Films by Marc Accensi

2023, 180 min
by Anne von Petersdorff, Georg Tschurtschenthaler

For many years, King Juan Carlos I was a Spanish hero, celebrated around the world for reforming Spain with his modern, progressive, democratic values. He led his country from the Franco dictatorship to parliamentary monarchy, transforming Spain into a modern European state and becoming the most popular Spanish ruler in history. King Juan Carlos had a loyal Queen, a loving family, international respect, friends in high places and faithful subjects; he had everything a King could wish for. So, how did this revered Monarch take such a drastic fall from grace that he was forced to abdicate in 2014 and eventually flee into exile in 2020? The documentary shows how a fateful hunting trip to Botswana revealed the King’s secret love affair with his companion, Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, and set off a series of events that shook the Spanish monarchy to its core. The house of cards began to crumble when questions were raised about the King’s financial affairs, his lucrative links with the Spanish establishment and alleged global corruption, including a €65 million payment.

Germany 2018, 52 min
by Rosie Koch, Roland Gockel

Part 1: The North - From the Coastal Metropolis to the Mountainous Desert OasesPart 2: The South - On the Frankincense Trail along the Sea of Humpback WhalesThe Sultanate of Oman is the home of the legendary Sinbad the Sailor. And even today, it seems like a magical country from the Arabian Nights. The film is a journey on the trail of the old trading caravans – far from the turbulence of war in the Arab world. We discover the magic of the Orient and its people, who inhabit a world suspended between tradition and the modern day world. Frankincense trading and silver smithies, caravans and Bedouin, traditional souks and strong mediaeval fortresses are all signs of the lively trading history that has shaped this country. But this journey into the interior of the country reveals more than just a nostalgic wonderland: Oman’s special regional climate and sparse population make it an ideal refuge for a unique plant and animal world.

2013, 15 min
by Andre Hörmann

Little Bhavini dreams her way out of a Mumbai slum into a career as a dancer. She keeps practicing the steps of traditional Indian dancing, she keeps begging her mother to allow her to take lessons with a famous teacher. But that is expensive and they are barely scraping by since father died. So Bhavini begins to work at her mother’s beauty salon. But there is another obstacle to overcome: the entrance examination…In this new instalment of his series about children in megacities, André Hörmann once again, rather than simply showing the life of foreign children, explores the question of what it means to live for one’s dreams. (DOKLeipzig, Grit Lemke)