From the idea to the finished film
Research, filming in often extreme conditions, post-production in our own studio – and an archive of many hundreds of hours of original footage.
Behind the scenes
Filming a two-thousand-year-old relief in Meroë
“!Xundai” at the 35mm Arri. Our guide among the Bushmen in the Kalahari
The size of some subjects calls for a camera crane. At 40 degrees in the shade, in the Sudanese desert
We lit the temple of “Naga” with a car battery and five Dedo lights
We shot most of the films in the “Treasures of the World” series on 35mm film – here in the “Tsingys”
Camerawoman Angela Witt on a shoot for “The Last of Their Trade”: “Der Xylograph von Nürnberg” (The Wood Engraver of Nuremberg)
First camera assistant Florian Geierstanger changing lenses on the Canon C 300 while filming “Meroe – Von Elefantengöttern und Löwentempeln” (Meroë – of elephant gods and lion temples)
More than 4,000 km on sandy tracks scouting locations for the film “Namib – Der Ort an dem Nichts ist”
Philipp Lorenz has been part of the team since 2012 – here in the “Namib” for the “Treasures of the World” series
A “Dancing White Lady” spider has taken refuge on the camera lens
Michaela Mergenhagen, Toni Meier and Philipp Lorenz filming “Kaya – die heiligen Wälder der Mijikenda”
Rüdiger Lorenz, “Mondgebirge” (Mountains of the Moon) in southern Africa
Post-production in our own studio. An analogue line is also in place so that the extensive archive can be used.
Our new screening room seats 24.
Our in-house archive holds many hundreds of hours of original footage. Key topics: “Iran since the Revolution”, “Agricultural development in Africa”, “Traditional crafts”
Where there is nothing, as here in the “Etosha Pan”, a satellite phone is the last link to the outside world
Films A–Z
A
- Aksum – The Glory of the Kings▶ Watch · ARD (opens in a new tab)
- Alltag in NicaraguaEveryday Life in Nicaragua
- Ambohimanga▶ Watch · ARD (opens in a new tab)
- Animal Power for Easy Farming
- Armer Boden – Reiche ErntePoor Soil – Rich Harvest
- Ein Ast kriegt RäderA Branch Gets Wheels
- Aufbruch hinter dem SchleierAwakening Behind the Veil
B
- Bethlehem – A Holy Place Between Walls and Mass Tourism▶ Watch · SWR (opens in a new tab)
- Vom Blauen Nil ans Rote MeerFrom the Blue Nile to the Red Sea
- Der BrokatweberThe Brocade Weaver▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Die Brücke zwischen Moslems und Christen in IsfahanThe Bridge Between Muslims and Christians in Isfahan
- Der BuchbinderThe Bookbinder
D
- Der DampfschiffmaschinistThe Steamship Engineer▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Delphi
- Der DrechslerThe Wood Turner▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Der DrehorgelbauerThe Barrel Organ Builder
E
- Das Ende der StilleThe End of Silence
- Die Erben des DjihadThe Heirs of Jihad
- Erfahrungen aus NyabisinduLessons from Nyabisindu
- Der ErzgießerThe Bronze Caster▶ YouTube · Excerpt (opens in a new tab)
F
- Fasil Ghebbi
- Der Faßmacher – of EußenheimThe Cooper▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Der FlößerThe Raftsman
- Fragen an NyabisinduQuestions for Nyabisindu
- Die Frau im IranWomen in Iran
- Die Freitagsmoschee – A Thousand Years of Islamic ArtThe Friday Mosque
- Frisuren in AfrikaHairstyles in Africa
- Früchte im DschungelFruits of the Jungle
G
- Gebel Barkal – The Sacred Mountain of the Black Pharaohs
- Grabeskirche in JerusalemThe Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
H
- Der Händler von JerusalemThe Merchant of Jerusalem
- Hilfe zur SelbsthilfeHelping People Help Themselves
- Vom Holzweg des WassersWater on the Wooden Path
I
- Ihr Brot ist das HolzWood Is Their Bread
- IndianeruniversitätThe Indigenous University
- Isfahan – Mirror of Paradise
- Isfahan – Kunst und Handwerk einer OasenstadtIsfahan – Art and Craft of an Oasis City
J
- Jenseits des SpiegelsBeyond the Mirror
- Jerusalem – Mitte der WeltJerusalem – Centre of the World
- Jugendliche im IranYoung People in Iran
- Jugendliche in MadagaskarYoung People in Madagascar
K
- Der KalkbrennerThe Lime Burner▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Die KautabakmeisterinThe Chewing Tobacco Maker▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Kaya – The Sacred Forests of the Mijikenda
