Director, writer, photographer

Their arrival in Germany is not exactly a warm welcome: Asylum seekers in Brandenburg are first brought to the initial registration center in Eisenhüttenstadt. Wasim from Syria, Mathew from Kenya and Gedeon from Cameroon are stranded at this surreal place in the outskirts of nowhere. „The Invisibles“ follows the three men on their way through the official proceedings, the mills of detecting and decision making.

***Germany 2014, 78min, HD***

Director: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
DoP: Stefan Neuberger
Editing: Sabine Herpich
Sound: Jonathan Schorr
Composer: John Gürtler & Jan Miserre
Producer: Felix Eisele
Production Company: AV Medien Penrose
Production Manager: Felix Faißt
Co-Producer: Paul Zischler

A production of AV Medien Penrose and SWR with backing from MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg

***Awards & Nominations***

Bürgerpreis – Nonfiktionale 2015
Nomination Max Ophüls Preis – Max Ophüls Preis 2015
Best Cinematography – SiciliAmbiente International FF 2015

***Festivals & Screenings***

Max Ophüls Preis 2015, Saarbrücken
Lichter Frankfurt International Filmfest 2015
Dokka Karlsruhe 2015
Dokfilm Woche FSK 2015, Berlin
Nonfiktionale 2015, Bad Aibling
SiciliAmbiente International Filmfestival 2015, Sicily
Margaret Mead IFF 2015, New York
RIDM 2015, Montreal
Filmfest Bieberach 2015
Between Bridges 2015, Berlin
Cinema Excentris 2015, Montreal
SchulKinoWoche Hessen 2015
UMB Film Series 2015, Boston
Globale Mittelhessen, Marburg 2015
VERZIO Human Rights Documentary FF 2016, Budapest
Globale Film Festival, Bremen 2016
Festival of Migrant Film, Slovenia 2016
Inhabitants Film Festival 2017, Milano

KAFKA UND ICH

DIRECTING

Franz Kafka’s dog, unjustly ignored by literary scholars, guides us through today’s prague and clarifies the question why Kafka still embodies world literature today.

***Documentary, 44min, GER/CZE 2024***

Directors: Vera Weber & Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Cinematography: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Editor: Robin Fischer, BFS
Sound Recordist: Oliver Winkler
Animation: Moritz Stumm
Sounddesign: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Sound Mix: Jonathan Schorr
Color Grading: Jan Schöningh
Producers: Florian Fimpel & Jana Prigge
Televison Editors: Marc Brasse & Nils Greve

A co-production of DRIVE beta with NDR for ARD

Meanwhile in Mamelodi

DIRECTING

Set against the raucous backdrop of the 2010 World Cup, Meanwhile in Mamelodi is a beautifully crafted portrait of a place and one family’s daily life inside it. Through a rich color palette of turquoise, gold and red, director Benjamin Kahlmeyer imbues his frame with texture and life, illustrating a potent hope emerging from the rubble. – Sara Dosa, San Francisco Film Society

***South Africa 2011, 74min, HD***

Director: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
DoP: Stefan Neuberger
Editing: Benjamin Entrup
Producer: Boris Frank
Composer: John Gürtler & Jan Miserre
Translations: Frauke Wiegand & Thabo Thindi

a production of Jolle Film for SWR with backing from MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg

***Awards & Nominations***

HBO Emerging Artist Award – Hot Docs Toronto 2012
Nomination for Best Cinematography – Doc Planete Warsaw 2012
Nomination for Best Cinematography – Deutscher Kamerapreis 2012
Nomination Golden Key – Kasseler Film und Videofest 2011
Honorable Mention – San Francisco Film Festival 2012
Special Jury Mention for Cinematic Vision – Camden Int. Film Festival 2012
Dutch Golden Stone – Scenecs Debut Film Festival 2012
Best Film „Sports&Society“ – ATLANT International Sports Film Festival 2012
Nomination David L. Wolper Award – IDA, L.A. 2012
Nomination for Spotlight Award – Cinema Eye Honors 2012, NYC

FYNN KLIEMANN - ICH HOFFE, IHR VERMISST MICH

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Fynn Kliemann… was has happened? For our film, we followed Fynn K. with the camera for almost a year. In his attempt to redefine himself. To finally be allowed to make a comeback. The „mask scandal“ sticks, that’s clear. Because someone who is incredibly successful as a „sense influencer“ cannot afford such missteps. But what remains after one of the biggest shitstorms the German media landscape has ever seen?

