General

Start of production for MY HOLY CAR

After years of development and funding efforts, I am thrilled to announce the start of production on MY HOLY CAR (working title). In this 90-minute ARD documentary, I explore the enduring passion Germans have for cars.

To uncover the reasons behind this fascination, we delve into history, advertising, and pop culture, speak with car enthusiasts and critics, and showcase the work of designers, engineers, and influencers.

With stunning visuals and many captivating interview partners, we paint a vibrant and fascinating portrait of Germany as the land of automobiles.

The film is a co-production by Hoferichter & Jacobs Filmproduktion with NDR, SWR, and MDR for ARD, supported by Nordmedia and MFG Filmförderung.

Nomination for SCHOCK SCHALOM

I am delighted that my film SCHOCK SCHALOM has been nominated for the DAFFNE 2025 in the TV Journalism category.
The German Academy for Television (DAfF) awards the DAFFNE annually for outstanding achievements in television – in 21 categories, from acting and directing to make-up, sound design, stunts and special effects. Because television is always teamwork! Click here for our complete staff list. The decisions as to which of the nominees will be presented with a DAFFNE in February will not be made by a jury, but by all 800 members of the Academy. It will be exciting!

THE IRRECONCILABLES

My colleague Jens Strohschnieder and I travelled to the USA four times during this very special election year. Will there be a comeback for Donald Trump? What concerned us more was how ordinary people are faring. What are their hopes and fears? This is America beyond the headlines. We filmed in rural Missouri and New York City, in a struggling industrial town and glittering Las Vegas, at the Mexican border and in San Francisco. It was an intense shoot, as we quickly navigated the stark contrasts between the states, meeting many very different people. Of course, even this long-term documentary can only begin to capture the complexity of the United States, a country no longer united. But we gave it our best shot. AMERICA 2024 – THE IRRECONCILABLES. From 22 October on arte.

Medicine of Tomorrow

Genetic engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Brain-Machine Interfaces, and Climate Catastrophe: For the accompanying documentary to the new Charité series, I have taken on the directorial role alongside Nicolas Hecker. In MEDICINE OF TOMORROW, we join Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen on an exciting journey to researchers and patients in Berlin and Bonn, Magdeburg and Marburg, Weimar and Paris – and learn a lot about high-tech and clever computers, but also about surprisingly simple things that could improve our health in the future.

SCHOCK SCHALOM

It was an emotional filming trip across Germany. For my ZDF documentary SCHOCK SCHALOM, I interviewed eleven young Jews in Berlin, Munich, Osnabrück, Essen and Stuttgart. How are they feeling six months after the Hamas massacre of Israeli babies, children and parents? Do they still feel understood, protected and safe in Germany? What do they think of the Arab community, with some of whom they had done joint projects or go to the same school class? The answers are honest, unembellished and shocking – but despite all the bitterness, they are also surprisingly nuanced.

Media award for ADAM & IDA

Great joy: Our documentary ADAM & IDA has been nominated for the DAFFNE 2023 the award given my the German Academy for Television. Please keep your fingers crossed! The academy members will vote for the winner film, the award ceremony will take place in Berlin on December 2nd.

Our film has already won the first prize at the German ecumenical media award „Andere Zeiten”. From the jury’s statement: “The film is free of all clichés, does without kitsch and pathos and represents an art form of its own through the incorporated graphic novel elements. Adam & Ida is a humanly touching and at the same time politically significant story that shows how the Shoah continues to have an effect today.”

Arte Reportage: PRICE FIGHTERS

For one week we were “embedded” at the so-called Polish market in Łęknica on the border to Bad Muskau in Saxony. Why the filming was not easy, I tell in this tagesschau podcast 11KM. The Arte report PRICE FIGHTERS can now be watched in the Arte media library.

Nominierung für CIVIS Medienpreis 2021

I am very happy and proud that my documentary HEY, I AM A JEW has been nominated for the CIVIS Media Prize 2021 – out of almost 800 submissions from 20 European countries. The prize honors programme achievements in the field of migration, integration and cultural diversity. The winners will be announced on 21st of May. Here is a list of all nominees and the Jury’s Remarks.

Coming soon: ADAM & IDA

After six years of development, shooting, editing and post-production, my new documentary is finished. ADAM & IDA tells the incredible story of Jewish twins Adam and Ida Paluch, who were separated as toddlers in the ghetto, survived the Holocaust and miraculously found each other again 53 years later. Here you can find the trailer and further information. The film had its world premiere at the Jewish Film Festival Berlin Brandenburg. In Germany, the German version is now online on the ARD streaming platform.

Arte “The Newly Poor in Germany

The work of the food banks and the situation of those, who suffer from the rapidly rising prices, are the subject of a new report for Arte. We were filming in Berlin and Hamburg. The great commitment of the many volunteers is impressive. The film is now online here.