DOK.deutsch competition
WIR WAREN KUMPEL
Deutschland, Schweiz 2023 – Director: Christian Johannes Koch, Jonas Matauschek – Original with English subtitles – Length: 105 min.
In 2018, anthracite mining comes to an end in Germany. Generations of miners have known nothing but shift work underground and coal dust on their skin and under their fingernails. Now this era is ending and a new one is dawning. The film accompanies five miners as they cross the threshold into the unknown. A grand documentary narrative filmed in Cinemascope. Ysabel Fantou
Biographies
Christian Johannes Kochwas born in Lucerne and first studied photography in Leipzig, then film directing at the Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF.
Jonas Matauschek was born in Dresden and studied photography in Leipzig and film in Halle.
Filmographies
Christian Johannes Koch
SPAGAT, CH 2020, 110 min. (fictional)
Jonas Matauschek
Habitat, DE 2017, 79 min. (together with Emerson Culurgioni)
Nominated for the DOK.deutsch Wettbewerb
Intense stories and the unusual on one's own doorstep: the competition presents films that deal with people and topics in German-speaking countries. The VIKTOR DOK.deutsch Competition is endowed with 7,500 euros. The prize sponsor is Sky.
English/Original Title: ONCE WE WERE PITMEN. Writer: Christian Johannes Koch und Jonas Matauschek. Camera: Sebastian Klatt. Sound: Waldemar Bruch. Editing: Natali Barrey. Music: Alexandre J. Maurer. Production: Catpics AG/ Elemag Pictures GmbH. Producer: Rajko Jazbec, Tanja Georgieva-Waldhauer, Sarah Born, Dario Schoch. Distribution: Filmperlen.
