WATCHING PEOPLE WATCHING BIRDS
Deutschland 2026 – Director: Ulrike Franke, Michael Loeken – Original language: English, German – Subtitles: English – Length: 92 min.
They listen for birdsong, hoping to spot something through the lenses of their binoculars. People who have lost their hearts to birds are patient and gentle. One of the most prominent figures in this community is Jonathan Franzen. It is a love for a world that is increasingly in danger of disappearing. A film about quiet activism. Y.F.
Biography
Ulrike Franke was born in Dortmund and studied theater, film, and television studies, Romanic languages, and art history in Cologne. She gained production experience at various production companies and teaches documentary filmmaking at the KHM in Cologne. Michael Loeken is from Neviges. He studied theater, film, and television studies in Cologne. He initially gained film experience as a sound engineer. Franke and Loeken have been shooting and producing documentary films together since 1996.
Filmography
WE ARE ALL DETROIT, D, 2021,118 min.
GÖTTLICHE LAGE – EINE STADT ERFINDET SICH NEU, D, 2013, 90 min.
HERR SCHMIDT UND HERR FRIEDRICH, D, 2001, 70 min.
Nominated for the DOK.deutsch Wettbewerb
Intense stories and the unusual on one's own doorstep: the competition presents films that deal with people and topics in German-speaking countries. The VIKTORIA DOK.deutsch Competition is endowed with 7,500 euros. The prize sponsor is Sky.
Writer: Ulrike Franke und Michael Loeken. Camera: Jörg Adams, Hajo Schomerus, Philip Hallay. Sound: Filipp Forberg, Bal-Aton Bori, Andreas Hildebrandt. Editing: Sophie Oldenbourg (bfs), Guido Krajewski. Music: Maciej Śledziecki. Production: Filmproduktion Loekenfranke. Producer: Michael Loeken, Ulrike Franke. International Sales: NEW DOCS. Distribution: Realfiction.
