of a project, “Worst Case Scenario” was shot in Gdańsk, followed by the experimental video film “1.000.000.000 Jahre vor dem Weltuntergang” co-directed with Angelika Herta in Görlitzer Park. A year later, “Happy Hour” was shot in Ireland.

Involved in screenwriting and teaching assignments at KHM, DFFB, and Manchester University. Co-founded the production company “Mizzi Stock Entertainment” with Eva-Maria Weerts. Filmed the adaptation of Mark Twain’s “The Diaries of Adam and Eve” in the Argentine jungle. Co-produced Gianfranco Rosi’s “Notturno,” which premiered in competition at Venice. Co-produced “Alice Schwarzer” by Sabine Derflinger, winning the Grand Prize at Diagonale. Preparing “Das Glück der Tüchtigen” as a sequel to “Die Liebe der Kinder.”

Currently lives and works in Berlin and Cologne.

Professor for Dramaturgy and Cinematic Storytelling since the summer semester of 2018 at KHM. Melissa de Raaf is a native of the Netherlands and has been living in Germany since 2004. Her work as a screenwriter and director operates within an international, cross-cultural space where different cultures engage in conversation. Her debut feature film “Felicia über alles” (2009, co-directed with Răzvan Rădulescu) garnered international attention and has since been associated with Romanian cinema.

She has been involved in various films and screenplays, including “Podslon” (2010, Directed by Dragomir Sholev), “Die feinen Unterschiede” (2012, Directed by Sylvie Casey-Michel), “La Incorrupta” (2016, Directed by Tamar Guimarâes), and “Ensaio” (2018, Directed by Tamar Guimarâes). Melissa de Raaf is also an independent curator of film programs and exhibitions in the field of audiovisual art. Until 2004, she was a member of the selection committee for the Impakt Festival in Utrecht (Netherlands).

1985: Studied Fine Arts and Film at FH Köln.

1991: Studied Media Arts at KHM Köln.

Since 1997: Author of various television and cinema films.

Born in 1967 in Cologne; studied at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, became a master student under Alfonso Hüppi; pursued postgraduate studies at the Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln (Academy of Media Arts Cologne); works as a screenwriter, director, and producer.

Patrick Orth studied visual communication at the Hochschule für bildende Künste in Hamburg. Since the early 2000s, he has made a name for himself through outstanding films by important directors in German cinema.

For Ulrich Köhler, he worked as a cinematographer on the Berlinale competition entry “Bungalow” (2002), “Montag kommen die Fenster” (2005), “Schlafkrankheit” (2011, Silver Bear at the Berlinale), “In My Room” (2018), which screened at Cannes, as well as “Das freiwillige Jahr” (2019), co-directed by Köhler and Henner Winckler, premiering at the Locarno Festival.

For Stefan Krohmer, Orth worked on “Sommer 04” (2006), was involved in the compilation film “Deutschland 09” (2009), for Thomas Arslan, he was behind the camera for the Berlinale film “Gold” (2013), for video artist Omer Fast in “Continuity” (2015), and for Maren Ade in the multi-award-winning Cannes entry “Toni Erdmann” (2016).

Orth directed Michael Klier’s “Idioten der Familie” (2018) and Haifaa Al Mansour’s Venice entry “Die perfekte Kandidatin” (2019).

Additionally, Patrick Orth has worked as a cinematographer for several television films, including “Mitte 30” (2007), “Dutschke” (2009), and the Grimme Prize-nominated “Gefangen” by Elke Hauck (2022).

Born in Havana in 1983; earned a BA in Audiovisual Communication from the University of the Arts in Havana, completing studies as a director in 2010; studied at the EICTV / International Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños in Cuba, completing studies as a cinematographer in 2013; the graduation film “La nube” won the Coral Prize for Best Short Fiction Film at the 37th International Festival of New Latin American Cinema in 2015; exchange student at FH Dortmund in 2013; in 2020, received a diploma in Media Arts with a focus on Visual Composition from KHM. Since 2010, he has been working as a camera assistant, gaffer, and cinematographer for feature films, documentaries, and commercials.

Born in Paderborn in 1986; completed technical college (Fachabitur); received training in design techniques and as an assistant in design technology; underwent vocational training as a media designer for image and sound in Cologne at CHBP Gesellschaft für Bild und Ton mbH; studied cinematography/visual composition at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg; works as a freelance cinematographer for feature films, documentaries, advertising, and television.

