Sooner Blog | Focus on Cinema

Insights and recommendations from top Sooner filmmakers

Pola Beck
Pola Beck

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

Babyboy; Jannik Weiße; Lukas Redfern; Karlotta Henke
Jannik Weisse

Identity, masculinity and social justice – a conversation with the BABYBOY Crew

ayla yildiz, me time
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”.

summer frost - leatitia masson - Clémence Poésy
Leatitia Masson

Laetitia Masson's new film SUMMER FROST (with Clémence Poésy), soon to be released on SOONER, offers a poetic portrait of human encounters during an unusual cold spell. In our SOONERCAST, Masson talks to Sebastian Urzendowsky about her work, which she sees as an exploration of the human condition.

Everything has an end - Paul Scheufler - Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF
Paul Scheufler

In our podcast, Paul talks about his journey to film, studying at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, the inspiration for the movie "EVERYTHING HAS AN END," and the creative work with the collective Lunchbox Candy. Tune in to learn more!

ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR Film Jonathan Schörnig
ONE HUNDRED AND FOUR: An Interview with Director Jonathan Schörnig and Crew Member Clara Richter

The documentary One Hundred and Four by Jonathan Schörnig offers a unique insight into the reality of civil sea rescue on the world's most dangerous escape route.

Stained Skin Adam Graf Mandy Peterat Filmuni Babelsberg Konrad Wolf Fast Fashion Industry
Mandy Peterat and Adam Graf

A fairy tale that metaphorically deals with the grievances in the fast fashion industry.

Make up the World - Robert Bramkamp - Susanne Weirich
Robert Bramkamp & Susanne Weirich

An in-depth conversation about decolonization and the world of props with Susanne Weirich and Robert Bramkamp

Öte - Malik Isasis - Turkey - BPOC - Tribeca Filmfestival
Malik Isasis

ÖTE, co-directed by Esra Saydam and Malik Isasis, is a love letter to the unique magic of solo travel and is now available on SOONER. The backpack film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival

Polaris - Ainara Vera - arctic - documentary
Ainara Vera

Ainara Vera, director and editor from Spain, has quickly established herself as an up-and-coming personality in filmmaking. In the SOONER podcast, we discuss Ainara's feature film debut POLARIS.

Istina - Tamara Denic
Tamara Denić - Into the Wild Mentoring

Interview with Into The Wild mentee Tamara Denić and winner of a student Oscar about Feminism, refugee status and film making.

Narcissism - The Auto-Erotic Images - Toni Karat - Meltingpoint Images
Toni Karat

Toni Karat, non-binary artist and filmmaker from Berlin

What the fuck is going on between us, fuck? - Justina Jürgensen - Into the Wild Mentoring
Justina Jürgensen - Into the Wild Mentoring

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

Allesandersplatz - Isis Rampf - Into the Wild Mentoring
Isis Rampf - Into the Wild Mentoring

Isis Rampf's journey into the world of film began with film screenings for children, which she organised during her year of voluntary service. Her studies in media studies and directing at the international film school cologne, as well as her work as an assistant director, laid the foundation for her career as a director. The passion she saw in the children's eyes still drives her today and motivates her to make films herself.

Nur ein Freitag - Sarina Laudam & Jacqueline May- Into the Wild Mentoring
Sarina Laudam & Jacqueline May - Into the Wild Mentoring

Together they realized their first joint film project in 2021 and founded the FLINTA* network Female Filmmakers Cologne the following year. They are currently working on their debut film as an author duo in the INTO THE WILD mentoring program. They talked to us about filmmaking, their film NUR EIN FREITAG and their favorite films on SOONER.

Fortuna Valentyn - Eva Neidlinger - Into the Wild Mentoring
Eva Neidlinger - Into the Wild Mentoring

Director Eva Neidlinger believes there is power in filmmaking - the power to make a difference. You can hear how she found her way from nursing into film, which also took her through Lviv, in the SOONERCAST interview

Störenfrieda - Alina Yklymova - Into the Wild Mentoring
Alina Yklymova - Into the Wild Mentoring

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.

