TV films on the big screen
14. August 2024
Current social issues told in series or in condensed form, made by well-known directors: The twelve TV films and TV series curated for the first time by Bettina Schoeller Bouju for the “Televisonen” section deal with topics such as alternative family models, breaking through social norms, the reality of life for Black and queer people, empathy and responsibility. Two NDR productions will be shown as special presentations as part of FILMFEST HAMBURG and outside of the curated program: a documentary about the German extreme sailor Boris Herrmann at Hapag-Lloyd and two episodes of Matthias Glasner’s ARD series Informant – Angst über der Stadt as a preview in the Recital Hall of the Elbphilharmonie.
“The selected films and series offer a broad spectrum of everything that television can be today. The focus is on courageous and innovative narrative forms, diverse perspectives and strong cinematic statements. The films are all made for a large audience and are more than entertaining, they are surprising, cheeky, exciting, humorous, thrilling and self-empowering,” says Bettina Schoeller Bouju, Head of the “Television” section.
Five television films are in the competition for the Hamburg Production Award for German Television Productions. The award, which is endowed with 25,000 euros, is sponsored by the VFF Verwertungsgesellschaft der Film- und Fernsehproduzenten mbH. Four series projects have been nominated for the VFF’s special “Serial Formats” prize, which is endowed with 10,000 euros. Lars Becker’s latest film The Investigator and the Syntax of Death and three episodes of the series Black Fruit with lead actor Lamin Leroy Gibba who is also the creator, head writer and co-producer, will be shown out of competition. Another European series highlight in the out-of-competition program is David Schalko’s latest project Why Me?, which is based on his short story “Cowboys” and was produced for ARD Degeto.
Competition Television Films
The Riot Act (Director: Nicolai Rohde, Screenplay: Jörg Tensing), produced by Sam Davis and Kim Fatheuer (Rowboat Film- und Fernsehproduktion for ZDF) tells the story of the fate of police officer Jan Vogt (Justus Johannsen), who is seriously injured during a demonstration and becomes embroiled in a personal conflict. Gradually, a chain of unfortunate circumstances is revealed during the internal investigation: all those involved are both perpetrators and victims.
Too old, too ugly, too invisible? Not at all: Abduction for Beginners, produced by Simone Höller (307production for ARD Degeto), Andrea Sawatzki and Christian Berkel become partners in crime. Hans Hofer directs Christian Jeltsch’s screenplay as a wicked crime comedy set in the world of the rich and beautiful.
High school graduate Simon keeps an eye on lifeguard Mira. The outdoor pool in Niederwülst at the end of the 90s becomes a place of longing for the 19-year-old, far away from the pressure of family expectations. Forever Freibad, directed by Laura Fischer from a screenplay by Will Evans and Christof Ritter, is an unconventional love story produced by Ursula Pfriem and Moritz von der Groeben (good friends Filmproduktion) for ZDF.
In their latest case, the TATORT investigators from Kiel not only face a mystery, but also a human drama. A series of suicides devastates the city and confronts Klaus Borowski (Axel Milberg) and Mila Sahin (Almila Bagriacik) with an extraordinary adversary. The TATORT episode Borowski und das ewige Meer, directed by Katharina Bischof from a screenplay by Katharina Adler and Rudi Gaul, was produced by Kerstin Ramcke and Sabine Timmermann (Nordfilm) for ARD.
An anonymous suicide threat on social media reaches a high school and keeps pupils, parents and staff on tenterhooks. There are only a few days left to find out who might be behind the message. Simon Ostermann directs Von uns wird es keiner sein (screenplay: Lucas Flasch) as a psychological drama. Producers are Bernd von Fehrn, René Jamm, Roxana Richters and Alexander Wadouh (Warner Bros. International Television Production Germany, Chromosom Film for ZDF/ARTE).
Competition Series
In BFF – Best Family Forever, produced by Gerda Müller, Lisa Bayer and Nikolaas Meinshausen (Bantry Bay Productions for ZDF Neo), two best friends decide to co-parent and are suddenly faced with completely new hurdles. The comedy series (director: Ester Amrami) about alternative family models is written by Nina Rathke, Johannes Rothe and Anna Schimrigk, who plays the lead role together with Karmela Shako.
Sonja Heiss is directing the third season of Deadlines, for which she also wrote the screenplays together with Johannes Boss and Nora Gantenbrink. Shortly before their 40th birthday, four women negotiate the big questions of life and find themselves confronted with many social expectations when it comes to children, careers and capitalism. The comedy series was produced by Martin Danisch and David Hadda (Turbokultur for ZDF Neo).
A young journalist follows the fate of a US tourist who wants to celebrate the climax of her honeymoon with her husband in a well-known Berlin techno club and dies there. The six-part mini-series The Next Level, directed by Pia Strietmann, Julia Langhof and Richard Hill (screenplay: Alexander Osang), was produced by Lisa Blumenberg and Benedict Brandt (Letterbox Filmproduktion & Real Film) for ARD Degeto.
