Films by Armin Riegel

Germany 2023, 52 min
by Rosie Koch, Roland Gockel

Although garden dormice are at home in large parts of Europe, hardly anyone really knows these rodents with their Zorro mask and those beady eyes. Hence, only few people initially noticed when the animals began to suddenly and inexplicably disappear throughout the entire continent. But when even classic garden dormouse strongholds, like the Bavarian Fichtelgebirge, reported them missing, researchers and conservationists sounded the alarm. Hurriedly BUND Friends of the Earth, the Senckenberg Research Institute and the University of Giessen got together to form a task force of unprecedented size and scope. The Dormouse Detectives strive to find out how many, where and why the garden dormice are disappearing. In their effort to gather as many clues as possible, the investigators even enlist the help of the general population. While citizen scientists work with garden dormouse monitoring devices or report sightings, students equip garden dormouse undercover agents with transmitters to learn more about sources of danger in the daily lives of the nocturnal omnivores. While a veterinarian examines corpses of garden dormice, wildlife stations care for their orphans. And toxicology experts analyze tissue samples in search for environmental poisons and pesticides. Other special forensic units rifle through stomach contents for decisive clues or analyze genetic samples. Time is of the essence. Only if the Dormouse Detectives manage to solve this puzzling case fast, may they still be able to save the species.

Germany 2022, 50 min
by Tim Visser, Sander van Iersel

When light pollution causes the night to disappear, a fundamental clock for life on earth is thrown out of balance. Animals and plants are threatened by artificial light. Many organisms have found their evolutionary niche in the dark of night and must now adapt to bright nights. Some succeed, but for many the brightness becomes a death trap - and causes species to die. Dedicated researchers now shed a new light on the effects of this nocturnal light on nature. Will science find solutions to the problem?

2021, 156 min
by Herbert Ostwald

Ostrich-sized rheas tramp on shoots of fields in Northern Germany. Flocks of bright green parrots screech along Cologne Cathedral. And beaver-like nutrias with orange teeth gnaw on Dutch dikes. All these animal nags are alien and are suspected of causing ecological and economic damage. Do the invaders have to be fought? Or is it just prejudice against hitherto unknown species?This small series of three films gets to the bottom of the accusations against alien species. For this purpose, the immigrated animals are observed in their new environment, their relationships to other species are shown and the latest scientific results are presented.

Germany 2021, 43 min
by Annette Scheurich

Australian pelicans are strange birds. Not only because of their appearance, but above all because of their unusual way of life. Most of the time they live quite peacefully in the coastal regions, but when the inland desert is flooded every 5, 10 or even 20 years, tens of thousands fly there to breed.This film follows the Australian pelicans on their journey to their breeding grounds in the Outback and shows the challenges they face during the breeding season. It reveals a habitat that is generally considered an inhospitable desert yet plays a major role for the waterbirds.

Germany 2019, 52 min
by Annette Scheurich, Joosep Matjus

Matsalu National Park on the North-East Coast of the Baltic Sea is known for being one of Europe’s most important stopover places along the Great Eastern Flyway – a paradise for migrating birds. And it is also a safe haven for the wild giants of the Baltics, the mighty moose. For most of the year, these magnificent creatures roam the open marshes that are the heart of Matsalu National Park. This film follows their exceptional life throughout the year. Even though they are hardly threatened here, the challenges of the moose are manifold.

2018, 104 min
by Annette Scheurich, Klaus Scheurich

Grizzly bears – up to 2.5 metres tall with top weights of 550 kilos, equipped with sharp claws and predators’ jaws to match. We’ve all heard stories of aggressive bear attacks and close encounters… But what are brown bears really like? Renowned bear biologist Chris Morgan is passionate about uncovering their true nature and has studied them for years. In this stunning two-part documentary, Chris is on the trail of the brown bears on the Katmai Coast in Alaska, where he can get closer to them than anywhere else to witness their social lives and survival techniques in intimate detail, revealing a surprisingly sensitive, tolerant, even tender side to the imposing Grizzly.Offering entertaining and informative insights, Chris commentates the bears’ behaviour and explains the peculiarities of Katmai’s unique habitat and its impact on the local population of grizzlies. Always close to the action, his passion for bears shines through and guides us through an engaging and gripping narrative, packed with surprises and intimate bear moments. The two episodes – The Hunger Challenge and The Private Life of Bears – focus on different central aspect of the bears’ lives, from survival to social life, and together provide a rounded, gripping and visually stunning insight into the unusual lives of the Katmai bears.

