Having blown the jury away with his award winning Oleg, Life of a Weightlifter film in 2009, the former Filmakademy Baden-Württemberg student is now signed to The Sweet Shop for global representation.

Please tell us what you’re doing now and where ?

Right now I´m answering your questions here in my office in Cologne where I live. I enjoy being here at the moment because I´ve just been away from home for five weeks shooting two spots for the German market. So finally some time for the family and friends and to play some Basketball again.

What were the key moments from winning at the YDA to the present?

– Shooting my first car commercial in Australia
– Making a road trip from the american West Coast to the East Coast
– Shooting the nationwide opening spot from Coca Cola for the famous Nascar series in the US.
– Getting signed by The Sweet Shop globally
– Shooting a maniac campaign for the Concert Hall Dortmund
– Becoming a father

Did winning the YDA help you in any way?

It certainly got me a lot of attention in the industry and the Award-Show itself has always been a good place to meet with people that were interested in my work.

Which piece of work are you the proudest of and why?

I’m someone who is always looking ahead trying to improve myself as a filmmaker and trying to make the next project the best project. So instead of looking back on my work I would like mention a project that I just shot a few days ago. It is a campaign for the Dortmund Concert Hall and although it´s not completely finished yet I must say that I’m already very proud of it.

It was a very intense shoot, working with young classical musicians and pushing them to their limits. It was so emotional, so radical, so inspiring. I’m also very proud of the visuals and imagery we created which implied a shooting style that allowed us to react spontenaously to what happened in front of the camera – we were shooting like maniacs, hunting those unique moments over and over again. (See film top of page.)

What would your dream job/script be?

The dream script would be a spot that includes some star players of the NBA. I’m a huge basketball fan and played myself for more than 12 years. But I was never good enough to make it to the top so standing on the same court with the best basketball players in the world is still a dream. Fortunately my job as a director gives me the chance to hopefully fulfill it someday. It was already such a pleasure working with all those famous american Nascar racedrivers when shooting the US Coke commercial. So besides my affinity for the surreal and the magical I’m someone who is really into sports.

What is the most valuable advice you have been given about film making?

I would say the book Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite by Paul Arden has given me the best advice. It´s like a bible for me when it comes to creativity.

What are you watching, reading, listening to? Where do you see ads or branding most?

I’m watching as many feature films as I can. I love the work of directors like Wes Anderson, Tim Burton, J.J. Abrams, Alexander Payne, Gus van Sant, David Fincher – a strange mixture I know, but I think these guys have very different but totally outstanding skills which I find very inspiring.

I have to admit that I’m a lazy reader but still I’m a subscriber of the American Cinematorapher and I also had an amazing time reading the grapic novel Blankets by Craig Thompson. In terms of music I´m very much into Florence + The Machine, The Wild Beasts and Bon Iver at the moment. But I guess towards the summer time I will start listening to heavier stuff again – the cold winter time always makes me listen to warmer tunes.