Films by Jörg Jeshel

Switzerland, Germany, Austria 2012, 91 min
by Markus Imhoof

Albert Einstein once said: “If bees ever die out, mankind will have only four years left to live”. In the past five years, billions of honeybees simply vanished for reasons still obscure. If the bees keep dying, it will have drastic effects for humans as well: more than one third of our food production depends on pollination by honeybees. Seeking answers, the film embarks on a world journey to discover bees and men. MORE THAN HONEY is the provocative yet touching tale of what may happen to mankind all over the world. A 2M Euro budget documentary by Oscar® nominated director Markus Imhoof and by the creators of LET'S MAKE MONEY & WE FEED THE WORLD

Germany 2012, 87 min
by Brigitte Kramer

The filmmaker Ulrike Ottinger has made a name for herself with her unique feature films and documentaries, such as Madame X - Eine absolute Herrscherin (1978), Bildnis einer Trinkerin (1979), Freak Orlando (1981), Johanna D'Arc of Mongolia (1989), Prater (2007) and Unter Schnee (2011). Her unusual ideas and approach are marked by subtle humour and an exalted style. Her subjects are always guided by intimate female perspectives of other worlds, whether they concern travel, history or unexpected situations. Until now there has been no film portrait of the artist.
This film is about the life and work of an extraordinary woman and captures an era characterised by the emergence of women in the arts. More than any other female artist, Ulrike Ottinger enriched the film landscape of the time with surreal, original and extreme films.
Director Brigitte Kramer shares Ulrike Ottinger's hometown, Lake Constance, as well as her depiction of water as omnipresent and the desire to travel to distant places. What makes this portrait so special is this connection between the portrayer and the person portrayed. Brigitte Kramer works as a film dramaturge, director and producer of dance music and films.

Germany 2004, 108 min
by Andres Veiel

Four acting students are the focus of Andres Veiel’s long-term observational documentary. We meet Stephanie, Karina, Constanza and Prodromos while they are preparing for their acting school auditions. The selection procedure takes months; it is a trying, nerve-racking time spent vacillating between hope and anxiety. All four make it into the school, but their initial euphoria about commencing their studies – including group exercises, role play and obligatory fencing lessons – is soon followed by deflation in the face of merciless criticism of even the slightest shortcoming by their tutors. In this way, their passion for their chosen vocation is constantly put the test.The four students couldn’t be more different: Karina appears to have very few problems; Stephanie, however, has to endure several auditions. Constanze immerses herself in her roles, whilst Prodromos always seems to be at odds with himself, his roles and his dreams. Andres Veiel: “We observe the struggles of the protagonists; how they try not to get stressed out or lose sight of themselves by worrying about the discrepancy between their expectations and their abilities. We accompany them on their search for identity and an image, but we also follow their progress towards maturity as actors and as individuals. Then, at the end of their studies, comes the real test: trying to gain a foothold in the profession. All of a sudden, they find themselves faced with a new set of questions. What is the nature of success? How high is the price for achievement? And what has become of their original dreams and aims, seven years on?”

Germany 2001, 107 min
by Andres Veiel

BLACK BOX GERMANY steps back into German history, it shows the Federal Republic of Germany of the 70s and 80s. The country is polarized due to the power struggle of the German state and the “Red Army Fraction”, and thus on a constant brink of civil war. Society is torn, the fronts are irreconcilable. The life stories of both Wolfgang Grams and Alfred Herrhausen are tragically linked to this era. Grams is the one who takes up arms for moral rigor; Herrhausen, however, seizes power and dies when powerful. Their curricula vitae lead through the enemy camps of the Federal Republic, through opposing worlds that have had a speechless and uncomprehending attitude towards each other until now. BLACK BOX GERMANY tells the story of the Federal Republic of Germany showing not only the opposite poles but also the story of the survivors. For them too many a question remains unanswered and the void that was caused is too great to allow them to carry on as usual. The fight is over, but the wounds are still open.