• Julia Daschner is the new professor of Cinematography
• Jan Martin Scharf is the new professor of Serial Storytelling

On 1 November, two new professors joined the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln: The second professorship for 'Director of Photography’ was filled by renowned cinematographer Julia Daschner. Successful writer, showrunner and director Jan Martin Scharf was appointed to the professorship for ‘Serial Storytelling’.

Julia Daschner studied Audiovisual Media with a focus on Film/Television at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. Since 2008, she has been responsible for the cinematography of many award-winning feature films and documentaries, including »Sommerhäuser« (nomination for the GDt. Kamerapreis in the feature film category, nomination for the Preis der Dt. Filmkritik for Best Cinematography), »Seven Winters in Tehran« and »Matti and Sami and the Three Biggest Mistakes in the Universe«. Julia Daschner also teaches at numerous German film schools (including HFF Munich) and has extensive teaching experience. In addition, she is involved in the Cinematographinnen e.V. network and is a member of the board of the German Film Academy for Cinematography/Camera.
Together with DoP and professor Jutta Pohlmann, she is responsible for teaching the DoP specialisation in the bachelor's degree programme in film.

Julia Daschner characterises her work as a cinematographer and teacher at the ifs as follows: "Understanding, touching, seducing, stirring and composing with images. Telling a mood, a feeling or an entire story. Filling rooms with atmosphere through light and colour, determining the tonality of the film narrative through composition and framing, mise-en-scène and optical resolution, and always taking responsibility for our decisions. In the complex structure of film production, we need diplomacy, perseverance, subtlety and foresight. I am very pleased to be involved in teaching visual design at the ifs and to accompany the students on their journey."

After studying film at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, Jan Martin Scharf received a scholarship from the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW to attend the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing in Warsaw. He received a scholarship from Nordmedia for the Lower Saxony Screenplay Workshop, where he trained as a European script consultant. He works as a freelance screenwriter, director and showrunner (mostly in collaboration with co-writer Arne Nolting). In addition to numerous episodes of »Tatort«, he has developed series such as »Friesland«, »Wild Republic«, »Rampensau« and »Alphamännchen«. His greatest successes to date include the series »Weinberg« (Grimme-Preis Special Prize for Screenplay and Concept Best Series; Dt. Fernsehpreis nomination), »Club der roten Bänder« (International Emmy Award, Dt. Fernsehpreis for Best Series, Grimme-Preis for Children & Youth / Innovation) and »Barbaren« (at times the most successful non-English-language series on Netflix).

Jan Martin Scharf says of his work with students on the Master's programme in Serial Storytelling: "Storytelling means making decisions. For one character, for one conflict – or perhaps for more than one? For suspense or surprise? For lucid clarity or just subtle hints? For dramatic structure or for associative journeys through worlds of feelings and thoughts? Are these even contradictions? How do you decide these and many other questions if you want to offer your audience gripping, moving, funny, sad, and preferably unforgettable stories? After 25 years of working as a professional film and series storyteller, I feel honoured to further deepen my insights on this topic with my colleagues and students at the ifs."

Nadja Radojevic, Managing Director of the ifs: "I am delighted to welcome our excellent new professors, whose profound expertise will enrich teaching at the ifs. In Julia Daschner, we are gaining not only a respected and versatile visual designer, but also a proven educator who already has experience in restructuring and further developing camera curricula. Jan Martin Scharf is one of the most successful series creators in the German-speaking world. He has extensive experience in the collaborative development and writing of series and serials."

Founded in 2000, the ifs Internationale Filmschule Köln is one of Germany's leading educational and training institutions for audiovisual media. Its goal is to offer film and media professionals high-quality, future-oriented training that closely combines theory and practice. Its location in Cologne, a hub for film and media, particularly emphasises its commitment to industry relevance. The ifs is a subsidiary of the Film- und Medienstiftung NRW (Film and Media Foundation NRW). 
The courses are offered in cooperation with the TH Köln (Cologne University of Applied Sciences), and the professors are appointed by the TH Köln.

A photo of Prof. Julia Daschner can be downloaded here. Please note the photo credit: © Florian Liedel
A photo of Prof. Jan Martin Scharf can be downloaded here. Please note the photo credit: © Fotostudio Süd
 

Created on 03.12.2025