Film and Short Concert
Following the film, there will be a discussion with director Thorsten Schütte. Afterwards, the Ensemble Modern, together with experimental artist Hainbach, will perform a short concert titled “Upon an Ether Sea”, inspired by Emily Dickinson’s poem “Sunset”.
Please note: Online ticket sales for this event end two hours before the start of the film. As long as tickets are still available, you are welcome to purchase them at the box office.
In cooperation with Bergson Kunstkraftwerk
ENSEMBLE MODERN – WHY WE PLAY
Deutschland 2026 – Director: Thorsten Schütte – Original language: English, German, Japanese – Subtitles: English, German – Length: 107 min.
Ensemble Modern is one of the leading orchestras for contemporary music and has collaborated with both Steve Reich and Frank Zappa. Thorsten Schütte’s portrait uses interviews to shed light on the ensemble’s past and present and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the rehearsal process as musicians and composers bring their pieces to life together—a visual and auditory experience. M.H.
No youth rating
Biography
Thorsten Schütte has been working as a writer, director, and producer for over thirty years. His work explores musical themes, artistic processes, and social documentary and postcolonial perspectives, and has been screened at festivals around the world, including Sundance, IDFA, the Berlinale, and the San Sebastián Film Festival.
Filmography
FRANK ZAPPA - EAT THAT QUESTION, DE/FR, 2016, 90 min
LAND MATTERS, DE, 2008, 65 min
NAMIBIA GENERATION X, DE, 2005, 90 min
Presented by
Writer: Thorsten Schütte. Camera: Maud Mascre, Ebrahim Alfadhala. Editing: Willibald Wonneberger. Music: Ensemble Modern. Production: AMA FILM GmbH. Producer: Andrea Roggon. International Sales: EuroArts Music International GmbH. Distribution: Arsenal Filmverleih.
