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Kollegen

Good German Work

Jannis Alexander Kiefer // Germany // 2020 // 14:00 min

Live Action

Synopsis:
Two craftspeople, Uli and Didi, are working on a swastika in their workshop, somewhere between rural paradise and village dreariness, wondering about the strange newcomers in the village.

Three Questions for the Director

1. Short Film has a unique way of telling stories and exploring themes. What is it that fascinates you about the short format?

Jannis Alexander Kiefer: I like the idea that I can make a film out of one idea or even just out of a feeling. Mostly I write my first short film scripts with one question in mind and I’m happy that I don’t have to push my idea in a classic feature film structure. Instead, I enjoy the freedom of short films and try to find an individual pace und rhythm for each film.

2. The program your film is selected for is called “Tracing Home Turf”: What connection do you see between your film and that title?

Jannis Alexander Kiefer: My film is about home and the moment when unknown people enter the comfort zone of a small community. Besides that, KOLLEGEN is about the question how to handle the history of your own country and reenact the past.

3. What film has inspried you most to make films yourself and what part of it do you see in your own work?

Jannis Alexander Kiefer: I can’t name one film but I can name filmmakers like Lars von Trier and Thomas Vinterberg. I love them both because they find a new way and cinematic style for every project and they don’t reproduce themself.