Deep Dive Genre: Recent Episodes
German Films
Deep Dive Genre presents in-depth interviews with German creatives of the film industry. Each season will focus on a different genre.
We talked to the indomitable writer & director Petra Volpe about her new film Heldin/Late Shift, filmmaking as a political act, her favorite quote “fiction is the lie that tells the truth” (by Albert Camus), how camera positions are micro-dramaturgy and we got a glimpse of her newest film, a passion project. Enjoy!
Find out more about Petra and her latest work:
https://die-agenten.de/profile/petra-volpe/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
We.talked to September 5 director & writer Tim Fehlbaum about how he became a director, his beginnings in stop-motion, how choosing a project should feel almost like falling in love and the importance of images and story for a successful film – Enjoy!
Find out more about Tim and his latest work:
https://players.de/directors/tim-fehlbaum/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
Season 7 is here!
Starting May 13th, we’ll be talking about political drama.
So join us, won’t you?
When we talk to directors such as Petra Volpe and Tim Fehlbaum, writers Annette Hess and Moritz Binder or producer Cagdas Eren Yüksel about what makes engrossing political drama.
How did my talk with Film critic Antje Wessels end up a Liam Neeson appreciation? Comedy, that’s how. We talked about respect for films and filmmakers when writing reviews, the comedy genre in general and favorite scenes from films such as Feste & Freunde or Bridesmaids! I loved every minute of our podcast conversation – enjoy!
Find out more about Antje and her latest work: https://wessels-filmkritik.com/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
For our latest episode about comedy we had a wide-ranging talk with casting agent Iris Baumüller: About loving the characters and taking them seriously, that special sense of timing, the inclusive casting process for Weil wir Champions sind, AI and her wish to cast a real love story. Enjoy!
Find out more about Iris and her latest work: https://www.diebesetzer.de/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
Comedy Queen Diana Amft is back. We talk some more about comedy, laughing during takes, how improv theatre showed her a new level of comedy and we get some inside scoop of those infamous “Doctor’s Diary” game nights. Enjoy!
Find out more about Diana Amft and her projects:
https://ida-pr.de/schauspieler/diana-amft
https://imdahl.com/portfolio/diana-amft/
https://baumhausbande.com/buecher/9783833900594-die-kleine-spinne-widerlich/
Theatrical Release:
"Ein Mädchen namens Willow“ on 27.2.2025
„Altweibersommer“ on 04.04.2025
„Die kleine Spinne Widerlich - Mini-Spinni kommt in den Kindergarten“
Publishing Date 25.04.2025
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
She’s great at goodbyes! But first writer and series-creator Aylin Kockler shared some great insights into her writing process, explains why script writing is like the telephone game and on top revealed her favorite comedic movie scene. We loved every minute of our podcast conversation – enjoy!
Find out more about Aylin and her latest work: www.aylinkockler.com
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
In this episode we talk to a true comedy expert – director & writer Alireza Golafshan! He started his career with the hilarious The Goldfish, followed by J.G.A. and then his latest, Fifty Fifty. We discuss the uniqueness and magic of a good comedy script, not taking yourself too seriously and what happens when the director ruins the takes because of laughing – Enjoy!
Find out more about Alireza Golafshan and his latest work:
https://www.golafshan.de/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
In our first episode of season 6 of #Deep Dive Genre episode we talk to director & writer David Dietl. We talk about finding the right tone between happy and sad in a good comedy script, what to do when weather and location necessitate a new way to shoot the scene with an ensemble cast and when and how to “kill your darlings” – Enjoy!
Find out more about David Dietl and his latest work:
https://www.agenturhomebase.de/clients/david-dietl/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
The most complicated genre of all? Funny you should ask: Comedy!
Welcome to season 6 of Deep Dive Genre!
Funny, complicated, but oh so satisfying when done right.
So join us, won’t you?
When we talk to directors such as Alireza Golafshan and David Dietl or actress and comedy queen Diana Amft about this terrific genre.
Producer and film expert Alfred Holighaus curated the 70 years of German Films edition program. We talked to him about the selection, the great eras of the 1960s and 1990s, his favorite Fassbinder Film and the ONE German film he would recommend you to watch if you can only watch one. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: At some pint we talk about centuries - but of course that should be decades instead!
