Films by Markus Schmidt

Germany 2020, 95 min
by Natalija Yefimkina

In Russia there is a phenomenon beyond ice fishing, matryoshkas and vodka: the garage settlement. Seemingly inhospitable sheds which offer refuge to a large number of Russians – mainly men. Within these few square metres, they create alternative living spaces, with ingenuity and tenacity, according to their own taste and beyond any rules. The garages are an expression of a retreat into privacy, an escape from everyday life. Behind the Arctic Circle, in an area dominated by the local mining company, the garage is a chance for self-fulfillment – and appears as diverse as the dreams of its owners.

Germany 2010, 88 min
by Jakob Preuss

Donetsk is the coal-mining area of Ukraine. Here most people work for low wages in the run down mines, while others make a lot of money. No matter which side of the social divide you are on, coming from Donetsk you will almost certainly be an opponent of the Orange Revolution and a fan of the local football team, Shakhtar Donetsk. Billionaire Akhmetov invests heavily in the club, which is becoming a major European force during the season followed by the film. Yet this sporting success funded by an Oligarch fortune only seems to highlight the wider social and political stagnation of the region. Off the pitch, the outlook appears bleak... IDFA Competition for First Appearance 2010First Step Award 20119th Zagreb Film FestivalZurich Film Festival 2011Max Ophüls Preis 2011Trieste FilmFestival 2011One World Prague 2011DOK.fest MunichDocuDays Kiew - Opening Film

Germany 2008
by Ingo Rudloff

Touch the sound of Baschet instruments during performance and manufacturing.