Protests, Exile and Structural Change: Jasmin Astaki Bardeh on documentary film and journalism

Jasmin Astaki Bardeh | SOONER BLOG

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In our latest podcast episode, we spoke with documentary film director and journalist Jasmin Astaki Bardeh. Her multifaceted career between documentary filmmaking and journalistic reporting opens up a very special range of topics – from her work on political documentaries to atmospheric sociological observations. Jasmin shared her insights into creative processes, challenges of political filmmaking and her perspective on current social debates.

Striking the right balance: between documentary film and journalism

Jasmin described her work as a constant back and forth between two worlds: the long-term and often personal work on a documentary film and the fast-paced nature of journalism. Her current project, “If we burn, you burn with us”, a film about the protest movement in Hong Kong, shows how stories can develop over years.

Political commitment and the art of documentary film

One of the main topics of our conversation was Jasmin's ability to shed light on social and political tensions through her films. In “Zwischentage”, her documentary film available on Sooner, she deals with the structural change in the Ruhr area. With a particular focus on the aesthetics and symbolism of the former mining world, she created a work that addresses both the personal impact on people and larger social contexts.

Jasmin emphasized that documentaries offer a unique way of telling stories through their subjective perspective and emotional power. At the same time, she talked about the ethical responsibility she feels as a filmmaker when capturing intimate and vulnerable moments on camera.

Empowerment through networks: the “Into the Wild” mentoring program

Another highlight of our conversation was Jasmin's experience in the “Into the Wild” mentoring program, which supports women in the film industry. Jasmin emphasized the importance of solidarity and networks, which not only gave her professional orientation but also personal empowerment. This experience has inspired her to offer support to other women in the industry.

We are pleased that Jasmin's work has also found a home on Sooner. Her films, such as FROM THE ASHES and CANDIDATES - TRAINING IN STAMMHEIM, are available on our platform, as is her curated channel with selected film recommendations.

Discover the channel of Jasmin Astaki Bardeh

malte-wirtz

A German director and writer celebrated for his unconventional filmmaking approach

Malte Wirtz is a German director and writer celebrated for his unconventional filmmaking approach. After graduating in 1999, he has worked as a theater and film director, collaborating with various theaters in Germany. His films are characterized by their unique, playful, and experimental nature, often incorporating audience interaction and creative techniques, including shooting entirely on digital platforms. Wirtz is known for his pioneering methods, such as influencing actors through text messages during filming, a concept he expanded on in "Digital Life," a film entirely shot on Zoom Video Communications. He introduced #ZOGMA, a new digital-only film genre, establishing himself as a trailblazer in German indie cinema.

DAS BÖSE IM WALD: The "German indie machine" Malte Wirtz turns to horror and does it so successfully that the audience left the cinema hall in fear.

Find out more about Maltes movies on sooner

eline-gehring

As a mentee of the INTO THE WILD programme funded by SOONER, she shows us some of her favourite films alongside NICO.

ELINE GEHRING began her career in 2006 as a camerawoman and editor for German reporting in Paris, Prague, Kiev and Berlin. She shot a documentary for the German Bundestag in St Petersburg and worked for Deutsche Welle in Cairo in 2008. Her stations also took her to South Africa, where she spent a year in 2011 shooting short films, documentaries and social commercials for NGOs. In 2016, Eline began work on her feature film debut NICO, which she wrote, directed and edited. NICO is screened at over 50 film festivals and nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the 2022 German Film Awards. NICO is later included in the German shortlist for the Oscars. In 2022, Eline directs the season of a series on public television and has been developing her second feature film since 2023, with which she completes her directing studies at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB). As a mentee of the INTO THE WILD programme funded by SOONER, she shows us some of her favourite films alongside NICO.

"I think (Zora Rux`) films are uncompromising and courageous."