Find out more about Alfred Holighaus and his latest work:
https://www.realfilm-berlin.de/mitarbeiter/alfred-holighaus/
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Holighaus
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
Director & writer Nora Fingscheidt’s last three films – Systemcrasher, The Unforgivable and The Outrun - have been very different, but what they do share are radical protagonists that live outside the norms of society. She reveals why a director is more like a conductor and what she loves about working with longtime creative collaborators. Enjoy our conversation!
Find out more about Nora Fingscheidt and her latest work:
https://www.agenturhomebase.de/clients/nora-fingscheidt/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
Director Andreas Dresen and his wonderful films hold a very special place in the German movie canon. He tells stories about regular people, that keep the country – and the world – running. And the price they often pay for it. In our Podcast-interview we talked about his Super 8-Beginnings, Theatre, Opera, Music, the future cinematic generation and lots more -
Enjoy!
Find out more about Andreas Dresen and his latest work:
https://henschel-schauspiel.de/de/person/58
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
Telling stories full of emotions is director Caroline Links’ special talent. The Writer and director – or as she says in her own words: Life-Observer - of such terrific films such as Beyond Silence, A Year Ago in Winter, When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit makes movies because she wants to tell about life and people that move her. Enjoy our wonderful conversation with Caroline!
Find out more about Caroline Link and her latest work:
https://players.de/directors/caroline-link/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
Welcome to Deep Dive Genre Season 5!
Starting September 17th we are celebrating 70 years of German Films.
And what better way to do that than to highlight German filmmakers and their work in this special edition.
So join us, won’t you?
See you next week!
We talk to #Heimatfilm expert Dr. Sarah Kordecki - she wrote her thesis on the genre and watched more than 200 Heimatfilme. Our discussion runs the gamut from the importance of (German) music, to happy ends, to societal and political references and self-reflexion. Be it Sisi, Immenhof, The Trapp Family or the Meineidbauer. And on the way we got a few new Heimatfilm film recommendations to boot. Enjoy!
Find out more about Dr. Sarah Kordecki and her work:
https://www.filmuniversitaet.de/portrait/person/sarah-kordecki
https://www.vandenhoeck-ruprecht-verlage.com/themen-entdecken/literatur-sprach-und-kulturwissenschaften/theater-film-medienwissenschaft/55305/und-ewig-ruft-die-heimat
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
In this #Deep Dive Genre episode we talk to a director Daniel Alvarago about his new film HUNDSWUT. Why he initially didn’t have the #Heimatfilm genre on his mind, the hard process of making a truly independent film in Germany – and the great reactions of the audience. Enjoy!
Find out more about Daniel and his latest work:
https://www.alvarenga.de/
https://www.harpercollins.de/collections/daniel-alvarenga
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
There is a special place in Germany’s collective film-historic memory held by SISI - the films, the person – fictional and real. Naturally when we had the chance to talk to producer, director and showrunner Andreas Gutzeit about his very watchable and very successful TV series SISI we took it. Find out what the series does differently and where it may have some common ground with the classic film trilogy. #Heimatfilm Inspiration, anyone? Enjoy!
Find out more about Andreas Gutzeit and his projects:
https://www.storyhousepro.com/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
© Story House / Jennifer Endom
One particular corner of the Heimatfilm genre is occupied by the intrepid Schlagerfilme. So, of course we had to include IM WEISSEN RÖSSL - WEHE DU SINGST! in our season. And who better to talk to than the terrific queen of comedy and the film's lead actress: Diana Amft! We discussed the singing, dance scenes, the school trip atmosphere of the film shoot and why comedy is still not recognized in Germany as the high art, that it is. Enjoy!
Find out more about Diana Amft and her projects:
https://ida-pr.de/schauspieler/diana-amft
https://imdahl.com/portfolio/diana-amft/
https://baumhausbande.com/buecher/9783833900594-die-kleine-spinne-widerlich/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
In this #Deep Dive Genre episode we talk to a true and tested Heimatfilm expert – director Hans Steinbichler! He redefined the genre with his debut film HIERANKL and is showing again what the genre can do with his latest feature film, EIN GANZES LEBEN / A WHOLE LIFE. Along the way we talk about the uniqueness and magic of the word Heimat, the compliment of having done an “Alpen-Scorcese” and the delight of musicals – Enjoy!
