VANITAS – a still life | A thriller drama: brutal, sensual and unexpected. A European feature film starring Annabelle Mandeng and Oliver Stokowski.

A thriller drama: brutal, sensual and unexpected. A European feature film starring Annabelle Mandeng and Oliver Stokowski.

Martha goes on a trip to the south with her despotic husband. Once they arrive in what is supposed to be paradise, events come to a head and Martha finds herself in a surreal nightmare.

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Funding period

10/29/22 - 1/21/23

Realisation

Premiere in one year!

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Minimum amount (Start level): 7,830 €

Lvl 1: We are shooting on Super 8
Lvl 2: We shoot and eat
Lvl 3: We shoot, eat and sleep
Lvl 4:From here it goes to Hollywood

City

Wien

What is this project all about?

A chamber play between arthouse, suspense and thriller. A 90-minute European feature film, shot in Malta and Germany, among other places, with international feature film quality. We produce independently of broadcasters and without studio financing. The focus is on a heroine character in the tradition of Almodovár and Besson.

What is the project goal and who is the project for?

The target group is everyone who - like us - believes that high standards and entertainment do not have to be mutually exclusive. We want to create a film that people will voluntarily watch a second time.

Why would you support this project?

We believe that filmmaking in Europe should not only be left to TV channels and streaming services. Independent films like Vanitas are made without one of the big production companies behind them. This allows us creative leeway that is not possible in a purely commercial environment. We will invest a lot of love in excellent image design and dialogue - something we feel is neglected far too often.

We want to normalise telling the stories of diverse people without emphasising their difference. This diversity is also lived in our crew, instead of being a mere formality.

How will we use the money if the project is successfully funded?

The film is being shot! Our vision of an independent feature film requires a high degree of intellectual and financial contribution from the entire team. In order to maintain our independence and to realise the first block of filming, we are acquiring additional funds, which will flow in particular into equipment and high-quality fittings as well as an environmentally friendly production.

Who are the people behind the project?

We are a collective of film addicted people. Our self-funded network has grown to over 25 members in Austria, Germany, Finland, France, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland and the UK.

Now we are about to start shooting our first feature film- and need your help!

Team

Lara Maria Olbeter

Marie Gruber

Falk Film

Sascha Hildebrandt

What are the sustainable development goals of this project?

Primary sustainable development goal

Education

Why does this project contribute to this goal?

Vanitas is one of the few European feature films with a BIPOC in the main cast.  Our collective positions itself against discrimination and is LGBTQ friendly. The production includes four languages (including sign language). Visual art and music are not incidental, but rather narrative layers in their own right. Elements of the gritty genre of vanitas still life painting as important components as Malta's cultural heritage.