Discover also Elines` film recommendations

philippe-gregoire

A Canadian film director and screenwriter from the small village of Napierville, Quebec

Philippe Grégoire is a Canadian film director and screenwriter from the small village of Napierville, Quebec, whose debut feature film The Noise of Engines (Le Bruit des moteurs) was released in 2021 and is shown on Sooner. Philippe shares some insides how Noise Of Engines was created - a quite personal and nostalgic movie that was shot in his hometown with its inabitants that love car race. The film received three Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 10th Canadian Screen Awards in 2022, including a Best Director nod for Grégoire and the John Dunning Best First Feature Award. We talked with him about his motivation to become a filmmaker and what inspires him. Grewing up with very open minded parents he had the chance to study film and started his first projects together with his friends influenced by Cinéma québécois which is part of the québeque culture. Of course we were very curious about his favorite films on sooner - listen in and find out which films he picked and why:)

HUMANITÉ - a film by Bruno Dumont, who is nominated with his film L´Empire at the 74th edition of Berlinale (Competition)

Find out more about Philippes favorite movies on sooner

Discover also Philippe Grégoires curated Channel!

sophie-linnenbaum

Award winning Interfilm-Veteran with an inquisitive look at the human species and the social system.

Why do people make films? Why do we need festivals and why do fathers always sneeze so loudly? We discussed these questions and others with the filmmaker Sophie Linnenbaum. Sophie Linnenbaums interest in social issues was awakened early on by the strong regional patriotism of her home region - keyword: annual bratwurst summit. She studied psychology and worked as a playwright before beginning her film studies at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF. Her cinematic works combine her greatest interests - an inquisitive look at the human species and the social system and the possibility of creating narrative mirror worlds; with a penchant for humour and playfulness, her films illuminate the trials and tribulations of the human cosmos without losing sight of the characters. Her touching (short) films such as PIX (German Short Film Award 2017), DAS MENSCH (2019) and VÄTER UNSER (2021) have won several awards and screened at numerous national and international festivals, like the Interfilm Festival in Berlin. Her first feature film THE ORDINARIES had its international premiere in the main competition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival and was awarded the Förderpreis Regie at the Munich Film Festival and won the First Steps Award for best feature-length film. Sophie's list with her own films and her film recommendations can be found at Sooner

The Moviewaffler: "BLOODY MILK is as tense as any neon lit urban thriller."

Find out more about Sophies favorite Movies on Sooner!

Discover Sophie Linnenbaums curated Channel!

pia-frankenberg

In the 80s, she was one of the most exciting filmmakers in Germany. Then she put the camera aside and preferred to write novels. We asked Pia Frankenberg: Why?

Pia Frankenberg explores the uncertainties around us as she leans into the chaotic confusion of life without drawing set-in-stone conclusions. After first making two short films, she made two feature-length movies then released her last feature as director, "Never Sleep Again", in 1992. It is fair to say that her storytelling has retained relevance and topicality thanks to the frictions she addresses in her work where the personal and political collide. SOONER is showing all 5 Pia Frankenberg films, and spoke to her and released the interview on Soonercast.

Discover the unique Pia Frankenberg retrospective

alina-yklymova

ALINA YKLYMOVA was born in 1990 in Meiningen in what was then the USSR, grew up in Turkmenistan and grew up in Hesse. Since then, she has felt at home everywhere and nowhere. These different cultural influences have shaped her unique perspective on storytelling. With a passion for film and television production, her professional journey began, encompassing various fields and artistic projects. However, she found her true calling when she decided to study directing at the renowned Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. The two films "Störenfrieda" and "Kurschatten", which were made during her directing studies at the Film Academy, are co-productions with Arte and SWR. Both films premiered at the Max Ophüls Prize 2022 and were subsequently shown at various national and international film festivals. "Störenfrieda" became part of the AG Kurzfilm catalog and won various prizes. Among others, the prize for the best film at the "Bundesfestival Junger Film 2022" and the "Innovation Award" at the "Autorenfilmfest Filmzeit" in Kaufbeuren. Her artistic approach is characterized by her ability to approach abstract and theoretical questions from a sensual and visual perspective. In her films, she creates original worlds which, despite their uniqueness, have a connection to reality. She achieves this through thorough research and attention to detail. Furthermore, empathetic and profound characters are important to her in order to give her films a philanthropic character.

"The jury was irritated and impressed at the same time." (Perspektive Deutsches Kino)

Discover also Alinas` film recommendations

In our latest SOONERCAST episode, we talked to director Jannik Weiße and the leading actors Lukas Redfern (Vincent) and Karlotta Henke (Gabriela) about their film BABYOBY.