Find out more about Hans Steinbichler and his latest work:
https://players.de/directors/hans-steinbichler/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
We’re starting with bit of an #Heimatfilm outlier: Christmas cult classic 3 HASELNÜSSE FÜR ASCHENBRÖDEL. I talked to fellow 3 HFNA enthusiast Barbie Heusinger and our conversation ran the gamut from our favorite scenes, to the question if the film is a “good film” (spoiler alert: it is!) and what Heimat means and the continuing appeal of the genre. What a great way to start our fourth season – Enjoy!
Find out more about Barbie:
https://ams.focal.ch/barbie-heusinger/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
© Barbie Heusinger
We are going into season 4! And starting March 5th we'll be talking about all things HEIMATFILM.
For our last episode of season 3 we talked to the wonderful Hannah Schiller. About her series DIE NETTESTEN MENSCHEN DER WELT, her talent for drawing and her fascination with stories that are situated in the horror realm and how they captivate, touch and move us. What a great end to our third season – Enjoy!
Find out more about Hannah and her latest work:
https://players.de/actresses/hannah-schiller/
https://www.instagram.com/hannah_schiller/
https://www.instagram.com/konvers_ation/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
There are some people who have stories to tell, and then there are people who have STORIES to tell. Tommy Krappweis is the latter. The multi-hyphenate – writer, comedian, musician and all around-creative talent talked to us about his series KOHLRABENSCHWARZ, which was initially an audio play, then became a book series and finally a TV series. As you can imagine we had lots to talk about in regards to genre-mix and folk tales. Enjoy!
Find out more about Tommy and his latest work:
https://linktr.ee/tommykrappweis
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
Today we're talking to film critic @adriangmelch about horror – why elevated horror is not the best term for what’s happening in the genre. Plus some horror genre and film history and a few great film suggestions, German and otherwise – enjoy!
Find out more about Adrian and his latest work:
https://adrian-gmelch.com/
https://www.buechner-verlag.de/autor/adrian-gmelch/
https://www.upress.state.ms.us/Books/M/M.-Night-Shyamalan
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deepdivegenre/
Tim Oliver Schultz has shown his versatility on the screen many times – never more so as villain Theo in #heilstaettenderfilm. We talked to the actor and producer about the found footage film, the horror genre in general and why villains tend to think they’re the heroes. What a great conversation – enjoy!
Find out more about Tim and his latest work:
https://agenturadam.de/actor/tim-oliver-schultz/
https://caay.de/tim-oliver-schultz/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deep_dive_genre/
Talking to a real genre expert und pop-culture geek? Priceless – and a lot of fun. #BloodRedSky and #OldPeople producer Benjamin Munz took time out of his busy X-FAKTOR – DAS UNFASSBARE production schedule and went on a deep dive with us to talk about the two projects. Besides many incredible stories about the long production journey of BLOOD RED SKY – like chasing Nicholas Cage at a film festival or Arnold Schwarzenegger on an airplane – we talked about creative choices, preconceived notions about horror in Germany and also would like to invite a certain SZ film critic to re-watch BLOOD RED SKY, this time to the end…
Find out more about Benjamin Munz and his latest work:
https://www.instagram.com/munzenheimer/?hl=de
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
BloodRedSky director (and writer) Peter Thorwarth joins us as the first guest of season 3 to talk about his film, why it’s maybe not a horror-film per se, the challenges they faced, using the sun (light) as a character and what his one regret regarding the movie is. Enjoy - and welcome to all things film and horror!
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
© Volker Condarus
Our third season starts next week - We'll be talking about horror!
Join us, won't you?!
For our last episode of season 2 we talked to fellow RomCom enthusiast Karoline Herfurth. Our conversation with the talented director, actor and writer runs the gamut from the often overlooked societal importance of RomComs, to its ropes such as the “big gesture” – spoiler alert: we’re of slightly different opinions on this – and of course Karoline’s creative process behind her hilarious and warmhearted romantic comedies SMS FÜR DICH and EINFACH MAL WAS SCHÖNES. It was a pleasure!