Born in 1963 in Berlin.

From 1983 to 1984, worked as a camera assistant at the DEFA Studio for Documentary Films.

Graduated as a Dipl. Cinematographer from the HFF Potsdam-Babelsberg in 1989.

Since 1989, has been working as a freelance cinematographer, later becoming an independent cinematographer in around 70 film productions, including over 50 full-length (90 min.) films, working across various genres in documentary and fiction filmmaking.

Since 2000, engaged in various teaching roles at HFF Potsdam-Babelsberg, including a guest professorship in 2003.

Awards:

• 1989: Nominated for Student Oscar: “Leb wohl, Joseph”
• 1992: Grimme Prize: “Letztes Jahr Titanic”
• 1992: German Film Critics Award: “Stau jetzt geht’s los”
• 1993: Grimme Prize: “Verlorene Landschaft”
• 1997: Bavarian Film Award: “Viel Spaß mit meiner Frau”
• 1998: Grimme Prize: “Viel Spaß mit meiner Frau”
• 2000: European Film Award: “Bonhoeffer – die letzte Stufe”
• Various main and audience awards from different festivals.

Born in 1966 in Homburg/Saar, Philip Scheffner has been living and working as an artist and filmmaker in Berlin since 1986. He had his first exhibitions in Berlin in 1987. From 1990 to 1995, he was a co-founder and member of Botschaft e. V., a group of 10-15 artists, filmmakers, musicians, and internet activists that conducted screenings, exhibitions, and artistic work at the Kunstraum Friseur in Berlin-Mitte. He also worked with the producer group “dogfilm” from 1991 to 1999, alongside Bettina Ellerkamp, Jörg Heitmann, Merle Kröger, and Ed van Megen.

Philip Scheffner specializes in developing and producing works that bridge the genres of documentary film, essay, and video art. He has worked with ZDF/ Das Kleine Fernsehspiel, 3Sat, RBB, and ARTE, contributing to two themed evenings. In 2001, he co-founded the production platform “pong” in Berlin with Merle Kröger. His films since 2007 have been shown in cinemas, on TV, and in numerous screenings in various contexts.

Starting from October 1st, 2021, Philip Scheffner was appointed as a Professor for Documentary Practices/Documentary Film in the Film and Television department at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne.

Selected Films since 2007:

• “EUROPE”, 2021 (in post-production)
• “HAVARIE”, 2016, 93 min.
• “AND-EK GHES…”, 2016, 84 min.
• “REVISION”, 2012, 106 min.
• “DER TAG DES SPATZEN”, 2010, 100 min.
• “THE HALFMOON FILES”, 2007, 87 min.

Exhibitions: Philip Scheffner’s film works since 2007 have been presented in accompanying film programs in numerous exhibitions. “HAVARIE” and “The Halfmoon Files” have also been reworked and expanded into independent installations for exhibition spaces.

Sound Works: Sound plays an important role in Philip Scheffner’s works. Between 2001 and 2007, he created three audio CDs with experimental sound compositions distributed through his label “pong.” He also composed a piece commissioned by the editorial office Klangkunst at Deutschlandradio Kultur in 2006.

For more information about Philip Scheffner’s sound works, visit his website.

“The work consists of engaging politically with images and sounds and their relationships.” (Pierre Bourdieu)

Author, Director, and Producer – publicnomad productions.

Documentary formats for TV, Online, and Cinema.

Awards:

• Audience Award “Best Film” 20th Jewish Film Festival, Punta del Este, Uruguay 2023
• Audience Award “Lüdia”, Kinofest Lünen 2022
• ARD Program Award, 2019
• Grimme Online Award, 2015
• Environmental Investigation Award, Japan Festival 2015
• Gold Word Medal, New York Festivals 2014
• Best Green Report, Green Screen Festival 2013
• Marler Fernsehpreis 2007
• Deutscher Menschenrechts Filmpreis 2006
• Bronze World Medal, New York Festivals 2005

Filmography (Selection):

2021 In Search of Fritz Kann, Germany, Poland, Argentina, 99 min. Cinema Documentary DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION Choreography: Reut Shemesh Camera: Katja Rivas Pinzón Music: Cassis B. Staudt Distribution: Real Fiction Films