***Documentary, 61min, GER/FRA 2025, 4K***

Director: Mariska Lief
DOP & Visual Concept: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Sound Recordist: Oliver Winkler
Editor: Iris Litzenberg
Screen Design: Johannes Helm
Producer: David Gern & Simon Broll

a production of HESSISCHER RUNDFUNK for ARD

PUMPING BEAUTY

CINEMATOGRAPHY

A unique journey into the heart of female bodybuilding. From a small town in southern Germany – all the way to the biggest stages in Las Vegas, Nevada.

***Documentary series, 4 episodes, GER/USA/PT/ESP 2023***

Director: Vera Weber
DoP & Co-Director: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Editing: Robin Fischer
Sound recordist: Niklas Olscha
Color grading: Jan Schöningh

A co-production of DRIVE beta with MDR for ARD Mediathek

THEY CALL US AUSLÄNDERTEAM

DIRECTING

THEY CALL US AUSLÄNDERTEAM tells a story about the integrative power of sport – and chronicles the hatred faced by a unique amateur soccer team in provincial eastern Germany, where racism threatens to grow ever stronger. In four episodes, the docu-series revolves around an incident that made headlines across Germany in 2019 – and has since bonded the team into an example of true inclusion.

***Documentary series, 4x20min, 4K, GER 2022***

Directors: Vera Weber & Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Cinematography: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Editor: Robin Fischer, BFS
Sound Recordist: Niklas Olscha, David Seeberg
Writer: Vera Weber
Original Idea: Franca Fischer & Johannes Middelbeck
Producers: Nadja Brandt, Flavia Rahobison, Florian Schumann
Televison Editors (MDR): Hannes Beßler, Roman Twork & Thomas Beyer
Executive Producers: Johannes Middelbeck & Hannes Jakobsen

a co-production of DRIVE beta with MDR for ARD Mediathek

GERMANIA

CINEMATOGRAPHY

The award-winning webseries GERMANIA presents a different narrative of Germany – through the eyes of people with so called „immigration background“. Hear artists, creatives and everyday people talk about their sense of identity, german quirks and stereotypes.

***Awards & Nominations***

GERMANIA won the GRIMME PREIS 2018
GERMANIA won GOLDENE KAMERA 2018
GERMANIA has been nominated for the GRIMME ONLINE AWARD 2017

Conception: Bastian Asdonk
Director: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Cinematography: Benjamin Kahlmeyer, Susanne Erler
Editor: Benjamin Kahlmeyer, Oliver Winkler, Suraj Chandran
Producers: Sara Mohaupt, Nadja Brandt
Client: funk
Production Company: Hyperbole Media

CRUNCH - ALBTRAUM GAMING INDUSTRY

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Billions of people play video games – but behind the scenes, working conditions are extreme: systematic exploitation, mass burnout, and sexual assault are part of everyday life. The documentary Crunch reveals the dark side of the gaming industry and tells the story of people who gave everything for their dream job – and were burnt by it.

***Documentary, 77min, GER/FRA/CA 2024, 4K***

Director: Mariska Lief
DoP: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Script: Mariska Lief, Khesrau Behroz, Patrick Stegemann
Editor: Leonardo Franke
Sound: Oli Winkler
Additional DoP: Luise Schröder
Gaffer: Malte Siepen
Producers: Chiara Noack, Jonatan Geller-Hartung, Marlen Klaws
Redaktion SWR: Olga Galicka, Anna Jäger, Laura Krzikalla
Music: Benjamin Drees
Sounddesign & Mix: Jannik Werner
Research: Franz Paul Helm, Benedict Dietsch
Executive Producer: Khesrau Behroz & Patrick Stegemann

a production of SWR for ARD

EISEN

EXPERIMENTAL

A foggy landscape with new buildings in Eisenhüttenstadt at the German-Polish border: „Eisen“, Iron, that’s how they call the town here. Portraits of asylum seekers from all over the world are set among impressions of a dreary life in a strictly composed sequence of images. A snapshot of a life on hold, somewhere in between hope and uncertainty.

***Germany 2015, 18:19min, HD***
English, Spanish, French & German subtitles available

Writer, Editor, Director: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Cinematography: Stefan Neuberger
Composer: John Gürtler
Sound & Mixer: Jonathan Schorr
Producer: Felix Eisele

***Awards & Nominations***
Golden Dove – DOK Leipzig 2015
Miglior Film – Other Movie Lugano 2016
A38 Stipendium – Kasseler Dokfest 2016
Best Documentary- FILMZ Mainz 2016
Best Short Film – Humans FF Valencia 2016

BANGKOK NOIR

CINEMATOGRAPHY

While traveling South East Asia in 2016, GETAWAY magazine asked me to do a hands-on review of the new Sony Alpha A7s II – focusing on it’s performance in low light situations. Inspired by the rich impressions of Bangkok night life, I decided to come up with a short essay on photography, interweaving passages of Susan Sontag’s famous quote: Stay eager!

