Luka Lara Steffen

Luka Lara Steffen

Writer/Director

PIECHT

Short (2023) || Drama || 30'

Synopsis

Für Johanna wird der Urlaub im idyllischen Piecht alles andere als erholsam. Während Johannas Mutter von der ökologischen Lebensalternative träumt, beginnt für Johanna ein echter Alptraum. Mutig geht sie den Ereignissen auf den Grund, doch stößt dabei auf brutale Gegenwehr.


For 17-year-old Johanna, a vacation in the idyllic countryside of Piecht is anything but relaxing. While her mother dreams of an ecological alternative to city life, a real nightmare unfolds for Johanna when she confronts the far-right, close-knitted community and encounters brutal resistance.

 

Buch und Regie Luka Lara Steffen
Bildgestaltung Hannah Platzer
Produktionsleitung Sophia Lorena Gamboa Huamán
Sounddesign Jannis Hannover
Szenenbild Ella Knopf
Kostümbild Luisa Stricker, Ráhel Eckstein-Kovács 
Produktion Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln
Cast Alida Stricker, Kerstin Thielemann, Elif Kardesseven, Corinna Nilson, Simon Kirsch, Christopher Heuer
Katalog https://rb.gy/jxa527
Förderung Die Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien

Jury Statement: Premio della Giuria – Golden River 2024 (RiFF)

A film that opens with love, through a kiss from two women, and takes us inside a contemporary micro-society that seems to carry the values of love, nature and a good old time regained: everything to seduce lonely city-dwellers tired of the excesses of capitalist society. However, our heroine, a young queer woman who accompanies her mother to this country village to take part in a summer party, notices strange things: the villagers are dressed anachronistically, photos are taken of a political candidate, children are trained like soldiers. Thus, the cinematography gives us step-by-step a sense of unease. The 1:1 format and the texture of the image which looks like at first a beautiful vacation film gradually gives us a feeling of confinement. The use of flowers, countryside, colours, and sunshine reminds us of the esthetic of a 3rd Reich film. Through its subtle story and its cinematic and ironic directing, Piecht depicts the danger neo-Nazi’s society that is making a dramatic comeback in Europe today, as the ghost that appears at the end of the film.

Festivals

     2023

  1. Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis (DE), Januar 2023
  2. Venezia Shorts – New Filmmakers Selection (IT), April 2023
  3. Bundesfestival Junger Film (DE),  Juni 2023
  4. Hollywood Shortfest (US), August 2023
  5. La Femme Shortfilm Festival (FR), September 2023 (Winner: Best Student Film)
  6. Que du Feu / Festival du Film Jeune de Lyon (FR), September 2023
  7. Screenpower Filmfestival (GB), September 2023  (Winner: Best International Short / Best Director)
  8. Boden International Film Festival (SE), September, 2023
  9. Trostberger Filmtage (DE), September 2023
  10. Barcelona Indie Filmmakers Festival – BARCIFF (ES), September 2023
  11. Hamburg International Queer Film Festival (DE), Oktober 2023
  12. Filmfestival Münster (DE), Oktober 2023
  13. Mabig Film Festival (DE), November 2023
  14. FILMZ – Festival des deutschen Kinos (DE), November 2023
  15. Euroshorts Young Filmmakers (PL), November 2023
  16. East London LGBTQ+ Film Festival (GB), November 2023
  17. KFFK / Kurzfilmfestival Köln (DE), November 2023
  18. blicke – filmfestival des ruhrgebiets (DE), November 2023

   2024

  1. Mirada Corta Short Film Festival (MX), Student Lab, Januar 2024
  2. Hollywood Verge Film Awards (US), Januar 2024
  3. Israel Brief Encounters (IL), Februar 2024 (Winner: Best Student Film)
  4. Bee Filmfestival (BR), März 2024
  5. Landshuter Kurzfilmfestival (DE), März 2024
  6. Independent Days Internationales Filmfest Karlsruhe (DE), April 2024
  7. Cleveland International Film Festival (US), April 2024
  8. KASHISH Pride Film Festival (IN), Mai 2024
  9. Safflicks Pride Film Fest (GB), Juni 2024
  10. River Film Festival (IT), Juni 2024 (Winner: Best Queer Short)
  11. Queer North Film Festival (CA), Juni 2024 (Winner: Best short/mid-lenght Fiction)
  12. FEST – New Directors/New Films Festival (PT), Juni 2024
  13. Short Stop International Film Festival (RO), Juni 2024
  14. QUEER EXPRESSION (US), Juli 2024
  15. Female Eye Film Festival (FeFF) (CA), Juli 2024
  16. Montevideo World Film Festival, Juli 2024
  17. CIUDAD DE MEXICO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (MX), Juli 2024
  18. GAZE International LGBTQIA Film Festival (IE), August 2024
  19. Open Air Filmfest Weiterstadt (DE), August 2024
  20.  Sicani Cinema Experience (IT), August 2024
  21. 29 Queer Film Festival (US), September 2024
  22. Fünf Seen Filmfestival (DE), September 2024
  23. Cinema Diverse: The Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival (US), September 2024
  24. Utah Queer Film Festival (US), Oktober 2024