2021 IN SITU – Collaborative Research on Cancer Inequities with Vulnerable Communities in Argentina Argentina, 90 min. CAMERA/DIRECTOR/PRODUCTION In collaboration with Universidad Nacional de Entre Rios, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto Gino Germani

2015 Dügün – Wedding in Turkish CAMERA/Co-DIRECTOR 90 min. Cinema Documentary (WDR / IFAGE / REAL FICTION) With Ayse Kalmaz (Co-Director/Sound)

2014 netwars out of CTRL CAMERA / DIRECTOR 52 min. TV Documentary / Cross-Media Project (FILMTANK BERLIN / ZDF/arte)

2013 Atomic Africa CAMERA/DIRECTOR 90 min. Documentary (WDR / A&O BUERO)

2005 Why Did Oury Jalloh Die? CAMERA/CO-AUTHOR 45 min. TV Documentary (WDR / A&O BUERO) With Pagonis Pagonakis (Co-Author)

Born in 1969.

Education:

• 1992-2000: Directing studies at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin
• 2000-2001: Chinese Propaedeutics at the Free University of Berlin
• 2001-2003: DAAD Scholar for Postgraduate Studies at the Film Academy in Beijing

Professional Background:

• 1995: Video Liaison for Ballet Ulm
• 1997-2001: Freelance Editor at Deutsche Welle TV
• 2003: Project organization for “Hollywood in Nigeria” in collaboration with Hebbel am Ufer, the International Forum of Young Film, and DffB
• Since 2004: Lectures on current Chinese cinema, jury roles
• Since 2004: Artistic-scientific employee at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne (Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln) in the Film department

Films:

• 1998-2000: “Jenseits von Tibet” / Director, Writer / Feature-length documentary / 88 min. / 35 mm
• 2001: “Mein Vater, seine Familie und ich” / Director, Writer / Documentary / 60 min. / DigiBeta
• 2002-2003: “My Camera Doesn’t Lie” / Director, Writer, Producer / Documentary / 92 min. / DigiBeta
• 2003-2004: “Silver Girls” / Documentary Series for arte / Co-Director with Alice Agneskirchner
• 2008: “Qi – Auf den Spuren chinesischer Heilkunst” / Director, Writer / Documentary / 81 min. / HD Cam
• 2013: “Yoga! Die Kunst des Lebens” / Director, Writer / Documentary / 60 min. / HD Cam

Festivals (Selection):

Max Ophüls Film Festival Saarbrücken / International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film / Transmediale – Video Festival Berlin / International Documentary Film Festival Munich / International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam / International Film Festival Göteborg / International Film Festival San Francisco / International Film Festival Thessaloniki / International Forum of Young Film, Berlin / Viennale, Vienna / International Film Festival Hong Kong / International Film Festival Singapore / International Film Festival Jeonju / Los Angeles International Film Festival…

Awards:

• Bavarian Documentary Film Award
• The Young Lion Award, International Leipzig Festival for Documentary and Animated Film
• Special Jury Prize, Graz Film Festival
• Nomination for Joris Ivens Award, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam

Ulrike Franke was born in Dortmund in 1970. She studied Theater, Film and Television Studies, Romance Studies, and Art History at the University of Cologne. In 1992, she received funding from the Filmstiftung NRW for directing. In 1996, she co-founded the film production company “loekenfranke” with Michael Loeken.

Since 1998, Ulrike Franke has worked as an author, director, and producer, and since 2005, she has also been active as a lecturer.

In recent years, she has created video installations in collaboration with the Schauspiel Bochum and the internationally working theater group Rimini Protokoll.

Her films have gained international attention and have been awarded numerous prizes both domestically and abroad (including Best Film Award at Hot Docs Toronto, Best Film Award at One World Prague, Grimme Prize, and nomination for the German Film Prize).

Selected Films (in collaboration with Michael Loeken): “Und vor mir die Sterne – Das Leben der Schlagersängerin Renate Kern” (1998, 90 min.); “Herr Schmidt und Herr Friedrich – eine deutsch-deutsche Liebe” (2001, 69 min.); “Soldatenglück und Gottes Segen” (2002, 92 min.), Nominated for the German Film Prize 2003; “Losers and Winners” (2006, 96 min.), awarded the Best Film Prize at Toronto Hot Docs Festival 2007 and the Grimme Prize 2009; “Arbeit Heimat Opel” (2012, 90 min.); “Göttliche Lage” (2014, 99 min.), awarded the Grimme Prize 2016.