Jannik Weisse | SOONER BLOG

Identity, masculinity and social justice - a conversation with the BABYBOY crew

Jannik Weisse's new film BABYBOY is now available to watch on SOONER.

In conversation about BABYBOY: About identity, masculinity and social justice

In our latest SOONERCAST episode, we talked to director Jannik Weiße and the leading actors Lukas Redfern (Vincent) and Karlotta Henke (Gabriela) about their film BABYOBY. The film, which has already been enthusiastically received at several film festivals, subtly but powerfully highlights the challenges of growing up, from finding one's identity and images of masculinity to the constraints of social classes.

In the podcast, Jannik Weiße gives us exciting insights into the making of BABYBOY. He explains how he became aware of the topic of masculinity through personal observations and conversations and why the representation of social classes is particularly important to him. For Jannik, the question at the center of the film is how young people deal with the expectations of those around them – a challenge that Vincent, played by Lukas Redfern, in particular has to face.

Listen in to the new SOONERCAST episode and learn more about the making of BABYBOY, a film that has a very special effect due to its authenticity!

In the SOONERCAST, Laetitia Masson talks to Sebastian Urzendowsky about her work and her new film SUMMER FROST (with Clémence Poésy), which will soon be shown on SOONER and promises to be an extraordinary film experience.

Leatitia Masson | SOONER BLOG

Laetitia Masson talks to Sebastian Urzendowsky about her work on the SOONERCAST.

Laetitia Masson's new film SUMMER FROST (with Clémence Poésy) will soon be shown on SOONER.

SUMMER FROST: When love and power are put to the test

Laetitia Masson's new film SUMMER FROST (with Clémence Poésy) will soon be shown on SOONER and promises an extraordinary film experience. The film shows in a poetic and visually stunning way how ten strangers meet during an unusual cold spell in summer in France. These encounters, imbued with intense emotions and self-reflection, paint a haunting portrait of the human soul. In an episodic structure, Masson interweaves themes such as loneliness, love and the search for connection against a surreal backdrop.

In SOONERCAST, Masson talks to Sebastian Urzendowsky about her work. The interview was held in French, the subtitled version can be seen on YouTube. She sees her films less as political statements than as in-depth explorations of the human condition. Although she does not see herself as a feminist filmmaker, her characters are often lonely figures in search of love, which they confuse with attachment. A central motif in her films is the triad of love, work and money. SUMMER FROST (with Clémence Poésy) impressively embodies these profound themes.

On 09.09. SUMMER FROST will be screened at Cinema Paris in the presence of Laetitia Masson. This special screening offers a rare opportunity to experience the film on the big screen and meet the director in person. Listen to the full interview on SOONERCAST to find out more about the background to this fascinating work and Masson's world of thought. Stay tuned for the launch of SUMMER FROST on SOONER soon.

Into the Wild Mentoring From the soccer club, to the stage in the theater, to behind the camera. In a SOONER interview, Hamburg director Justina Jürgensen talks about her impressive career as a director and about sexism and heteronormativity - and not just in soccer.

Justina Jürgensen - Into the Wild Mentoring

Hamburg director Justina Jürgensen talks about her impressive career as a director in the SOONER interview.

From the soccer club, to the stage in the theater, to behind the camera. 

From the soccer club, to the stage in the theater, to behind the camera. In a SOONER interview, Hamburg director Justina Jürgensen talks about her impressive career as a director and about sexism and heteronormativity - and not just in soccer. 

In 2006, during the World Cup, the young Justina was gripped by soccer fever. There was no girls' team, so she played with the boys at the club. As a young adult, she admitted to herself that things weren't looking particularly rosy for women in professional soccer - and so she focused on her other great passion: acting and theater. As an assistant director in the theater, she was gripped by the desire to tell the stories herself one day.

The dream became reality: in 2017, she began her studies at the University of Television and Film Munich and is working on her own films as a director and writer. Her film WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON BETWEEN US, FUCK?, which is also available on SOONER, is set in the world of women's soccer and is about a lesbian love affair in the team. Again, it was the World Cup that inspired her, so she is currently developing a series about the world of women's football. This time, however, she takes a harder line with the sport: she believes that sexist structures should be burned at the stake. 