Cinematography, Directing & Editing: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Composer: John Gürtler
Voice: Terry Burns

DIE SPUR - TEASER

CINEMATOGRAPHY

The team sets off on a search for clues in Silicon Valley to understand who the people behind ChatGPT & Co. are. In the process, they come across a parallel world of millionaires who want to change the world with artificial intelligence. Can they be trusted?

Documentary Series, 29min, GER/USA 2023, 4K

Moderation: Greta Buschhaus
DOP: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Sound Recordist: Niklas Olscha
Film Editor: Philipp Müller

A Production of Florida Factual for ZDF 2023

HELP FOR HELP

CINEMATOGRAPHY

Everyone can help – with compassionate advice & useful tips all across continents. The NGO MENSCHEN FÜR MENSCHEN uses this basic principle for a unique fundraising campaign, conceived and implemented by BBDO Berlin. Together with LOVESTONE FILM and director Benjamin Kahlmeyer, MFM has realized 30 „Helptorials“: authentic short films by people from rural Ethiopia who give us their advice via social media.

***Awards & Nominations***
Shortlisted at Cannes Lions (Sustainable Development)
Silver at Die Klappe
Bronze at ADC Germany
Silver and bronze at Lovie Awards
Bronze at Eurobest
Wood pencil at D&AD

Director, DoP & Editing: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Sound Mixer: Niklas Olscha
Composer: John Gürtler / Paradox Paradise
Client: Menschen für Menschen
Agency: BBDO Berlin
Production Company: Lovestone Film

BETWEEN ROUNDS

DIRECTING

Portrait of former cuban boxing star Yoan Pablo Hernandez. Hernandez defected from the cuban national team in 2005 and stayed in Germany. Pablo’s plight is made all the worse by the fact that there is no way back after being labelled a “defector” by his homeland. Life amongst the extended family in Cuba is exchanged for a fight against isolation.

***Germany 2009, 43min, English & German subtitles***

Director: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
DoP: Adriana Flores-Franz
Editing: Benjamin Entrup
Composer: John Gürtler
Producer: Boris Frank
Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg

Awards & Nominations:
Förderpreis der Landesbank Baden-Württemberg 2008
Best Film ‘Sports&Politics’ – Atlant Film Festival 2009, Lipetsk
Best middle-length documentary – San Diego Latin IFF 2009

Festivals & Screenings:
Mediawave Festival 2009, Kamàrom/Hungary
San Diego Latin Film Festival 2009
East Silver Jihlava 2009
Atlant Sportsfilm Festival 2009
Highlights Filmakademie Ludwigsburg 2009
Culture Unplugged Festival 2010
Luxor Film Festival 2010, Egypt

SPY vs. SPY

EXPERIMENTAL

Die Geschichte spielt in einer namenlosen Stadt in den frühen 70er Jahren. Die Atmosphäre ist verpestet, überall treiben marodierende Agenten und deren Seilschaften ihr Unwesen. In das allgemeine Klima politischer Korruption und nebulöser wirtschaftlicher Verstrickung platzt unversehens das Gerücht von der Wiederentdeckung einer lang vernichtet geglaubten Fotografie.

***Germany 2006, 15min, 16mm***

Director: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Screenplay: Dominik Kauss
DoP: Clemens Baumeister
Producer: Janine Baumeister
Score Samples: Don Ellis

Actors: Jonas Fürstenau, Lola Göller, G.A.W, Reinhold Ohngemach, Anselm Roser

YOUTUBE CHANGED MY LIFE

CINEMATOGRAPHY

From video platform to hyped youth culture: 20 years after the first YouTube video was uploaded, the stars of the early days take us back to a time when the rules of the media world were being rewritten. Content creators such as Y-Titty, Ischtar Isik, Coldmirror, Die Außenseiter, Liont, and Dagi Bee rose to fame from their bedrooms and shaped an entire generation with their DIY videos. Years after their initial success, they talk about growing up in the public eye — between fan frenzy, burnout, self-fulfillment and identity crises.

***Documentary series, 93min, GER 2025, 4K***

Directors: Franka Schönwald & Johannes Middelbeck
DoP: Benjamin Kahlmeyer
Set Design: Charlotte Luneau
Art Direction & Animation: Nicolas de Leval Jezierski
Sound: Oli Winkler, Tristan Monscheuer, Marina Funck, Niklas Olscha
Gaffer: Malte Siepen
Executive Producers: Johannes Middelbeck & Hannes Jakobsen

A co-production of DRIVE beta with NDR for ARD Mediathek