Selected Video Installations: “Under Construction” (2007); “Losers and Winners” (2008), Hartware MedienKunstVerein Dortmund; “Next Generation/Opel” (2010), European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010; “Zeitraffer Phönixsee” (2015), Museum für Kunst und Kultur Dortmund; “Truck Tracks Ruhr” Video Concept for the theater group Rimini Protokoll, Ruhrtriennale (2016/17).

The musician and filmmaker Denis Dercourt was born in 1964 in Paris as the son of a piano teacher and a film producer. He now lives in Berlin with his wife and their children. He began his career as a solo violist and music professor at the Strasbourg Conservatory before also devoting himself to filmmaking.

Education:

Philosophy (Université Paris X – Nanterre) Political Science (Sciences-Po Paris) Music (Conservatoire National de Paris)

As a screenwriter and filmmaker:

1996, The Move (Le Déménagement) (World Premiere: Namur International Film Festival) 1998, The Freelancers (Les Cachetonneurs) (Chicago IFF) 2000, Lise and Andre (Lise et André) (Gent IFF) 2003, My Children Are Different (Mes enfants ne sont pas comme les autres) (Montreal IFF) 2004, Ukiyo, Floating World (Ukyio, monde flottant) (Locarno IFF) 2006, The Page Turner (La Tourneuse de pages) (Cannes IFF) 2008, Tomorrow at Dawn (Demain dès l’aube) (Cannes IFF) 2013, Flesh of My Flesh (La Chair de ma chair) (New York, “Film Comment select”) 2013, The Pact (Zum Geburtstag) (Busan IFF) 2015, In Harmony (En équilibre) (Avignon FF) 2018, Deutsch-les-Landes (TV Series, Episodes 1-5, Director) – Deutsche Telekom – Amazon Prime France 2019, The Teacher (Die Lehrerin) (London – Raindance IFF) 2020, Jeanne (TV – Sepia Strasbourg – Réseau des Télévisions du Grand Est) 2021, Vanishing (Vanishing) (Busan IFF)

As a teacher:

Part-time Professor, Conservatoire de Strasbourg and HEAR (Haute Ecole des Arts du Rhin) since 1994 Since 1994: Lecturer for viola and chamber music. Since 2015: Teaching Creative Writing and Film Directing

As a musician:

Solo Violist, “Orchestre Symphonique Français” and various chamber music ensembles (1984-1995)

Awards:

Laureate of Fondation Beaumarchais Resident of Villa Kujoyama (Kyoto) Prix SACD for Best Young Filmmaker

Participation in Juries (Film Festivals, International Competitions, etc.)

Géraldine Bajard, originally from Switzerland, grew up in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, India, and France. She studied at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris and pursued training in theater and film at the Sorbonne. Later, she moved to Berlin and enrolled in a directing program at the German Film and Television Academy (dffb). After obtaining her diploma, she engaged in publishing work and participated in the music project “Lies and Vanities.”

In the realm of cinema, she played diverse roles in productions by internationally acclaimed female filmmakers. She served as a recording supervisor and assistant director on Angela Schanelec’s “Marseille,” worked as part of the casting team for Valeska Grisebach’s “Sehnsucht” and Pia Marais’ “Die Unerzogenen,” acted as an assistant director on Claire Denis’ “35 Shots of Rum,” and worked as a dramaturg on Jessica Hausner’s “Lourdes.”

In 2010, she unveiled her debut feature film “La Lisière – Am Waldrand.” The drama portrays a French doctor who relocates to an isolated new housing estate for affluent residents and premiered at the Locarno Film Festival.

The French filmmaker Géraldine Bajard was born in Switzerland and grew up in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, India, and France. She studied at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris and completed her education in theater and film at the Sorbonne. Subsequently, she moved to Berlin where she pursued a directing degree at the German Film and Television Academy (dffb). Following her graduation, she ventured into publishing and contributed to the music project “Lies and Vanities.”

