Films by Thomas Ladenburger

Germany 2018, 95 min
by Thomas Ladenburger

This is the story of Anastasia Biefang, lieutenant colonel in the German military, who was assigned male at birth. At the height of her career she decides to finally come out as transgender. Much to her surprise, she does not face any negative consequences in her career in the military. After her transition she becomes the first female commander in the history of the German military, leading a German armed forces´ battalion for cyber- and information domain service. The film follows her male to female transition and observes her taking over duties as a commander. Anastasia is not the only one transitioning- her battalion must also face up to changes in their mentality.

Germany 2010, 90 min
by Thomas Ladenburger

Djemaa el-Fna is a marketplace in Marrakesh filled with dance, song, stories, acrobatics, magic tricks and fortune-telling. The onlookers gather in so-called "halqas", or circles, around the performers and storytellers to admire their artistry and skill. The UNESCO placed this location on its list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2001. The interactive walk-in room sculpture by Thomas Ladenburger and Hannes Nehls attempts to reconstruct this unique location with the aid of projectors, light, film and acoustics. The ubiquitous tradition of oral storytelling is hardly cultivated anymore in Central Europe and has probably never possessed the performative energy that radiates from Djemaa el-Fna. This installation will go on display in Berlin and Paris. Venues and schedule: House of World Cultures, Berlin, February - March 2011 Institut du Monde Arabe, Paris; September 2011