German Films and the German Federal Film Board (FFA) are excited to present the 14th edition of their initiative NEXT GENERATION SHORT TIGER. This annual showcase presents the year’s most promising young directors and remarkable student shorts to international audiences and the film industry. The program combines new talents – the NEXT GENERATION of German cinema – with the best German short films up to 7 minutes – the winners of the FFA’s SHORT TIGER AWARD 2024. We invite you to make your own discoveries!
It’s Just A Whole
Director: Bianca Scali | Germany | 2023 | 11 Minutes | UK Premiere
She knew this day would come and the choice she’d have to make. A mole – it’s so small, so insignificant, just a mark… How can it be so hard to part from it? Can Maya ever feel whole again when a bit of her is taken away?
Cast: Will de Renzy-Martin, Judith Gaillard, Claudia Lietz, Mareike Schmid
Writer: Bianca Scali | Producer: Paulina Larson | Director of Photography: Markus Ott | Editor: Revan Sarikaya | Music: Demian Martin
Good For Me
Director: Hannah Wolny | Germany/USA | 2024 | 14 Minutes | UK Premiere
Content Warning: Abortion
Jules wants an abortion and is therefore forced to return to her childhood home. The 72 hours between the consultation and the procedure are increasingly filled with her parents’ unspoken questions.
Cast: Acadia Grace Barrengos, Annette Saunders, Jim Babel, Trent Thompson
Writer: David Starck | Producer: Fritzie Benesch | Director of Photography: Jakob Grasböck | Editor: Daria Wörmann | Music: Luis Guldzynski
The Hidden Dimension
Director: Ben Galster | Germany | 2023 | 4 Minutes | UK Premiere
Initiating a conversation about the LGBTQIA+ experience in Poland, The Hidden Dimension is a cinematic portrait of Warsaw-based queer photographer Leo Maki. An intimate journey into Maki’s daily life, creative practice, and experience of his craft against the landscape of a country where same-sex civil unions remain outlawed.
Cast: Leo Maki
Writer: Ben Galster | Producer: Julia Groszek | Director of Photography: Bernhard Russow | Editor: David Fabra / S EC Studio | Music: Gordian Gleiß / 86Tales
Superbuhei
Director: Josef Brandl | Germany | 2023 | 7 Minutes | UK Premiere
Jesse, an unsuccessful bar owner, is afraid.
Cast: Oliver Korittke, Susanne Bredehoeft, Milton Welsh, Hans-Jürgen Alf
Writer: Josef Brandl | Producer: Rike Steyer | Director of Photography: Fabio Stoll | Editor: Robert Strauß | Music: The Düsseldorf Düsterboys, International Music
I May Always Ask Her Anything
Original Title: Ich Darf Sie Immer Alles Fragen | Director: Silke Schönfeld | Germany/The Netherlands | 2023 | 15 Minutes | UK Premiere
Content Warning: trauma from sexual abuse
An intimate dialogue about transgenerational trauma between mother and daughter and the unspeakable consequences of child sexual abuse within one’s own family. The line between the need to investigate and the desire for healing becomes blurred while a persistent camera depicts the felling of a cherry tree.
Cast: Silke Schönfeld, Helene Fulton
Writer: Silke Schönfeld | Producer: Silke Schönfeld | Director of Photography: Tommy Scheer | Editor: Silke Schönfeld, Janina Herhoffer
The Bard’s Curse
Original Title: Des Sängers Fluch | Director: Scarlett Unverricht | Germany | 2023 | 6 Minutes | UK Premiere
Two singers want to enlighten a King’s cold heart… but end up in a curse.
Cast: Fred Costea, Christa Abels, Christian Ballhaus, Jan Mathis Glauser
Writer: Scarlett Unverricht, Angelina Urbanczyk | Producer: Scarlett Unverricht | Editor: Scarlett Unverricht, Amélie Richter | Music: Jan Mathis Glauser
Sensitive Content
Director: Narges Kalhor | Germany | 2023 | 8 Minutes
Iran, 16 September 2022. Mahsa Amini dies after being beaten by the morality police. Demonstrations follow, bringing together thousands of women severely repressed by the regime. Narges Kahlor explores the videos of these revolts published on social media, paying tribute to these defenders of the people armed with telephones.
Writer: Nicholas Coleman | Producer: Nicholas Coleman | Director of Photography: People of Iran | Editor: Narges Kalhor
Enjoy Your Meal
Director: Sofie Kienzle, Christian Manzke | Germany | 2023 | 3 Minutes | UK Premiere
A creature in space overexploits its own planet with existential consequences.
Writer: Sofie Kienzle, Christian Manzke | Producer: Sofie Kienzle, Christian Manzke | Director of Photography: Sofie Kienzle, Christian Manzke | Editor: Sofie Kienzle, Christian Manzke
Don’t Let Go
Original Title: Lass Nicht Los | Director: Antonia Lindner | Germany | 2024 | 14 Minutes | UK Premiere
Amir and Anouk are driving homewards after their first road trip together. High on their love for each other they feel nothing can ruin their happiness. Until they are stopped by the police.
Cast: Hassan Kello, Flavia Lefèvre
Writer: Antonia Lindner | Producer: Rafael Kousz, Sandra Cavallaro | Director of Photography: Philipp Kaiser | Editor: Antonia Lindner | Music: Barry Despenza
Black Youth
Director: Isaac Martínez | Germany | 2023 | 4 Minutes | UK Premiere
The story of young BIPoCs coming of age in a western world characterized by white heteronormative people and structures. A coming of age that is characterized by racism, grief, anger, hatred, the resulting violence, and exclusion, as well as the confrontation with one’s own identity.
Cast: Dimitri Abold, Archad Korodowou, Levy Budiaki, Hafid Ayeva
Writer: Isaac Martínez | Producer: Vincent Riszdorfer, Isaac Martínez | Director of Photography: Gilles Bluhm, Vincent Riszdorfer | Editor: Gilles Bluhm, Max Porsche | Music: Manuel Mählenhoff
Weeding
Original Title: Kassieren | Director: Amelie Vierbuchen, Franca Pape, Lea Sprenger | Germany | 2023 | 9 Minutes | UK Premiere
Who decides which stories are saved or discarded? In this documentary, three filmmakers are searching for archival material about a chemical factory in Cologne. A film about archiving, searching and discarding, about gaps and mistakes, and about the resistance of the material.
Writer: Lea Sprenger, Franca Pape | Producer: Amelie Vierbuchen, Franca Pape, Lea Sprenger | Director of Photography: Amelie Vierbuchen, Franca Pape, Lea Sprenger | Editor: Franca Pape, Lea Sprenger | Music: Sektfrühstück
