PRODUCTION / FUNDING Germany / France
German-French co-production scheme backs films by Maria Schrader, Chloé Mazlo and Maximilian Bungarten
- The latest "Minitraité" round sees €1.15 million allocated to five projects, including three in production and two receiving development grants
The German-French Co-production Committee has unveiled the results of its latest funding session, awarding a total of €1,149,250 to five projects. Three titles received €1,049,250 in production funding, while a further two secured €100,000 in development support. This latest "Minitraité" round comprises three majority-German and two majority-French co-productions.
Leading the selection is Arbeit und Struktur, the new feature by German filmmaker Maria Schrader (I’m Your Man, Stefan Zweig: Farewell to Europe), adapted from the autobiographical writings of the late author Wolfgang Herrndorf and co-written with Jan Schomburg. Produced by Germany's Komplizen Film and co-produced by France's Haut et Court, the project was awarded €250,000 from the German side and €150,000 from the French side. The film follows Herrndorf after he learns that he is terminally ill, chronicling how, amid surgeries, chemotherapy and the constant awareness of death, he channels all his energy into writing, ultimately producing the most successful work of his career.
Also receiving production support is In den Fängen des Autoscooters, the feature debut by German writer-director Maximilian Bungarten, who previously received Minitraité development funding for the project. Produced by Benedetta Films in co-production with France's Moderato Films, the coming-of-age drama secured €172,000 from the German side and €77,250 from the French side. The story centres on Casper, an 18-year-old plumbing apprentice from a small suburb who is haunted by the accidental death of his best friend. After meeting Isaac, a young Romanian fairground worker passing through town, he attempts to rebuild the bond he has lost.
The third production grant goes to Paul und die Flussbande, the new animated family feature by French-Lebanese filmmaker Chloé Mazlo (Skies of Lebanon), adapted from the graphic novel La poudre d'escampette by Chloé Cruchaudet, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Clara Bourreau. The film is produced by France's Blue Spirit Productions, with Germany's Luftkind Filmverleih serving as the minority co-producer. It received €250,000 from the French side and €150,000 from the German side. The story follows eight-year-old Paul, who reluctantly ventures into his new neighbourhood with his dog, Pauline, only to stumble upon a group of children living out adventures aboard a homemade raft, drawing him into a mysterious mission full of unexpected discoveries.
On the development side, €100,000 was shared equally between two projects, with each receiving €50,000. Daughters of the Burning Heart, written and directed by Romanian filmmaker Xandra Popescu, is being produced by Germany's Cornehl, Puhlmann, Schäfer GbR in co-production with France's Reality Films. The satirical comedy follows a mysterious order of nuns in Berlin who accompany the dying in their final moments until their work becomes a media sensation, bringing them into direct conflict with the Church.
The second development grant went to Das Verschwinden von Paris, directed and adapted by Stéphane Demoustier (The Girl with a Bracelet, The Great Arch) from Martin Page's novel La disparition de Paris et sa renaissance en Afrique. Produced by France's Petit Film in co-production with Germany's Ventall Cinema, the project revolves around an ordinary man who sets out to fulfil someone else's extraordinary wish.
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