True crime in Baden: The four-part series The Black Forest Murders (director: Stefan Krohmer), produced by Nils Dünker (Lailaps Film for SWR/ARD), gives an insight into the real world of a 40-strong special investigation team in Breisgau, led by investigator Barbara Kramer (Nina Kunzendorf), who are supposed to solve the murder of a young woman. The screenplays by Robert Hummel and Martina Mouchot are based on the Spiegel bestseller “SOKO Erle” by Walter Roth.
Opening film & series out of competition
The “Televisions” section opens with Lars Becker’s latest film The Investigator and the Syntax of Death, which is running out of competition and was produced by Lasse Scharpen (Studio Zentral) for ZDF. Thelma Buabeng plays a criminal analyst who is called in to help in a possible copycat murder case.
Why me? asks director and author David Schalko in his bitterly black comedy series of the same name, which is based on his short story “Cowboys”. He lets his protagonists watch as they approach the end of their own lives and ask themselves this often ultimate question. The six-part anthology with a top-class cast including Charly Hübner, Andrea Sawatzki, Bjarne Mädel, Lisa Hagmeister and Aaron Altaras was produced by John Lueftner, David Schalko and Katharina Theissen for ARD Degeto. Three episodes will be screened out of competition at FILMFEST HAMBURG.
The series Black Fruit about the Black, queer twenty-something Lelo will also be screened out of competition. Lead actor Lamin Leroy Gibba is also the creator, head writer and co-producer. The film is directed by Elisha Smith Leverock and David Uzochukwo. Black Fruit is a production of Jünglinge Film, Studio Zentral and ARD Degeto and will be broadcast in the ARD media library in fall.
Special Presentation
FILMFEST HAMBURG is once again a guest of Hapag-Lloyd and will present the NDR documentary Boris Herrmann – Segeln am Limit (director: Jan Zabeil) about the extreme sailor Boris Herrmann as a special screening outside of the curated TV programme. The exceptional sailor is taking part in the Vendée Globe for the second time in November. The preparations for the toughest solo sailing race in the world were accompanied exclusively by the production company Beetz brothers film production. In Hamburg Boris Hermann will present his film in person.
The Elbphilharmonie is not only the setting for Matthias Glasner’s series Informant – Angst über der Stadt, but also the location for the exclusive preview of the ARD series: two episodes will also be shown in the Recital Hall in the presence of the cast and crew as a special screening.
The “Television” section is presented by the Deutsche Fernsehlotterie.
The TV movies at a glance:
Competition
The Riot Act
DE 2024, 90 Min. | Regie: Nicolai Rohde | Drehbuch: Jörg Tensing | Besetzung: Justus Johanssen, Brigitte Hobmaier, Max Koch, Ben Felipe u.a. | Produktion: Rowboat Film- und Fernsehproduktion GmbH für ZDF
Abduction for Beginners
DE 2023, 89 Min. | Regie: Hans Hofer| Drehbuch: Christian Jeltsch | Besetzung: Christian Berkel, Andrea Sawatzki, Fritz Karl, Jasmin Schwiers, Shadi Hedayati, Hedi Honert, Michelle Barthel, u.a. | Produktion: 307 production GmbH für ARD Degeto
Forever Freibad
DE 2023, 89 Min. | Regie: Laura Fischer | Drehbuch: Will Evans, Christof Ritter | Besetzung: Tyrell Otoo, Anouk Elias, Benno Fürmann, Pheline Roggan, Jacob Matschenz, Max Schimmelpfennig, Matthias Komm, Kirsten Block, Jeannine Michaelsen, Axel Schreiber, Moayad Alsahli, Amira Demirkiran, u.a. | Produktion: good friends Filmproduktions GmbH für ZDF.
TATORT – Borowski und das ewige Meer
DE 2024, 90 Min. | Regie: Katharina Bischof | Drehbuch: Katharina Adler, Rudi Gaul | Besetzung: Axel Milberg, Almila Bagriacik, Thomas Kügel, Thea Ehre, Milena Tscharntke, Pauline Fusban, Tatja Seibt, Johanna Götting, Jonathan Berlin, u.a.| Produktion: Nordfilm GmbH für NDR/ARD
Von uns wird es keiner sein