Pia Frankenberg - Der Anschlag
Pia Frankenberg

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.

Sophie Linnenbaum - Pix - interfilm
Sophie Linnenbaum

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.

Eline Gehring - Nico - Sara Fazilat - Into the Wild Mentoring
Eline Gehring - Into the Wild Mentoring

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

Philippe Grégoire - The Noise of Engines
Philippe Grégoire

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

Malte Wirtz - Geschlechterkrise - Unfiltered Artists Filmstudio
Malte Wirtz - Unfiltered Artists Filmstudio

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.

Antichrist film
Antichrist Film

Lars von Trier's Antichrist film is a fascinating and controversial work that has provoked intense debate and multiple interpretations since its release. Starring Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg,

Sooner background wall
Stream HD movies: How Sooner works

Sooner is an innovative platform specializing in European arthouse and indie cinema. It offers a unique selection of films and series that both move and inspire

Lord of the Toys film Adlersson Herzberg
Why 'Lord of the Toys' is a Must-Watch Documentary

In an era dominated by social media influencers and rapidly shifting cultural landscapes, "Lord of the Toys" emerges as a documentary that demands attention.

Ostzone film Heilstätte Grabowsee Horror movie
Behind the scenes: Grabowsee sanatorium in the horror film Ostzone

The Grabowsee sanatorium, an abandoned lung sanatorium near Berlin, has a fascinating history that attracts both history buffs and fans of horror stories. This mysterious place has been given a new dimension of notoriety through its use as a film set for a horror movie, particularly the "Heilstätten" set in the "Eastern Zone".

Schwarze Sonne Film Rüdiger Sünner
The meaning of the Black Sun: a deeper analysis

The film "Black Sun" by Rüdiger Sünner sheds light on the use of Nordic myths and esoteric symbols by the Third Reich. It shows how these elements were used to create a profound ideological basis that went far beyond simple political propaganda.

The Net. Unabomber, LSD & Internet; Ted Kaczynski; Unabomber
The Net. Unabomber, LSD & Internet

The Unabomber's Influence: Exploring Ted Kaczynski's Connection to LSD and the Internet

der einstein des sex; Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld; The Einstein of Sex: Exploring the Life and Work of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld
The Einstein of Sex: Exploring the Life and Work of Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld

In the annals of history, few individuals have left an indelible mark on the study of human sexuality like Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld. A pioneering figure in the field of sexology, Hirschfeld's groundbreaking work challenged societal norms and paved the way for a more inclusive understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity. His unwavering dedication to scientific inquiry and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights earned him the moniker "The Einstein of Sex," a testament to his revolutionary impact on the field.

The Bookshop Florence Green
The Bookshop: A detailed review

The story, based on the novel of the same name by Penelope Fitzgerald, takes viewers back to the 1950s to a small English seaside town where Florence Green, a widow with a passion for books, realizes her dream by opening her own bookshop. .

quiet on set
Quiet on Set: A masterpiece by Petter Holmsen

In a world where films are far more than mere entertainment, "Quiet on Set", a masterpiece by Norwegian director Petter Holmsen, clearly stands out.

Agnès Varda: A journey through her films and biography

Agnès Varda, a pioneer of French cinema, has left her mark on the film world with her unique vision and artistic expression

Sandra Hüller cover
Sandra Hüller: Career and successes at a glance

Sandra Hüller has established herself as one of the most impressive actresses of her generation. With her extraordinary talent and versatile performance artistry, she has captured the attention of critics and audiences alike.

Baghead, Greta Gerwig
The best Greta Gerwig movies: a must for every movie lover

Greta Gerwig has established herself as one of the most influential filmmakers of our time. In 2023, her groundbreaking success “Barbie” made her the first female solo director to break the billion-dollar mark at the box office.

Soul Kitchen, Fatih Akin, Birol Ünel, Moritz Bleibtreu
How Fatih Akin's 'Soul Kitchen' Revolutionized the German Film Scene

'Soul Kitchen' by Fatih Akin is considered a milestone of 21st-century German cinema. This story of a Hamburg restaurant quickly developed into one of the most important German films of its time.

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