Deep Dive Genre

“You discover a film while you’re making it” might be my new favorite quote about movies. A big thank you to cinematographer Markus Förderer for talking to us about the making of dystopian scifi feature HELL, what draws him to the genre and why throwing out the pre-planning is sometimes the boldest move you can make in film making. It was a pleasure - Enjoy! Find out more about Markus and his latest work: https://www.markusforderer.com/ You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de

Welcome back to Deep Dive Genre! Season 8 covers classics like Metropolis and modern films and series such as DARK, SKIN DEEP or HELL. Starting September 16th we’ll be talking about Fantasy and ScyFi. So join us, won’t you? When we talk to actors Mala Emde, Lisa Vicari, Maren Eggert and Felix Kramer and director Tim Fehlbaum and cinematographer Markus Förderer.

Today we talk to film critic and economic researcher Moritz Pfeifer about European films, political drama - and film financing. Our discussion covers a lot of ground: From European arthouse film, to film marketing to the FFG. Join us, won’t you? For the final chapter of season 7. Find out more about Moritz and his latest work: East European Film Bulletin: http://eefb.org/ Research Paper ("The European Film Industry as a Market for Lemons"): https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=5042964 (und ein Artikel zur Arbeit für die Öffentlichkeit: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/13/film-europe-berlinale-industry-eu-funds-audiences)  Films mentioned:  “Kontinental '25” by Radu Jude  “The Assistant” by Anna and Wilhelm Sasnal  “Jupiter” by Andrey Zvyagintsev  “Silent Friend” by Ildikó Enyedi  You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de 

We talked to writer and creative powerhouse Anette Hess about her series’ INTERPRETER OF SILENCE and WEISSENSEE, her journey to becoming a writer, why dialogue is like music - think rhythm, temp and melody – the fear of the blank page and her personal connection to the stories she writes. Plus we got a tiny glimpse of the newest installment of the Kudamm series. Enjoy! Find out more about Annette Hess and her latest work: https://www.instagram.com/frau_hess/?hl=de You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de

Back for a second stint with us and fresh of the Oscar® -Nomination for September 5 we talk to writer Moritz Binder about his writing process (hint: he’s not a solitary writer), how sometimes getting rid of dialogue can make a scene and the creative through-line of his projects (possibly Munich, just kidding – but also not). It was a pleasure - Enjoy! Find out more about Moritz and his latest work: https://agentur-midpoint.com/moritz-binder/ Find out more about Johanna Thalmann and her work: https://agentur-midpoint.com/johanna-thalmann/ You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de

Çağdaş Eren Yüksel talked to me about his Grimme Preis awarded series, how he became a director and producer despite not having any contacts in the film industry and how he navigates the world of political storytelling. It was a real pleasure to talk to him – enjoy! Find out more about Çağdaş and his latest work: https://caay.de/cagdas-eren-yueksel/ https://www.instagram.com/cagdasyueksel/ You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de

We talked to the indomitable writer & director Petra Volpe about her new film Heldin/Late Shift, filmmaking as a political act, her favorite quote “fiction is the lie that tells the truth” (by Albert Camus), how camera positions are micro-dramaturgy and we got a glimpse of her newest film, a passion project. Enjoy! Find out more about Petra and her latest work: https://die-agenten.de/profile/petra-volpe/  You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de

We.talked to September 5 director & writer Tim Fehlbaum about how he became a director, his beginnings in stop-motion, how choosing a project should feel almost like falling in love and the importance of images and story for a successful film – Enjoy! Find out more about Tim and his latest work: https://players.de/directors/tim-fehlbaum/ You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de

Season 7 is here! Starting May 13th, we’ll be talking about political drama.  So join us, won’t you? When we talk to directors such as Petra Volpe and Tim Fehlbaum, writers Annette Hess and Moritz Binder or producer Cagdas Eren Yüksel about what makes engrossing political drama.    

