Flying Women - The Female Pioneers of Aviation
Docu-drama (90min / 2x52min)
A Metafilm Production, in co-production with ORF, NDR and Arte
TV premiere for our new docu-drama: Flying Women is on Austrian Television in December 2024, Germany and France will follow in 2025. I had the pleasure to work with a fantastic cast again - Lilith Hässle impressively plays Melli Beese, the first woman who obtained her flying license in the all-male pioneer airfield of Berlin-Johannisthal around 1910. We discovered some spectacular archive footage. And thanks to the Wiener Neustadt aviation community, we were even able to film with two very rare replicas of historic flying machines. Worth seeing!
Brodcast dates
Episode 1
Eroberung der Lüfte - Die ersten Fliegerinnen
Friday December 13, 2024, 22:25, ORF2
Episode 2
Der Kampf ums Fliegen - Pilotinnen und der Krieg
Friday December 20, 2024, 22:25, ORF2
Rebellion in the Brothel
Stefan Ludwig's latest docu-drama: Rebellion in the brothel - Trafficking in women around 1900 (ORF/NDR/Arte). Using the example of a sensational court case in Vienna in 1906, the production reconstructs the international history of sex workers in the fin de siècle. The cast includes Maria Hofstätter (Braunschlag, Paradies: Liebe), Markus Schleinzer (Die Wannsee-Konferenz) and newcomer Alice Prosser (Corsage).
News
Now on Netflix: Victims of the Vikings
Docu-drama about Findan and Melkorka, a brother and sister sold into slavery by Vikings
Adventurers, explorers and conquerors: the Vikings are considered the greatest heroes of the Middle Ages. Is this interpretation justified? In fact, they left a far darker and lesser-known mark on history: they were ruthless slavers, human traffickers and hostage-takers. „Victims of the Vikings“ is the first TV documentary to investigate this infamous and often horrifying aspect of the Nordic warriors.
Co-Produktion of Interspot Film, Abu Media, ORF, ZDF, ARTE, CT, and TG4 – funded by Fernsehfonds Austria and creative europe MEDIA
Watch now on Netflix
Elisabeth - The Driven Empress
A docu-drama about the Austrian Empress Elisabeth starring Sunnyi Melles, produced by Metafilm/ORF/ZDF/Arte. Here is an English spoken trailer:
"Angry Buddha" available online
János Orsós is of Romani descent, a teacher, and a Buddhist. Inspired by the history of the Dalits or "untouchables" in India, birthplace of both Romani culture and Buddhism, he founded a school in a small Hungarian village with the goal of enabling teenagers from the poorest Romani ghettos to attend universities. Angry Buddha documents János' resolute battle against the difficulties he faces over three years, while simultaneously painting affectionate yet honest portraits of the Romani youth who use humour and their own vitality to survive in a world of poverty and prejudice. "Heart warming... full of touching moments... well worth seeing." Alexander Musik, orf.at
Watch online: Vimeo Realeyz
Films
Biography
Born in 1978 in Eichstätt / Bavaria
Civil service in a nursing home in Berlin
Studies of Stage directing at the Max-Reinhardt-Seminar Vienna; degree in 2003
Studies of documentary filmmaking at the University of Television and Film Munich; degree in 2010
Freelance screenwriter, film director and TV journalist
Awards
“Particularly Good”
Rating for “Angry Buddha” by the German Movie Rating Board
2016
Best Documentary
for “Angry Buddha”
Five Lakes Film Festival 2016
First Steps Award
for “Charity Salesmen”
2010
Film Board Bavaria Award
for “Strike Blues”
Regensburg Short Film Festival 2008
Zelig Award
for “Distant Voices”
Borderland Film Festival Bozen 2006
Avid Award
for “Bite Bite Bite”
Dokfest Munich 2005