THOMAS SIEBEN BIOGRAPHY

Thomas Sieben (born in Cologne in 1976) studied Politics at the Ludwig-Wilhelm University in Münster and Film and Photography at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, USA. He worked was a producer with multiple production companies in Munich from 1999 until 2001.

Thomas Sieben works as a freelance journalist, writer and director in Berlin.

PROJECTS

2008 DISTANZ
Feature Film
For GrandHôtelPictures GmbH
Writer and Director

2003 THERAPIE ZWECKLOS
Play by Christopher Durang
With Simone Hanselmann, Tina Bordihn, Nic Romm
Premiere 27.1.2003 in Cologne

2002 HIT AND RUN
Short Film
For Junge Götter Filmproduktion
Writer, Producer and Director
Nominated for the Starter Regie Preis Munich

DIRECTOR'S NOTE ON "DISTANCE"

The idea behind “Distance” is to take the audience on a journey, into the life of a person who is regularly committing sudden acts of violence, but goes about the rest of his life in isolation and following a lonely daily rhythm. The story begins when a woman enters into Daniel Bauer's life. How does a person who is alien to feelings cope with someone who is seemingly his exact opposite?

From the outset, it was important for me that “Distance” is a precise observation throughout. Since it is only from a distance that the audience can get its own idea of the main character and his actions.

That is why I have tried to abstain from any form of dramaturgical, filmic interpretation. An explanation would immediately invalidate the profile of Daniel Bauer. Thus, objectivity and consistency in the staging were the decisive and most important element in the film's realisation. Only showing and observing, never explaining and commenting. The cool interior and the methodology of the main character can be found here in the stylised visuality and the hypnotic rhythm.

Thus, I am hoping with Distance to tell an existential story of violence and love which simultaneously disturbs and touches through its unconditional nature.