Within the film industry, she took on various roles in productions by internationally acclaimed female directors. This includes positions such as recording supervisor and assistant director on Angela Schanelec’s “Marseille,” a member of the casting team for Valeska Grisebach’s “Sehnsucht” and Pia Marais’ “Die Unerzogenen,” assistant director on Claire Denis’ “35 Shots of Rum,” and dramaturg for Jessica Hausner’s “Lourdes.”

In 2010, she presented her first full-length feature film “La Lisière – Am Waldrand.” This drama follows the story of a French doctor who moves into a secluded new housing estate for affluent citizens, and it premiered at the Locarno Film Festival.

Since 2018, Valerie Heine has been an artistic-scientific collaborator at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne (KHM). Born in Berlin in 1985, she initially studied philosophy and art history at the Free University of Berlin. In 2006, she attended a Method Acting course at the Actors Center in San Francisco. In 2008, she received a scholarship at the Berkeley Film Institute. After transferring to the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, she became an exchange student at the International Film and Television School of San Antonio de los Baños in Cuba. There, she worked on her second film project “EL CARRO AZUL.” The film screened at numerous international festivals, including the Berlinale and Clermont-Ferrand, won the first prize in the NRW section of the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, and was nominated for the German Short Film Award.

Pia Marais, born in Johannesburg as the daughter of a South African actor and a Swedish mother, grew up in South Africa, Sweden, and Spain. She initially studied sculpture and photography in London, Amsterdam, and at the Düsseldorf Art Academy, and later pursued film directing at the German Film and Television Academy (DFFB) in Berlin. With her autobiographically inspired film “Die Unerzogenen” (The Unpolished), Marais made her feature film debut as a director in 2007. The film received several awards, including the “Tiger Award” at the Rotterdam Film Festival in 2007. In the fall of 2010, she presented her second full-length feature film “Im Alter von Ellen” (At Ellen’s Age) at the Filmfest Hamburg. In 2013, her third full-length feature film “Layla Fourie” was invited to compete at the Berlinale and received an Honorable Mention from the jury, as well as the Arte Cinema Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival. In April 2017, Pia Marais was appointed as a professor at KHM.

Selected films by Pia Marais: “Die Unerzogenen” (The Unpolished) (2007, feature film, 95 min., director and writer), awarded with the Prize of the German Film Critics 2007, Crossing Europe Award – Best Fiction Film 2007, Tiger Award at the IFF Rotterdam 2007; “Im Alter von Ellen” (At Ellen’s Age) (2010, feature film, 95 min., director and writer), awarded with the Crossing Europe Award – Best Fiction Film 2011 and the Prize for Best Screenplay at the Kinofest Lünen 2010; “Layla Fourie” (2013, feature film, 105 min., director and writer), honored with an Honorable Mention in competition at the Berlinale 2013 and the Arte Cinema Development Award at the Rotterdam Film Festival; “So auf Erden” (So on Earth) (2017, TV film, 88 min., co-writer); “Secret Boy” (2018, feature film in development).

“The cinematic movement bears a strong resemblance to the stream of thoughts and images in brain activity; the key is to entrust oneself to this stream.” – Alexander Kluge

“At the beginning was cinema. A beginning within history. Cinema emerged in modernity as a turn against progress. Its origin lay not in technological innovation but in a different moment of history that presents itself as interruption, as resistance.” – Heide Schlüpmann

Alejandro Bachmann is a cultural worker with focuses on film communication, writing about film, and curating film programs with a focus on documentary and experimental forms. From 2010 to 2019, he worked as a research associate and later as the head of the “Communication, Research, and Publications” department at the Austrian Film Museum. Since 2015, he has been a member of the selection committee for documentary films at Diagonale – Festival of Austrian Film, and from 2019 to 2020, he was a member of the selection committee for the Duisburger Filmwoche. He is an Associate Editor of the FOUND FOOTAGE MAGAZINE and the Film Education Journal. He has also provided recurring dramaturgical advice for fiction and documentary films, most recently contributing to the artistic work on “Motorcity” (Arthur Summereder, AUT 2021).

