Merkel World Premieres at Telluride Film Festival
September 13, 2022Merkel, Passion Pictures latest feature documentary, has World Premiered at Telluride Film Festival on the 3rd and 4th September! From Director Eva Weber and Academy Award and BAFTA-winning Producers of “Searching for Sugar Man” and “Listen to Me Marlon”, Merkel tells the astonishing story of how a triple political outsider – a woman, a scientist, and an East German – became one of the most successful politicians in the world.
Angela Merkel became Germany’s first female chancellor in 2005, as leader of the Christian Democratic Union. She remained in office until choosing not to stand for re-election in Germany’s federal elections last year. Despite her historic 16-year chancellorship, and being Europe’s most popular and powerful leader, Merkel remains something of an enigma, with the international public knowing very little about her.
This feature documentary uses archival material and revealing interviews with Merkel’s friends and colleagues to create a rich portrait, from her upbringing behind the iron curtain in the former DDR (East Germany), studies in quantum chemistry, her surprising start in politics and fast ascent.
Produced by Lizzie Gillett, Sonja Henrici, Sigrid Dyekjær and Eva Weber, with Sam Payne as Line Producer, Merkel offers a thoughtful re-examination of her life and career from both a domestic and international perspective. We are pleased to have delivered picture post for Merkel, overseen by Senior Post Producer Jeff Halsey. Our Colourist Andy Lee graded the film with Andrew Fisun providing the Online Edit. With an incredibly quick turnaround for Telluride Film Festival, the project required a lot of hard work and dedication from the entire team.
Weber reminds us that Merkel’s success came despite the double standards facing women leaders – the harsh judgement and incessant scrutiny – and makes a case for politics marked by truth, unity, integrity and vision.
Dawn Porter Executive Produces, with Clare Lucas and Juile Zann as Co-Producers. Merkel is Produced in association with Odd Girl Out Productions, Screen Scots, LOOKsfilm, Real Lava, Curzon and others, with backing from the Curzon CM Development Fund and the BFI’s Global Screen Fund.
