Russian Far East

I was making documentary as a co-director together with two German filmmakers from Cologne’s International Film School (ifs) in Russian Far East during November 2014.

Here a treatment that was written by Christian Zipfel (director of this film) before we go to Magadan and start shooting process:

“We intend to travel to Magadan, Siberia, to find Gulag survivors to tell me their stories. The Gulag was the Russian system of repression with the objective of oppressing political opponents. Built under Lenin’s authority, the system was perfected by Stalin. Freethinkers, critics, believers and arbitrarily accused individuals were exiled into labor camps. I will accompany the survivors and monitor their everyday life, at work, in church, at home and during errands to portrait the life in the city.

Also, I will address the work being performed by people without Gulag History. The filming of current work at harbors and mines is aimed at creating an emotional link to the narrated experiences of prisoners of the historical labor camps. I intend to classify the city geographically by photographing outskirts the Kolyma. I will approach the city from the outside by first filming nature, then advancing to the city and its residents. The cold, the frost in nature and the city will be put in visual contrast to the small, warm and individually arranged domiciles in which we will visit the survivors.

The camera will switch between wide long shots outdoors and close-up-portraits of the protagonists. I will film wide snow deserts as well as the wrecks of icy tanks and planes rusting out in the city. I will address the harbor and the sea. I also intend to accompany children living in the city, who are not directly connected to the Stalinist system of repression. I am interested to learn how much they know about the past and to learn their views on the life in the city. I am sure to find a lot vitality today. I want to make sure to portrait both sides of the life in this city. The historical labor camps and the people living their life in the present.”

Who we are:

Christian Zipfel, Director/ Writer.

Raised in Sprockhövel, Germany. Several internships in the flm, television and theatre sector after his university-entrance diploma. Studies of direction at ifs, international film school cologne since 2012. Got to the flm industry via photography and painting. His artistic emphasis is aimed at understanding and passing on the story behind a work of art.

2012 / „Das Waisenkind“ / Short documentary

2013 / „Eurydike“ / Shortflm

2014 / „Light Game“ / Experimental flm

2014 / „Haut“ / Art-house flm

Roman Moshensky, Co-Director.

Raised close to the Black Sea. Studies of documentary direction at „All Russian State University of Cinematography“ in Moscow. Worked at productions of television documentaries and UNICEF projects. The main theme of his documental work is human interaction in a natural environment.

2009 / „Moscow Romance“ / Short documentary

2012 / „Gender“ / Short documentary

2012 / „Mirror World“ / Short film

2013 / „Another Island“ / Short documentary

2013 / „Shadow“ / Short film

Björn Weber, Cinematographer.

Raised in Cologne, Germany. After anabbreviated training in industrial mechanics and one year of working at Ford AG, Björn decided to restart, based on his interest in film and photography. He completed several internships at production companies, distributors of film equipment and film sets. During his training at Ford, he developed a passion for street and band photography, which led him to documental and scenic filming. Studies of camera work at ifs internationale Filmschule Köln since 2012.

2013 / „Was ich will“ / Shortflm

2014 / „Hinter dem Vorhang“ / Shortflm

                                          2014 / „ARK“ / Genre Shortflm