Find out more about Karoline Herfurth and her latest work:
https://www.karoline-herfurth.de/
https://lilie2a-pr.de/karoline-herfurth/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
© Anne Wilk
Composing music for films and TV is no piece of cake. Let alone for a romantic comedy. Find out more about the creative process from prolific composer Boris Bojadzhiev and which Disney classic started his lifelong love affair with all things music.
Find out more about Boris and his projects:
https://annettegentz.com/boris-bojadzhiev-film.html
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
It’s 30 years this summer that ABGESCHMINKT !/ MADE UP! was released in German cinemas and turned into a bona fide hit. We talked to director Katja von Garnier in our latest #Deep Dive Genre episode about her terrific summer RomCom which is a perfect, irreverent look at female friendships and love.
Find out more about Katja and her projects:
https://www.abovetheline.de/de/regie/details?id=1088
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
© Constantin Film Verleih GmbH
If there is a golden formula for a successful RomCom is might be a combination of believability and chemistry between the love interests… In our newest episode we talk to film expert and journalist Susanne Burg about this terrific and often underrated genre. Join us, won’t you? When we do a Deep Dive into the RomCom genre.
Find out more about Susanne Burg and VOLLBILD:
https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/vollbild-100.html
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
© Sabine Engels
We go deep into romcom territory with director Aron Lehmann when talking about his wonderful film DAS SCHÖNSTE MÄDCHEN DER WELT – and cover everything from rap battles, the importance of the female perspective in storytelling and what REALLY is a romcom?!
Find out more about Aron Lehmann and his latest work:
https://schlag-agentur.de/aron-lehmann#!/1
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
© Tobis Film / Anne Wilk
Maggie Peren is a genre shapeshifter. But she loves a good RomCom as much as we do. We talk to her about her creative process behind her warmhearted and funny romantic comedy HELLO AGAIN – EIN TAG FÜR IMMER.
Find out more about Maggie Peren and her latest work:
https://www.abovetheline.de/vita/de/851/maggie-peren
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
Season 2 of Deep Dive Genre starts on March 7th.
We'll be talking all thing RomCom with wonderful creatives such as Maggie Peren and Aron Lehmann amongst others.
Join us, won't you? See ya then!
Today we talk to film critic and genre expert Florian Koch (AZ) about war in film. Our discussion covers a lot of ground: From visual style, to the hero’s journey to epic music. Join us, won’t you? For the final chapter of our first season of Deep Dive Genre.
Find out more about Florian Koch and his latest reviews:
https://www.kino-zeit.de/personen/florian-koch-1
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.german-films.de/activities/german-films-podcasts/deep-dive-genre-a-german-films-podcast/
© Florian Koch
Oscar®-Winner Zamarin Wahdat talks about her work as a cinematographer and director for documentaries and fiction in our newest Deep Dive Genre episode. About difficult moments during the filming of LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN A WARZONE (IF YOU’RE A GIRL) in Afghanistan as well as SARAH MARDINI, about the eopnymous long distance swimmer. What she loves about each of her professions and her most challenging moments on the job.
Find out more about Zamarin Wahdat and her latest work:
https://www.la-gente-agentur.de/portfolio/zamarin-wahdat/
https://cinematographinnen.net/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deepdivegenre/
Oscar®-Nominee Lisy Christl is our guest in this weeks’ episode of Deep Dive Genre. The talented costume designer talks to us about her creative process and about her work on ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT / IM WESTEN NICHTS NEUES in particular.
She even lets us in on the secret of why there’s always a big quantity of Vodka on her teams’ expense list. Hint: It’s got everything to do with the costumes!
Find out more about Lisy Christl and her latest work:
http://www.lisychristl.com/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/deepdivegenre/?hl=de
© Claudette Barius
Edward Berger, German director extraordinaire of films and series such as Patrick Melrose, Your Honor, Jack and Deutschland 83, is making waves with his newest film ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT / IM WESTEN NICHTS NEUES. We talk to him about his creative process behind this exceptional and gut-punching anti-war drama.
Find out more about Edward Berger and his latest work:
https://die-agenten.de/profile/edward-berger/
http://www.edwardberger.de/
You can find us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/shorttake/?hl=de
© Christian Schoppe