Born in Italy in the 15th century, Andrea Mantegna and Giovanni Bellini were among the most important artists of the Early Renaissance, although they could not have been more different. The creative work of the brothers-in-law is closely interlinked and yet the artists remained rivals throughout their lives. Who were these two men?
Rinaldo Rinaldi is one of the last set painters to produce their huge backdrops in specially constructed spaces in old theatres. We accompany him during the preparation of the premiere of Figaro’s Wedding at the Teatro Bonci of Cesena in Italy. A documentary on a dying art that whisks us away into the magical world of the theatre.
Bugatti was a family of fanatics and artists, engineers and architects who built cars, created sculptures and designed extravagant furniture. We tell the story of Ettore Bugatti and his family which is still a myth today despite – or perhaps because of – its turbulent past.
Edgar Froese, electronic music pioneer and founder of the band Tangerine Dream, was on a lifelong mission to find the ultimate sound. His search brought the band international acclaim and took them to the studios of Hollywood. We trace the unique Tangerine Dream story: a tribute to the musician, who died in 2015, and to the era of electronic music.
From rock star to politician: Freddy Lim is Taiwan’s most political heavy metal singer, progressing from passionate stage performer to active member of parliament. We follow him during the early days of his political career and show him campaigning tirelessly for a democratic Taiwan.
When, almost 10 years ago, a kohl-eyed androgynous kid from East Germany and his teenage band TOKIO HOTEL cast a spell on German adolescents, no-one ever imagined this would be the start of a unique world career. A close-up portrait of a band that has grown up and follows its own, highly individual path.
To deal with their experiences during the Gaza war, a group of young people have written a play “The Gaza-Monologues”, which has been presented in over 40 countries. But with travel in and out of Gaza closely monitored, the play is usually performed by an ensemble from Ramallah. A film about living under occupation and the power of theatre and art.
What happens when dreams grow up? A music drama about a group of youths from the north German provinces who make it to LA with their garage band – but fail disastrously. They grow up, finally overcome their personal demons and make music again. And they stay friends.
Ella Fitzgerald’s voice is a phenomenon and unrivalled to this day. She had absolute pitch and perfect intonation. With statements from numerous singers, musicians and critics, this film pays tribute to ‘The First Lady of Song’ and especially to her voice – on what would have been her 100th birthday on 25 April 2017.
They write crime novels about an era that until now has rarely been the subject of crime fiction: the Third Reich, itself the cause of inconceivable crimes and atrocities. The film shows the three writers Dominique Manotti, Philip Kerr and Volker Kutscher at work in Berlin, New York, Paris, London and Cologne.
Heinrich Böll’s Ireland, Hans Christian Andersen’s Orient, Erika and Klaus Mann’s French Riviera and Uwe Johnson’s New York – great authors on tour. We go time-travelling with four of the most fascinating authors in literary history and revisit the countries they wrote about – intertwining both past and present.
The extraordinary life of the British-Mexican artist is chronicled in this study of the “lost” surrealist. Interspersed with experimental animation and tableux, the film celebrates a woman whose artistic contribution has been historically overlooked. Struggling against misogynistic pressures at home, she eventually found a spiritual and creative kinship in Mexico.