Unfortunately, these exist not only in sport, but also in the film industry. The Into The Wild mentoring program is working to combat this. By providing targeted support for young female talent in the industry, like Justina, the aim is to ensure greater diversity and fairness in the industry. Justina is grateful for the mentoring program, as it encourages people to support each other and form bonds instead of elbowing their way through. Because like soccer, film is a team sport!

Justina is a political person. One of her favorite films is the DEFA film DIE MÖRDER SIND UNTER UNS - a post-war film in which the filmmakers understood and reflected on the atrocities that took place shortly after the end of the Second World War and dealt with the question of German war guilt in shattered Berlin. She is concerned about the shift to the right and sees a responsibility among artists to take a stand against it.

The entire interview is now available for you, as well as Justina's curated film recommendations. Listen in now!

Into-The-Wild-Mentoring is a one-year mentoring program for female filmmakers from all film schools in Germany.

Discover films of other Into-The-Wild-Mentées

In her documentary Me Time, Ayla Yildiz has created a moving documentary that openly addresses child-free living, idealized motherhood and the social pressure on women. In our SOONERCAST episode, Ayla describes the film in one word: “self-determination”.

Ayla Yildiz | SOONER BLOG

In the SOONER podcast, Ayla Yildiz talks about breaking taboos and self-determination.

In the SOONER podcast, Ayla Yildiz talks about the creation of ME TIME and why the topic of self-determination is so important to her.

ME TIME: Self-determination instead of motherly happiness? – A film by Ayla Yildiz

Ayla Yildiz has created a moving documentary with Me Time, which openly addresses child-free living, idealized motherhood and the social pressure on women. In our SOONERCAST episode, Ayla describes the film in one word: “self-determination”. This central theme runs like a red thread through the stories of the six protagonists, who talk about personal experiences around abortion, unwanted pregnancy, sterilization, regretting motherhood and life without children.

In the SOONER podcast, Ayla Yildiz talks about the creation of Me Time and why the topic of self-determination is so important to her. She explains how the choice of words – “childless” vs. “child-free” – can strongly influence public perception and why it is important to remove the taboo from topics such as regretting motherhood.

Ayla emphasizes that she not only wants to spark a debate with Me Time, but also create space for reflection: on the freedoms and rights women should have in relation to their own life choices. Especially in times when conservative voter flows are on the rise, she sees it as necessary to further strengthen women's self-determination. Ayla also shares her reading recommendations on the topic in the podcast and introduces her curated SOONER channel.

Discover the curated movie selection of Ayla Yildiz

Edgy, uncomfortable, rebellious – Pola Beck's female characters and freedom in short films? We talked to her about how she got into film, which topics she keeps coming back to and why rebellious female characters repeatedly appear in her work.

Pola Beck | SOONER BLOG

Edgy, uncomfortable, rebellious – Pola Beck's female figures and freedom in short films?

“As a director, I want to tell the stories of female characters who are edgier, who do things that aren't comfortable...”

We talked to her about how she got into film, the topics she is always dealing with and why rebellious female characters repeatedly appear in her works. Her perspective is often intuitive and female-centered – she is interested in strong, complex female characters who find their way with passion and determination.

In conversation about her short films, it becomes clear that they have a very special meaning for her. They are a field for Pola Beck to experiment and offer freedoms that feature-length films do not provide. She values the short film as a medium of urgency in which topics can be condensed and creative ideas can unfold freely. Short films mean freedom – they show unconventional worlds and provide space for courageous artistic decisions. Her short films such as Klemptomami or In deiner Haut are just two examples of many.

She also demonstrates her talent for telling complex, profound stories in the long form. In The Russian is One Who Loves Birches, an adaptation of the novel by Olga Grjasnowa, we follow Mascha, who, after a heavy blow of fate, flees from herself on an intense trip to Israel. On Sooner, we present an exclusive retrospective of Pola Beck's work in cooperation with the interfilm Berlin Festival. The festival is ending, but the films remain – an invitation to discover Pola Beck's cinematic work, which promises both cinematic enjoyment and social relevance.

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"I want to tell the stories of female characters who are edgier”

Pola Beck

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“I WRITE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF WHITENESS.” - Malik Isasis, filmmaker

“I WRITE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF WHITENESS.”
- Malik Isasis, filmmaker