Book Publications:

• With Michelle Koch: “Österreich real. Dokumentarfilm, 1981-2021” (Working Title, Expected Publication in 2022)
• “Bilder, Falten: Die Filme von Sebastian Brameshuber.” Le Studio 2019
• With Michelle Koch: “Echos. Zum dokumentarischen Werk Werner Herzogs.” Vorwerk 2018
• With Rasmus Greiner, Alexander Horwath, Winfried Pauleit, and Ingo Zechner: “Das Unsichtbare Kino. nach dem Film No. 15” (Berlin/Bremen 2017)
• “Räume in der Zeit. Die Filme von Nikolaus Geyrhalter.” Sonderzahl 2015

Film Programs (Selection):

• “Documentary in Dialogue: Werner Herzog,” Anthology Film Archives, New York (with Michelle Koch), April 8-14, 2019
• “Dokumentarfilm-Kombattanten: Heynowski & Scheumann,” Dokumentarfilmwoche Hamburg, April 3-7, 2019
• “In person: Deborah Stratman,” Arsenal – Institut für Film- und Videokunst e.V. in cooperation with Filmkollektiv Frankfurt and Austrian Film Museum, October 4 & 5, 2018
• “Provinz unter Spannung. Tropen des Provinziellen nach 1968,” Diagonale – Festival of Austrian Film, March 13-18, 2018
• “This is not America – Austrian Drifters,” Diagonale – Festival of Austrian Film, March 19-24, 2017
• “The Last Machine – Analoge Filmkunst aus Berlin, Paris, Wien,” Austrian Film Museum, November 16-18, 2016
• “Von wegen Schicksal – Helga Reidemeister,” Austrian Film Museum, November 16-18, 2016
• “Paul Verhoeven” (with Matthias Wittmann), Austrian Film Museum, June 3-19, 2016

Gerrit Lucas graduated with a degree in Sound Engineering from the Robert Schumann University of Music from 1993 to 1997. He then pursued further studies at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne from 1997 to 2003, focusing on Directing and Screenwriting.

Since then, Gerrit Lucas has worked as an independent author, director, and composer. He gained international recognition for his work on the Blu-ray production for the band Kraftwerk titled “Kraftwerk 3D,” for which he also served as a live director on multiple occasions.

Dr. Tobias Hartmann (*1985) Sound and Digital Artist Conducting Sonic Artistic Research

2007: Bachelor of Music (HMTM Hannover)

2012: Bachelor of Music – Composition Electronic Music (HfMT Köln)

2013: 1st State Examination in Music Jazz Piano (HfMT Köln)

2022: Doctorate (HfMT Köln)

Tina Tonagel (*1973) is a visual artist and musician.

After completing a six-month internship with a stone sculptor, she studied Art and Music Education at the University of Bielefeld from 1994 to 1999. In 1999, she transferred to the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, where she received her diploma in Media Art under the guidance of VALIE EXPORT in 2004.

From 2004 to 2008, she directed the exhibition space “Maxim” in Cologne and organized various festivals focused on analog technologies in media art. Since 2007, she has been conducting workshops on electronics, music, and media art, and is a co-founder of the association “Wilde Kulturtechniken e.V.” Since 2010, she has taken on various teaching assignments at institutions including the Academy of Visual Arts Leipzig, HBKsaar in Saarbrücken, and the International Film School Cologne (IFS).

Tina Tonagel works in the fields of kinetics, sound art, and visuals. She creates site-specific kinetic installations and sound objects. A significant aspect of her work focuses on the aesthetics and comprehensibility of electromechanical constructions and analog sound generation.

Using self-invented instruments and overhead projectors, she develops audiovisual performances and collaborates with various musicians to explore unconventional concert formats. In 2019, she founded the experimental all-female band “120 DEN,” which exclusively plays on electronically modified mannequin legs.

Tonagel studied Art and Music Education at the University of Bielefeld (1994–1999) and then transferred to the Academy of Media Arts Cologne in 1999, where she earned her diploma in Media Art under the guidance of VALIE EXPORT in 2004. Her works have received numerous awards and have been exhibited at events and festivals both nationally and internationally, including transmediale Berlin, European Media Art Festival Osnabrück, Museum Ostwall Dortmund, European Soundart Award Marl, Moers Festival, and Museum Marta Herford.

(*1962), composer and sound artist. From 1984 to 1988, he studied music, history, and physics at the Pädagogische Hochschule Weingarten, and from 1988 to 1995, composition at the Hochschule für Musik Köln under Johannes Fritsch.