2018, 104 min
by Herbert Ostwald, Steffen Sailer

Most people think they know everything about cows: They stand around in fields. They eat grass, moo every now and then and of course they give milk. They are the archetypal symbols of a rural scene, of everlasting tranquility. But cows are much more than that. Cows are generally held to be peaceful and a bit stupid. However, that's actually a big misunderstanding. Because cows have personalities, they are sensitive, able to learn and socially oriented, but also quite able to defend themselves. In two parts, with spellbinding images, employing new camera angles in an entertaining, unusual and exciting way, this film tells the story of some quite surprising aspects of a cow's life.• The Secret Life of Cows – Wild at HeartThis is not the prairie – it‘s a pasture in Southern Germany. Almost 300 cattle live here, outdoors year-round, because the farmer just wants the best for all of his cows.  Thirty-five years ago, the forebears of these cattle were permitted to leave their stalls and take over the meadows again.  How much ‘nature’ still lurks inside this livestock? And can ‘wild’ cattle really conquer the challenges of their environment? This is a story about a unique experiment• The Secret Life of Cows – Samura's WorldCows are generally held to be pleasant and likeable. At first glance, their lives seem familiar. But – there’s so much more to cows! These cows are unlike any others. And the story of Samura and her unusual herd reveals why. Far from big-city bustle, tucked away in a southwestern corner of Germany, lies a special farmstead. Home to the bovine community of Samura the cow.

Germany 2017, 51 min
by Ulf Marquardt, Mi-Yong Brehm

In the heart of Europe lies Switzerland. In its midst yet apart from it, like an island. The Swiss Confederation holds a special position not only politically and historically – in particular, its scenic diversity is something really special: majestic mountains, lush green valleys, craggy rock landscapes and Mediterranean lakes all close together in one small geographical location. Switzerland is proud of its distinction and autonomy, reflected amongst other things in its different cantons and linguistic regions. Each episode in our series "Wild Faces of Switzerland" seeks to do justice to this diversity.

Germany 2015, 52 min
by Herbert Ostwald

Widely known as heralds of good luck and happiness, storks are very popular animals. This is especially true for Ruehstaedt, a tiny picturesque village in Germany. Every year the rooftops here are home for up to 40 pairs of White Stork, which in turn attract about 30.000 visitors per year to the remote village.For one breeding season the film portrays the fascinating coexistence of man and storks in Ruehstaedt.

Germany 2015, 52 min
by Klaus Scheurich

What do polar bears do during the summer? Where do they live when there is no ice? What do they eat when they cannot hunt seals? Do they suffer or do they thrive? This film follows the polar bears of Hudson Bay throughout the summer and portrays their trials of life and their fight for survival at a time when other denizens of the Arctic enjoy a season of overabundance.

Germany 2013, 40 min
by Barbara Trottnow

June Haimoff lives since the mid-eighties in Dalyan (Turkey) and is involved there in the protection of endangered sea turtles. When on their nesting beach a hotel should be built, she launched a global campaign, successfully, the hotel was not built and the Iztuzu beach is now part of a Special Protected Area.On site they all call her Kaptan June. Before the Englishwoman stayed in Dalyan, she sailed with her boat through the Mediterranean. In December 2012, she celebrated her 90th birthday, but full of energy she continues to fight for the protection of the environment. Three years ago she set up a foundation, which is committed to preserve the natural habitat of sea turtles and to protect them from the effects of tourism. Since every year more and more tourists come to the beach. Most of them are day-trippers, intent on seeing some supposedly untouched piece of nature. The number of boats that offer trips to the Turtle Beach has grown constantly. Kaptan June's Foundation now offers all captains to provide the propellers of their boats with a kind of protective cage so the turtles are not injured.

Germany 2010, 87 min
by Barbara Trottnow

A long-term observation on Turkish women migrating to Germany because they marry a Turkish man living there. Once the men’s families have gone to Germany as foreign workers. A language school in Balıkesir (Turkey) is the starting point for the film. There the women learn German, because only with the proof of German knowledge they get a visa for Germany. The film accompanies three women of a German course on their way in a new life. It shows how they have lived in Turkey and how difficult their life is in Germany. Not only the language problems stop them from getting to know their new environment. Happy, in love and looking forward to the future we have got to know the women in Turkey. Later, in Germany they notice, that e.g. her wish to find a job is hardly realizable. When the men’s families came to Germany, there was work for unqualified people, and also the language problems didn’t play an important role. Today this is completely different.

Germany 2006, 60 min
by Barbara Trottnow

In 1966 Emine was only 18 when she left her Turkish village Incesu alone to work in Germany. She could hardly read, write or calculate, as she had only two years of school. Her family hoped she would help them all out of poverty.It is the story of a migration, one example standing for many.The films interest lies in Emine's remarkable frankness in sharing her life and thoughts. At the age of 56, she is looking back.An important part of the film takes place at Incesu, a remote village in Anatolia. Everyday scenes show the contrast between life there and here. This also illustrates how large the leap was Emine dared to make. Used to say YES, Emine learnt to say NO, one year ago she left her husband, a Turk from her village who followed her to Germany. She has three children and four grandchildren.