I lost my brother to a God named Allah. While Jakob searches for the truth, I search for Jakob. Will we ever find each other?

Interview with Director/Producer Elí Roland Sachs

Watch Brother Jakob on Vimeo on demand

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

My brother’s unexpected conversion to Islam and his fundamental change of lifestyle provoked strong feelings within myself as well as within his family and friends. Filmmaking is my way of coming into a deep contact with him.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

Brother Jakob is an uncompromisingly personal documentary about something we have all heard about - and that makes it so universal.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

While filming, I slowly began to understand Jakob's very personal view of Islam. But my brother continued transforming and thereby held up a mirror to me: Was I ready to face reality and see the human before the believer?

What type of feedback have you received so far?

Especially young people seem to be very touched by the intimate insight Jakob gives to his thoughts and feelings

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

The strong identification of spectators with my brother has really surprised me

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

I hope that the film can inspire people who care about religion and belief, as well as those who don’t.

If WE ARE MOVING STORIES can help us reach these people, that would be great!

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

Press, Film Festivals, International screening facilitators, TV buyers, partners for educational work, religious organisations and partners (Islam / Christianity / Bahai).

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

That it inspires an exchange about the speakers individual belief - rather than a general discussion on religion.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Is this a film about Islam?

Interview: April 2017

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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

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Bruder Jakob (English: Brother Jakob)

I lost my brother to a God named Allah. While Jakob searches for the truth, I search for Jakob. Will we ever find each other?

Length:

92 Min.

Director:

Elí Roland Sachs

Producer:

Elí Roland Sachs

Writer:

About the writer, director and producer:

Elí Roland Sachs was born in Göttingen, Germany in 1985 and grew up in various countries in Africa (Senegal, Rwanda, Botswana and Cameroon). From 2007 to 2013 he studied directing and camera for documentaries at the Academy for Media Arts Cologne, Germany and in 2011 studied directing at the International Film School in Cuba. Since 2013 he has worked as a freelance camera operator and film director. In 2015 Elí Roland Sachs received a production scholarship from the Mediengründerzentrum NRW and founded the documentary production company DOKOMOTIVE the same year.

Filmography (as director)

2016 Brother Jakob: documentary, 92 min., Germany

2013 ATEMWEGE (Breath): documentary, 75 min., Gemany

2012 12 y Malecón, Habana: documentary, 52 min., Havanna / Cuba

2010 Autour d'une Vision: documentary, 24 min., Dakar / Senegal

Key cast:

Composition: Antonio de Luca

Editing: Yana Höhnerbach

Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists):

Press, Film Festivals, International screening facilitators, TV buyers, partners for educational work, religious organisations and partners (Islam / Christianity / Bahai)

Social media handles:

Judith Weiler

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/BruderJakob.Film

Other:

www.elirolandsachs.com/BruderJakob

www.imdb.com/title/tt5892256/

Funders:

1) Film- und Medienstiftung NRW
2) Kuratorium junger deutscher Film

Where can I see it in the next month?

57th Krakow Film Festival (Poland):
28.05.–04.06.2017 / Opening film "Focus on Germany"
DOK.Fest Munich (Germany):
06.05.2017 at 15:30 in Munich (Atelier)
07.05.2017 at 16:00 in Munich (Carl-Amery-Hall)
10.05.2017 at 19:30 in Munich (HFF)
11.05.2017 at 21:00 in Munich (Rio03)
11th Addis International Film Festival (Ethiopia):
28.04.–03.05.2017
Sehsüchte 2017 Potsdam (Germany):
29.04.2017 at 21:00 in Potsdam (fx Center)
Le Festival L’Europe autour de l’Europe (Fance):
06.04.2017 at 19:00 in Paris (Cinéma le Saint-André-des-Arts)