Since his studies, he has been intensely engaged with the works of John Cage and Morton Feldman, both as an interpreter and in his own work. Further important influences come from studies on Giacinto Scelsi and Jani Christou, which have also been published. In addition, he conducts research on composer personalities at the fringes of the mainstream, such as Nicolai Obouchow and Leni Alexander.

His artistic interest lies in the creation of sound and structure as a process, also in the search for hidden aspects of everyday objects. This also extends to the use of computers as musical instruments in a very literal sense.

“I consider art in general as the embodiment of thoughts in different materials. Personally, I prefer conceptual approaches: more thought, less material.”

In 2007, he was a guest professor for composition and experimental sound practices at the California Institute of the Arts, Los Angeles. Since 2012, he has been teaching hybrid sound composition and extended systems at the Institut für Musik und Medien of the Robert Schumann Musikhochschule Düsseldorf.

In addition, he curates concerts and sound art events in Cologne, such as the BrückenMusik from 1999 to 2012, and since 2009, the series M, as well as being a board member of “ON – neue musik köln” since 2010.

His works have been presented at various festivals and by different broadcasting stations at home and abroad.

Publications:

• “Der Generative Tod – The Benchmark Consort für ein Freiwilligen Laptoporchester”, in: Positionen – Texte zur aktuellen Musik #99: Generative Kunst (Mühlenbeck, 2014)
• “Cages Enkel – Die Komponisten des ‘Experimental Music Yearbook’ in Los Angeles”, in: Programmbuchbeitrag für das “Rainy Days” Festival, Philharmonie Luxembourg (Luxembourg, 2012)
• “Nikolai Obuchow, Le Livre de Vie: Preface”, in: Programmbuchbeitrag für Maerzmusik | Berliner Festspiele 2010 / Wiederabdruck im Programmbuch Warschauer Herbst 2010
• Corresponding editor for the Leonardo Music Journal #19 “Our Crowd”. Editorial contribution: “News and Olds from the Electronic Orchestra Pit” (MIT Press, Cambridge, 2009)
• “Archiv eines Anonymen Geistersehers”, in: “Wach sind nur die Geister”, catalog for the exhibition at Hartware Medienkunstverein (Dortmund, 2009)
• “3 Wörter für Friedhelm Mennekes”, in: “Kunststation – für Friedhelm Mennekes” (Köln, 2008)
• “Computers as Musical Instruments”, in: “I Shall Illuminate the Dark Side of the Moon”, catalog for the festival “Safe and Sound”, Umna-Art & Science in cooperation with the Nikola Tesla Museum (Belgrade, 2007)
• “Computers as Musical Instruments? From Computermusic I to Bandoneonbook”, in: Leonardo-Music-Journal #17 (MIT Press, Cambridge, 2007)
• “…Two Ways of Not Listening To…”, in: “Hermes’ Ear”, catalog for the exhibition at Kassák Centre for Intermedia Creativity (Nove Zamky, 2006)
• “Erinnerung an die Komponistin Leni Alexander”, in: Musiktexte 107 (Köln, 2005)
• “Märchen von der Musik als Abwesenheit von Klang”, in: Kunstmusik 5 (World Edition Köln, 2005)
• “Die Kölner Prometeo-Akademie”, in: Programmbuch Musitriennale (Köln, 2004)
• Response 2003 “Musik und Macht”, in: Programmbuch Musitriennale (Köln, 2003)
• “Arbeit / Schönheit (Labor)”, in: Programmbuch Maerzmusik | Berliner Festspiele (Berlin, 2002)
• “G. Scelsi ‘Pranam II’ für 9 Instrumente”, in: Musiktexte 81/82 (Köln, 1999)
• “Notation und Emotion (Über die Kompositionstechnik in Jani Christous Anaparastasis I)”, in: “Im Dunkeln Singen – Das Jani Christou-Symposium Hamburg 1993” (Ed. Wolke, Hofheim, 1993)

Tania de Leon Yong (1974) is a Mexican visual artist and university professor dedicated to experimental animation, drawing, and engraving. Her artistic work has been exhibited in various cultural spaces, including Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, and Germany.

