
A Pile of Ghosts
By Ella Raidel
2021 | 70 min | Documentary
An exploration of the eerie interplay of reality and fiction in contemporary China, where cities are built on speculation and capitalist fictions.


By Ella Raidel
2021 | 70 min | Documentary
An exploration of the eerie interplay of reality and fiction in contemporary China, where cities are built on speculation and capitalist fictions.

2021 | 87 min | Documentary
MOTORCITY focuses on the local amateur drag racing scene in Detroit, Michigan, but goes beyond just the sport. The film follows John Quick, Carter & Son Racing, and Karri Anne Beebe over two years as they strive to shave tenths of seconds off their race times. As the documentary progresses, the relationship between techno and car racing, and the self-perception of a European view of American life are discussed. The film delves into the fascination and the need for explanation surrounding the sport, ...

2009 | 79 min | Documentary
Helmut or Sieglinde are over fifty and are considered "unemployable" or unattractive on the labor market. On the other end of the spectrum are Martin, Mathias or Atafa, who are at the beginning of their working lives. JOBCENTER shows us a how job training works in Austria. Whose interests are served here? This documentary by Austrian talent Angela Summereder played at the Viennale in Vienna and reflects on the job market, on how people can be helped, and on abuses of power.

2022 | 70 min | Documentary
On the eve of his 90th birthday, Kiev architect Florian Yuriev is facing a daunting challenge. His architectural masterpiece, an avant-garde concert hall in the shape of a flying saucer, is under threat from a developer with links to Donald Trump. This developer wants to turn the building into part of a shopping mall. In a bold move, Yuriev fights the project with the help of other architects and young supporters. They spark a media storm and the result is a momentary victory. The developer promises ...

2019 | 76 min | Documentary
For over half a century, Semotan has worked successfully at the intersection of art, fashion and advertising photography and photographed Louise Bourgeois, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Willem Dafoe, Maria Lassnig or Udo Kier, among others.

2022 | 106 min | Documentary
Despite controlling the means of production, the workers face difficulties with outdated machinery, delayed deliveries, and generational differences. The older generation is passionate about the current model, but the younger workers prioritize stability and getting paid. The film strikes a balance between discussing governance structures and focusing on the human interest of the characters. The shooting style is observational, allowing for emotional scenes to unfold naturally. One potential legacy ...

2021 | 72 min | Documentary
The film is a portrait of Marc Thompson, a man in his sixties who lives in Brooklyn, and his struggle for existence. Maria Petschnig, the filmmaker, documented his life, his daily routine, and his thoughts on the world and society over the course of a year. Marc's voluntary homelessness is due to psychological and economic reasons, and it is a reflection of his past experiences. His story is one of resilience and sensitivity, despite the challenges he has faced. The film is a reflection on vulnerability ...

2014 | 93 min | Documentary
Mumbai, Uyuni, Beijing, Detroit, Pompeii, Chiang Mai and Caracas – what connects these places? The film examines interconnected fragments of a globalized world. "After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say: I want to see the manager." (William S. Burroughs) Ever since humankind has developed the notion of ownership it has been divided into those who possess, and those who possess not. For a long time this division manifested itself in the opposition between “industrialized“ ...

2023 | 30 min | Documentary
HOME GAME tells the story of the game an energy company in Germany plays with three villages. For lignite mining, villages are getting demolished, replacement villages are built from the scratch and the villagers are getting resettled. For some the demolition of their homes means great pain. Others are happy about the generous financial compensation. But all of a sudden one of the villages will be preserved. Everyone in the village becomes an ally or an enemy. It‘s a film about the „home sweet ...

2014 | 82 min | Documentary
Fear of gentrification, animosity towards tourists, feeling one’s very existence is endangered. The documentary WELCOME GOODBYE captures prevailing attitudes by lending an ear to both the advocates and the adversaries of tourism. Author Harald Martenstein, the philosopher Bazon Barock, the "Tacheles" activist Martin Reiter, "Freies Neukölln"-host Matthias Merkle, residents annoyed by tourists, profiteers, and, of course, the tourists themselves have their say. "WELCOME GOODBYE clarifies the complex ...

2017 | 29 min | Documentary
Johannes Preuss worked as a development worker in Ghana and returns several years later as a filmmaker. In the meantime, a bloody conflict between police and gold miners has flared up in the small town of Twifu Praso. Who are the profiteers and who are the victims in this destructive hunt for sparkling stones? On his journey Preuss discovers places that resemble devastated moonscapes and learns of a dangerous attraction between man and gold. "Investigative journalism meets tough guys, clanging beats, ...