DE 2024, 90 Min. | Regie: Simon Ostermann | Drehbuch: Lucas Flasch | Besetzung: Sabin Tambrea, Stefanie Reinsperger, Anna Schudt, Lukas von Horbatschewsky, Mina-Giselle Rüffer, Derya Akyol, Kosmas Schmidt, Mariele Millowitsch, Christina Hecke, Serkan Kaya, u.a. | Produktion: Warner Bros. International Television Production Deutschland GmbH & Chromosom Film GmbH für ZDF
Out of competition:
The Investigator and the Syntax of Death
DE 2023, 90 Min. | Regie & Drehbuch: Lars Becker | Besetzung: Thelma Buabeng, Artjom Gilz, Nicholas Ofczarek, Thomas Schubert, Farba Dieng, Jane Chirwa, Enno Trebs, Sina Tkotsch, Marcel Heupermann, Michael Lott, u.a. Produktion: Studio Zentral für ZDF
The series at a glance:
Competition
BFF- Best Family Forever
DE 2024, 3 von 8 x 25 Min. | Regie: Ester Amrami | Drehbuch: Nina Rathke, Anna Schimrigk, Johannes Rothe | Besetzung: Anna Schimrigk, Karmela Shako, Nico Stank, Anton Weil, Eva Luca Klemmt, Johanna Wieking, Gisa Flake, Gerrit Klein, Slavko Popadic, David Vormweg, Marie-Lou Sellem, Nele Braun, Philippa Jarke, Ahmed Laissaoui, Alexandra von Schwerin, Patrick Joswig, Thekla Viloo Fliesberg, Uke Bosse, Gabriele Schulze, Nick Julius Schuck, u.a. | Produktion: Bantry Bay Productions GmbH für ZDF Neo
Deadlines
DE 2024, Staffel 3, 3 von 8 x 20 Min. | Regie: Sonja Heiss| Drehbuch: Johannes Boss, Nora Gantenbrink, Sonja Heiss | Besetzung: Sarah Baurett, Llewellyn Reichman, Jasmin Shakeri, Salka Weber, u.a. | Produktion: Turbokultur GmbH für ZDF
The Next Level
DE 2024, 2 von 6 x 45 Min. | Regie: Pia Strietmann, Julia Langhof, Richard Hill | Drehbuch: Alexander Osang; Dramaturgie/Co-Autoren: Ipek Zübert, Thomas Gerhold | Besetzung: Lisa Vicari, Ben Lloyd-Hughes, Jenny Walser, Jens Harzer, Paula Kober, Jerry Hoffmann, Krzysztof Pieczyński, Michaela Winterstein, Kailas Mahadevan, Thorsten Merten, Jasmina Kuhnke, Corinna Kirchhoff, u.a. | Produktion: Letterbox Filmproduktion GmbH & Real Film Berlin GmbH in Koproduktion mit ARD Degeto, HR, rbb, NDR für ARD Degeto
The Black Forest Murders
DE 2024, 2 von 4 x 45 Min. | Regie: Stefan Krohmer | Drehbuch: Robert Hummel, Martina Mouchot | Besetzung: Nina Kunzendorf, Tilman Strauß, Aliki Hirsch, Božidar Kocevski, Atrin Haghdoust, David Richter, Lara Kimpel, Liliane Amuat, Carl Achleitner, Florian Hertweck, Markus Krojer, Katja Bürkle, Matthias Kupfer, Sophia Schober, Mira Huber, Julia Staufer, Laura Kleftopoulou, Suzanne Landsfried, Elmar Gutmann, Dennis Kharazmi, Johannes Suhm, Veronika Bachfischer u.a. | Lailaps Films in Koproduktion mit dem SWR für ARD
Out of competition
Black Fruits
DE 2024, 6 von 8 x 30 Min. | Regie: Elisha Smith Leverock, David Uzochukwo | Creator: Lamin Leroy Gibba | Drehbuch: Lamin Leroy Gibba, Sophia Ayissi, Naomi Kelechi Odhiambo, Lisa Tracy Michalik, Sarah Claire Wray | Besetzung: Lamin Leroy Gibba, Melodie Simina, Vanessa Yeboah, Benjamin Radjaipour, Daniel Hernandez, Nick Romeo Reimann, Christine Rollar, Naomi Kelechi Odhiambo, Sheri Hagen, Jerry Kwarteng | Produktion: Jünglinge Film, Studio Zentral für ARD Degeto
Why me?
AT 2024, 3 von 6 x 25 Min. | Regie & Drehbuch: David Schalko | Besetzung: Charly Hübner, Andrea Sawatzki, Klaus Huhle, David Bennent, Hannes Ringlstetter, Thomas Schubert, Merlin Sandmeyer, Damyan Andreev, Paula Carbonell Spörk, Nils Hausotte, Robert Palfrader, Bjarne Mädel, Oscar Ortega Sánchez, Simon Kirsch, Mervan Ürkmez, Aaron Altaras, Stefanie Dvorak, Lionel Hesse, Lisa Hagmeister, Andreas Anke, Tina Pfurr, Samuel Koch, Raphael von Bargen, Laura Julie Bollmann, Nadeshda Brennicke, Jona Moro, Veronika Petrovic, Nora Islei | Produktion: Superfilm Filmproduktions GmbH für ARD Degeto
Special Presentation
Boris Herrmann – Segeln am Limit
DE 2024, 45 Min. | Regie: Jan Zabeil | Protagonist*innen: Boris Herrmann, u.a. | Produktion: Beetz brothers filmproduction für NDR /ARD
Informant – Angst über der Stadt
DE 2024, 2 von 6 x 45 Min. | Regie & Drehbuch: Matthias Glasner | Besetzung: Jürgen Vogel, Elisa Schlott, Ivar Wafaei, Gabriela Maria Schmeide, Bayan Layla, Alireza Ahmadi, Claudia Michelsen, Niko Holonics, Bernd Hölscher, Katharina Schlothauer, Majid Bakhtiari, Benny O. Arhtur, Sabrina Ceesay, u.a. | Produktion: filmpool ficition in Koproduktion mit NDR, ARD Degeto, ARTE und NRK für ARD