She obtained her doctoral degree in Fine Arts with a focus on Expressive, Formal, and Temporal-Spatial Components of Animation from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) in Spain. Prior to that, she earned a master’s degree in Multimedia Production for the Internet from the same university. She also holds a master’s degree in Art History and a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, both obtained from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

In 2013, she was honored with one of Mexico’s most important academic awards, the “State Recognition for Young Academics” (RDUNJA UNAM). In September 2015, she received a scholarship from UNAM (PASPA program) for her sabbatical year in Lisbon (Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Lisbon), Valencia (Polytechnic University of Valencia), and Cologne (Academy of Media Arts Cologne). During this time, she worked on the project “Cronographs: A personal digest of time,” which consists of a series of animated installations exploring various concepts of time.

Since 2004, a professor at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne (Germany).

Since 2010, a founding member (and until 2011, director) of the Paidia Institute, Cologne (Germany).

From 2007 to the present, a guest lecturer at several universities and academies in Sweden, Lithuania, Latvia, and Germany.

From 2008 to the present, a member of the MEDIA Evaluation Committee for Games and Interactive Projects at the EACEA (Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Commission).

In 2012, the author and co-coordinator of the Baltic and Nordic Network for the Development of Stereoscopic Audiovisual Language (Sala) (pre-application development of the project).

In 2012, the author and co-coordinator of AMPER, Audiovisual Animation Artist-in-residency, as part of the EU MEDIA Mundus 2013 DG EAC S08/2012 (pending approval).

In 2012, the author of “Ghostology” (an educational-artistic event broadcasted by ARTE TV).

In 2009, the author of “Art-o-thlon,” a transmedia project (part of the EU Capital of Culture Vilnius 2009).

From 2008 to 2010, co-author and coordinator of “Migrating art Academies” (EU Culture Program 2007).

In 2007, co-organizer of the “Migrating Reality” conference and exhibition, Berlin.

In 2006, curator of the international exhibition “Banba” at the Intro Gallery, Vilnius (Lithuania).

In 2006, the author and coordinator of the symposium “Whale in Baltic,” Nida (Lithuania).

Speeches/presentations at:

Tartu Centre for Creative Industries (Estonia), “Inkubaator Tallinn” (Estonia), Tampere University of Applied Sciences (Finland), ARTISTS IN INDUSTRY INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE at the UNIVERSITY OF ARCHITECTURE AND URBANISM ION MINCU, Bucharest (Romania), Universitatea din Oradea Facultatea de Arte (Romania), the 3rd international URBAN CREATIVE POLES Conference, Linköping (Sweden), USEFUL SYMBIOSIS Conference at Palacký University Olomouc (Czech Republic), Interactive Games and Opportunities for the Latvian Creative Industries Conference at Riseba University, Riga, in cooperation with the Latvian Ministry of Economics (Latvia) “Anifest” (Czech Republic), Interdisciplinary and Collaborative Practices Cluster @ University of Hull, Scarborough Campus (United Kingdom), “Next Level” Conference (Germany), 5th International Animation Film Festival “Tindirindis,” Vilnius (Lithuania), “Enter 4” Conference, Siauliai (Lithuania), “The Sphere of Media: Philosophy, Communication, Art” Conference, Vilnius (Lithuania), “Forum for the Creative Society” of the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania (Lithuania), “Identity in Non-Existing Spaces,” Tanzhaus Köln (Germany), “I’Week” at the University of Liepaja (Latvia), “Couch Surfing” conference at Nida Artist Colony (Lithuania).

Jury member: “Anifest” (Czech Republic), “Kurz und Schön” Festival, Cologne (Germany), Doctoral Review Committee at La Trobe University, Melbourne (Australia), ISEA2010 (Germany), Accreditation Committee of the Animation Program at the Estonian Academy of Arts (Estonia), Member of the Evaluation Committee at Fachhochschule Münster (Germany), Visual Effects Society (USA) Award Jury.

From 1998 to 2004, held creative and technical positions at the Walt Disney Studios, Oddworld Inhabitants, Metrolight Studios, Artist’s Inc. Involved in creative and technical activities at the Eisenhower National Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education, Wexner Center for the Arts, and others. In 1991, received an Artist’s Diploma from the Vilnius Academy of Arts (Lithuania).

In 1997, received a Master of Fine Arts from the Ohio State University (USA).

In 1993, Artist in Residence: “Nomad” Program for Visual Arts, Banff Center for the Arts, Banff, Canada.

Interests: Experimental 3D, games and playable systems, critical games, virtual representation, cross-media and transmedia narration, stereoscopic imaging, creative industries, experience economy.