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In February, ifs alumni will be showcasing their projects at festivals such as the Berlinale, in theaters, or via streaming (photo: »Fabian and the Murderous Wedding«, directed by alumnus Markus Sehr); they are delighted to receive funding and can look forward to potential awards.
Alumnus Alexander Conrads won the screenplay award at the Snowdance Festival in Essen for his film »Zusammen ist man weniger getrennt«. Congratulations!
Also screened there in the Black Shortz series was the short film »Delir« by alumni Thilo Vogt and Pablo Knote (director/screenplay), Leonard Lokai (DoP), Dominik Schmitt (costume design), Zoe Lee Saba Krappen (production design), Leo Muheim (editing/sound design), and Nils Herrmann (sound effects).
On 5 February, »Der Schimmelreiter« opened in theaters—a modern adaptation that combines Theodor Storm’s literary work with the most pressing issues of our time. The producer is alumnus Robert Schaefer.
The crime comedy »Fabian und die mörderische Hochzeit« has been available on Amazon Prime since 6 February; in it, con artist Fabian (Bastian Pastewka) unexpectedly finds himself caught up in a bizarre wedding party while on the run. Alumnus Markus Sehr directed the film, and alumnus Stefen Rocker handled the editing.
On 26 February, the comedy series »Kacken an der Havel« premieres on Netflix, following a failed rapper who has to return to his hometown in the countryside. Alumnus Mats Frey was part of the team as a screenwriter, and alumnus Cedric Engelbrecht served as assistant art director.
Numerous projects involving alumni and professors are featured at the Berlinale:
»Two Mountains Weighing Down My Chest« (Panorama Dokumente section, editing: Christoph Bargfrede), »Staatsschutz« (Panorama section, visual effects executive producer: Prof. Rolf Mütze, compositing supervisor: Matthias Backmann, compositing artist: Justus Maus, DI Digital Intermediate Supervisor: Jan Pfitzner), »Vier minus drei« (Panorama section, script: Senad Halibasic, editing: Simon Blasi, among others, set dresser: Mustafa Shirin), »The Weight« (Special Gala section, producer: Maximilian Leo, production designer: Cora Pratz, DI Digital Intermediate Supervisor: Jan Pfitzner), “Liebhaberinnen” (Forum section, sound mixer: Jascha Viehl).
As part of the Berlinale Series Market, the exclusive preview series Berlinale Series Market Selects will feature the series “All Heroes are Bastards” (screenplay by, among others, alumna Lena Tusche) and »Cold Haven« (producer: alumnus Pedro Lopes).
The »Up Next: Germany« showcase at the Berlinale Series Market presents selected series projects from Germany. Prof. Jan Martin Scharf and Arne Nolting wrote the screenplay for “Die Düsteren.” Alumnus Lucas Seeberger is part of the editing team for »4 Blocks Zero«.
The series »In My Secret Life« (creator/writer: alumnus Jóhann Ævar Grímsson) will be presented in the Co-Pro Series lineup.
Alumna Cora Pratz will be a panelist at the »Controlled Chaos: The Production Design Process« session as part of the Berlinale Talents Talk series.
Alumna Cora Pratz is a panelist on the »Controlled Chaos: The Production Design Process« panel as part of the Berlinale Talents Talk series.
At this year’s Screenwriters’ Lounge hosted by the German Screenwriters’ Association (DDV), alumna Nadine Gottmann is a panelist on the »Anatomy of a Twist—How Mystery Series Build Suspense« panel, moderated by alumnus Marvin Meiendresch. Alumna Lea Albring will moderate a panel on the topic »New Gender Images: Angry FLINTA* Characters on the Rise«. Prof. Jan Martin Scharf will be a panelist on the panel “Writing Teams: Working Together Toward Success”—alongside his co-writer Arne Nolting.
Ten alumni of the European Showrunner Training 2025 are collaborating on the series project “European Dreamers.” They will present their work as a case study on February 18 during the Top: Talente Berlinale discussion on vertical and future storytelling.
When the German Film Critics’ Award is presented on February 15, let’s keep our fingers crossed for projects featuring alumni:
»Raumteiler« (Editing: alumnus Patrick Hanemann, nominated for Best Feature Film Debut), »Grüße vom Mars« (Editing: alumna Nicole Kortlüke, nominated for Best Children’s Film), »September 5«, VFX Executive Producer: Prof. Rolf Mütze, Compositing Artist: alumnus Matthias Backmann, nominated for Best Feature Film).
This year, as part of the Berlinale, the Thomas Strittmatter Prize for an outstanding screenplay will be awarded on 18 February. Among the three nominated projects is “Malibu” by alumni Duc-Thi Bui and Philipp Lutz. The nomination alone comes with a cash prize of 2,500 euros. We’re keeping our fingers crossed!
On 20 February, we’ll be keeping our fingers crossed again when the DAfFNE Award for outstanding individual achievements in German television, presented by the German Academy of Television, is handed out in Berlin. In the VFX & ANIMATION category, Prof. Rolf Mütze and alumni Timo Stampa and Matthias Backmann are nominated alongside Johanna Bischopink, Mareike Keller, and Christian Laskawi for “Ich bin Dagobert.”
Numerous alumni are delighted to have received top-tier funding from the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW:
The ARD series »Siebzehn«, which tells the story of four teenagers in Duisburg-Marxloh, is being directed by alumnus Daniel Rakete Siegel, in collaboration with Denis Moschitto.
The »Made in Germany« film production by ifs alumna and professor Dr. Melanie Andernach is receiving funding for the feature film »Liebesgeister«, which explores modern relationship expectations.
Also being produced for the big screen is the drama »Als Bestie bin ich aufgewacht«, based on a screenplay by alumna Sandra Schröder, who is also directing the film.
For the satire »Invasive Arten«, for which alumnus Alejandro Mathé is responsible for the screenplay and direction, the production company Color of May—run by alumni Eva Blondiau and Elmar Imanov—is receiving pre-production funding.
The documentary project »Wandergesell*innen: Between Tradition and Rebellion« (working title) is being funded by the Stiftung Menschenwürde und Arbeitswelt during its further research and development phase. Anna-Lena Ponath developed the project in the ifs Non-Fiction Masterclass.
Among the participants in the new cohort of the MGZstart scholarship program at the Mediengründerzentrum NRW are alumni Mick Mahler and Cem Karayakas with their production studio »raum114«, which transparently integrates AI into professional film workflows.
Also participating are alumni Petra Bossmann and Jutta Freyer with their professional materials recycling initiative »MATZE – Materialzentrale Köln«, which promotes sustainable cycles in Cologne’s media industry.