- KindersoldatenChild Soldiers
- Kopftuch als Schutz, Zwang oder BekenntnisThe Headscarf – Protection, Compulsion or Profession of Faith
- Der Koran, das heilige Buch des IslamsThe Koran, the Holy Book of Islam
- Der KorbflechterThe Basket Maker▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Koutammakou – Land of the Batammariba▶ Watch · 3sat (opens in a new tab)
- Krieg der MullahsWar of the Mullahs
- Der KupferstecherThe Copper Engraver▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
L
- Lalibela – Jerusalem in the Horn of Africa▶ Watch · SWR (opens in a new tab)
- Leben in einer MoscheeLife in a Mosque
- Lebendige IndustriedenkmälerLiving Industrial Monuments
- Los Cocos
M
- Die MarionettenmacherinThe Puppet Maker▶ YouTube · Excerpt (opens in a new tab)
- Mein fremdes LandMy Foreign Country
- Meine Mauer ist gebrochenMy Wall Is Broken
- Meroe – Of Elephant Gods and Lion Temples
- Mullah unter dem TschadorA Mullah Under the Chador
N
- NAGA – Royal City of Ancient Sudan
- Der NagelschmiedThe Nail Smith▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Die Namib – The Place Where There Is NothingThe Namib▶ Watch · ARD (opens in a new tab)
- Ndaysaba
- Der NotenstecherThe Music Engraver▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
O
- Ochsen ziehen für den FortschrittOxen Pulling for Progress
- Ökologischer Landbau in KamerunOrganic Farming in Cameroon
P
- Peloponnes – Narrow-Gauge Railways Between the Sea and Olive Groves▶ Watch · SWR (opens in a new tab)
- Persepolis – Life at the Centre of Power
- Der PosamentenmacherThe Passementerie Maker
- Protest auf der StraßeProtest in the Streets
R
- Reisewege zur Kunst – IsfahanJourneys to Art – Isfahan
- ReligionskriegReligious War
- Reza
- Rhodos
- Runde HäuserRound Houses
S
- Der SägemeisterThe Sawmill Master▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Sartic – Porträt einer armenischen ChristinSartic – Portrait of an Armenian Christian Woman
- Schicksale kurdischer FlüchtlingsfrauenThe Fates of Kurdish Refugee Women
- Der Schirmmacher – of BaierbrunnThe Umbrella Maker▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Der SchleifsteinhauerThe Grindstone Cutter▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Der SchriftgießerThe Type Founder▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Der SchriftsetzerThe Typesetter▶ YouTube · Excerpt (opens in a new tab)
- Der SeilerThe Rope Maker
- Seiltänzer – die Musikszene im IranTightrope Walkers – the Music Scene in Iran
- Stehen die Sieger schon heute fest?Are the Winners Already Decided?
- Die stille Botschaft der MynkyThe Silent Message of the Mynky
- Der StrohdachdeckerThe Thatcher▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
T
- Tabriz – The Grand Bazaar
- Eines Tages werden wir zurückkehrenOne Day We Will Return
- Tausend Ziegel für ein ZeltA Thousand Bricks for a Tent
- Tauwetter im Iran – Das Teheraner FilmfestThaw in Iran – the Tehran Film Festival
- Teheraner FilmfestTehran Film Festival
- Trambahnen und Schmugglerzüge in ÄthiopienTrams and Smugglers’ Trains in Ethiopia
- Tsingy de Bemaraha▶ Watch · ARD (opens in a new tab)
- Tsodilo – Whispering Rocks
U
- uKhahlamba – Drakensberge – Of Dragons, Rainmakers and the Power of the GodsuKhahlamba – Drakensberg▶ Watch · ARD (opens in a new tab)
- Vom Urwald zum Kulturwald und zurückFrom Primeval Forest to Managed Forest and Back
V
- Vielfalt als ÜberlebenskonzeptDiversity as a Survival Strategy
- Vier Idealisten und ein PalmeselFour Idealists and a Palm Sunday Donkey
- Von altem Eisen und neuen Zügen im SudanOld Iron and New Trains in Sudan
W
- Westliche Philosophie – östliche PhilosophieWestern Philosophy – Eastern Philosophy
- Der WindturmbauerThe Wind Tower Builder▶ YouTube · Full film (opens in a new tab)
- Wissen ist ihr Brot von morgenKnowledge Is Their Bread of Tomorrow
X
- Der XylographThe Wood Engraver
Z
- Zahra Schodjaii – die Macht der FrauenZahra Schodjaii – the Power of Women
- ZigeuneralltagEveryday Gypsy Life
- Der ZinngießerThe Pewterer
- Zwischen Steinen und Schlangen – die Presse im IranBetween Stones and Snakes – the Press in Iran
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