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Stefan Ludwig

Biography

Stefan Ludwig studied stage direction at the Max Reinhardt Seminar Vienna and documentary and TV journalism at the University of Television and Film Munich. He directed award-winning cinema documentaries such as Charity salesmen” (2010) and Angry Buddha” (2016). Over the last years he specialized in high-end historical docu-dramas.

Stefan Ludwig

Vita
Born
1978, Eichstätt / Bavaria
Education
Max Reinhardt Seminar Vienna, University of Television and Film Munich
Occupation
Autor, Regisseur
Awards
2010
First Steps Award for Charity Salesmen
2016
'Particularly Good' Rating for Angry Buddha by the German Movie Rating Board
2016
Best Documentary for Angry Buddha Five Lakes Film Festival
2008
Film Board Bavaria Award for Strike Blues Regensburg Short Film Festival
2006
Zelig Award for Distant Voices Borderlands Filmfestival Bolzano
2005
Avid Award for Bite Bite Bite Dokfest Munich
Filmography
2020
Victims of the Vikings, Dokumentarfilm, 50 min
2019
Elisabeth – The Driven Empress, Dokumentarfilm, 52 min
2018
Glauben Leben Sterben - Menschen im Dreißigjährigen Krieg, Dokumentarfilm, 90 min
2016
Der zornige Buddha, Dokumentarfilm, 98 min
2010
Charity Salesmen, Dokumentarfilm, 73 min
2007
Strike Blues, Spielfilm, 20 min
2006
Distant Voices, Dokumentarfilm, 63 min
2004
Bite Bite Bite, Dokumentarfilm, 15 min
Stefan Ludwig
Elisabeth – The Driven Empress (2019)
Elisabeth – The Driven Empress
Elisabeth (Trailer)
Stefan Ludwig
Elisabeth – The Driven Empress (2019)
Elisabeth – The Driven Empress
Stefan Ludwig
Elisabeth – The Driven Empress (2019)
Elisabeth – The Driven Empress
Stefan Ludwig
Der zornige Buddha (2016)
Der zornige Buddha
Stefan Ludwig
Der zornige Buddha (2016)
Der zornige Buddha
Stefan Ludwig
Der zornige Buddha (2016)
Der zornige Buddha
Stefan Ludwig
Charity Salesmen (2010)
Charity Salesmen
Stefan Ludwig
Charity Salesmen (2010)
Charity Salesmen
Stefan Ludwig
Charity Salesmen (2010)
Charity Salesmen
Films

Elisabeth – The Driven Empress (2019)

AT/DE/GR

Dokumentarfilm

52 min

Owen Browne / Metafilm

Elisabeth – The Driven Empress (2019)

Synopsis

She was perhaps the most unusual empress of the 19th century. Elisabeth of Austria, known as Sisi to the Habsburg family. At the age of 36 this tall, dark beauty refused to be photographed so that she could remain forever a legend. From that moment, she became a mystery. Escaping the straitjacket of royal life, Habsburg etiquette and the obligations of Europe’s biggest continental empire, she set out on a journey to find herself – an act of self-definition that makes her an idol even today – and yet she remains an enigma. Imagine: a member of Europe’s most traditional dynasty, with an anchor tattooed on her shoulder in a Greek tavern; an empress sailing hundreds of miles from her throne across the Mediterranean, tied to the mast in stormy seas. Monarch of a dozen nations, she built herself a gigantic dream house on the Island of Corfu – the Achilleion, a picturesque palace full of references to Greek mythology – named after the hero of the Trojan war, Achilles. Who is really behind the myth of sweet Sisi? What is the real story behind an imperial life? The unexpected discovery of her chief of staff’s diaries enables this blue chip documentary to take a brand new look at Elisabeth’s life. These notes of Count Warsberg – who was an expert in Greek antiquity and also her confidant – may solve the last secrets of one of the most fascinating and popular personalities of recent European history.

Info
Filmmusik
Thomas Kathriner
Kamera
Thomas Beckmann
Produktion
Michael Cencig
Schauspiel
Sunnyi Melles, Alexander Fennon, Clemens Aap Lindenberg
Schnitt
Robert Zapletal
Premiere International
30. November ‑0001
Premiere Österreich
30. November ‑0001
Kinostart
30. November -0001

Der zornige Buddha (2016)

AT/DE/HU/IN

Dokumentarfilm

98 min

Metafilm

Der zornige Buddha (2016)

Synopsis

János Orsós stammt aus einer Roma-Familie. Er ist Lehrer. Und er ist Buddhist. In einem ungarischen Dorf hat er eine buddhistische Schule gegründet. Sein Ziel: Teenager aus den ärmsten Roma-Ghettos sollen es auf die Universitäten schaffen. Sein Vorbild: der Aufbruch der Unberührbaren in Indien – Mutterland der Roma und des Buddhismus. Der zornige Buddha beobachtet über fast drei Jahre János‘ unbeirrbaren Kampf gegen alle Widerstände. Zugleich zeichnet der Film liebevolle und ungeschminkte Portraits der Roma-Jugendlichen, die in einer Welt voller Elend und Vorurteil mit Witz und Lebensenergie ihren Weg suchen.

Info
Filmmusik
Martina Eisenreich
Kamera
Thomas Beckmann
Produktion
Michael Cencig
Schnitt
Alexandra Schneider
Premiere International
2. August 2016 — Five Lakes Festival 
Premiere Österreich
10. March 2016 — Diagonale 
Kinostart
23. September 2016
Awards
Particularly Good” Rating by the German Movie Rating Board
Best Documentary Five Lakes Film Festival 2016

Charity Salesmen (2010)

AT/DE

Dokumentarfilm

73 min

Stefan Ludwig

Charity Salesmen (2010)

Synopsis

Knocking on doors and asking for donations at private homes – this is the job of professional fundraisers. They get paid according to their success. The documentary follows a young fundraising team of the Malteser Relief Organization through a summer full of ups and downs.

Seven young Austrians, two Germans and one Hungarian work as paid fundraisers for the Malteser Relief Organization, an organization similar to the Red Cross, in the backwoods of Bavaria. It looks like a holiday camp, but it is hard work. Every morning they drive to their designated area, walk, walk, walk and ring houndreds of door bells trying to reach the hearts of the citizens. Their mission is to convince as many people as possible to make an annual donation to the organization by direct debit. They get paid according to their results. If they don’t inscribe any new members, they don’t earn a cent. This game has winners and losers. Some give up, while others quickly become clever sales people of charity.

Info
Filmmusik
Martina Eisenreich
Kamera
Thomas Beckmann
Schnitt
Julia Drack
Produktion
Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München
Premiere International
30. November ‑0001 — Berlinale 
Premiere Österreich
30. November ‑0001 — Diagonale 
Kinostart
30. November -0001
Awards
First Steps Award
Stefan Ludwig