How did my talk with Film critic Antje Wessels end up a Liam Neeson appreciation? Comedy, that’s how. We talked about respect for films and filmmakers when writing reviews, the comedy genre in general and favorite scenes from films such as Feste & Freunde or Bridesmaids! I loved every minute of our podcast conversation – enjoy! Find out more about Antje and her latest work: https://wessels-filmkritik.com/ You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de

Comedy Queen Diana Amft is back. We talk some more about comedy, laughing during takes, how improv theatre showed her a new level of comedy and we get some inside scoop of those infamous “Doctor’s Diary” game nights. Enjoy! Find out more about Diana Amft and her projects: https://ida-pr.de/schauspieler/diana-amft https://imdahl.com/portfolio/diana-amft/ https://baumhausbande.com/buecher/9783833900594-die-kleine-spinne-widerlich/ Theatrical Release: "Ein Mädchen namens Willow“ on 27.2.2025 „Altweibersommer“ on 04.04.2025 „Die kleine Spinne Widerlich - Mini-Spinni kommt in den Kindergarten“ Publishing Date 25.04.2025 You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/

She’s great at goodbyes! But first writer and series-creator Aylin Kockler shared some great insights into her writing process, explains why script writing is like the telephone game and on top revealed her favorite comedic movie scene. We loved every minute of our podcast conversation – enjoy! Find out more about Aylin and her latest work: www.aylinkockler.com You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de

In this episode we talk to a true comedy expert – director & writer Alireza Golafshan! He started his career with the hilarious The Goldfish, followed by J.G.A. and then his latest, Fifty Fifty. We discuss the uniqueness and magic of a good comedy script, not taking yourself too seriously and what happens when the director ruins the takes because of laughing – Enjoy! Find out more about Alireza Golafshan and his latest work: https://www.golafshan.de/ You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/

In our first episode of season 6 of #Deep Dive Genre episode we talk to director & writer David Dietl. We talk about finding the right tone between happy and sad in a good comedy script, what to do when weather and location necessitate a new way to shoot the scene with an ensemble cast and when and how to “kill your darlings” – Enjoy! Find out more about David Dietl and his latest work: https://www.agenturhomebase.de/clients/david-dietl/ You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/

The most complicated genre of all? Funny you should ask: Comedy! Welcome to season 6 of Deep Dive Genre! Funny, complicated, but oh so satisfying when done right. So join us, won’t you? When we talk to directors such as Alireza Golafshan and David Dietl or actress and comedy queen Diana Amft about this terrific genre.

Producer and film expert Alfred Holighaus curated the 70 years of German Films edition program. We talked to him about the selection, the great eras of the 1960s and 1990s, his favorite Fassbinder Film and the ONE German film he would recommend you to watch if you can only watch one. Enjoy! Disclaimer: At some pint we talk about centuries - but of course that should be decades instead! Find out more about Alfred Holighaus and his latest work: https://www.realfilm-berlin.de/mitarbeiter/alfred-holighaus/ https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Holighaus You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/

Director & writer Nora Fingscheidt’s last three films – Systemcrasher, The Unforgivable and The Outrun - have been very different, but what they do share are radical protagonists that live outside the norms of society. She reveals why a director is more like a conductor and what she loves about working with longtime creative collaborators. Enjoy our conversation! Find out more about Nora Fingscheidt and her latest work: https://www.agenturhomebase.de/clients/nora-fingscheidt/ You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/

Director Andreas Dresen and his wonderful films hold a very special place in the German movie canon. He tells stories about regular people, that keep the country – and the world – running. And the price they often pay for it. In our Podcast-interview we talked about his Super 8-Beginnings, Theatre, Opera, Music, the future cinematic generation and lots more - Enjoy! Find out more about Andreas Dresen and his latest work: https://henschel-schauspiel.de/de/person/58 You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/

Telling stories full of emotions is director Caroline Links’ special talent. The Writer and director – or as she says in her own words: Life-Observer -  of such terrific films such as Beyond Silence, A Year Ago in Winter, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit makes movies because she wants to tell about life and people that move her.  Enjoy our wonderful conversation with Caroline! Find out more about Caroline Link and her latest work: https://players.de/directors/caroline-link/ You can find us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/

Welcome to Deep Dive Genre Season 5! Starting September 17th we are celebrating 70 years of German Films. And what better way to do that than to highlight German filmmakers and their work in this special edition. So join us, won’t you? See you next week!