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There was some disgruntled chatter within parts of the German contingent at this year’s Berlinale about what had been perceived as a shortage of local projects in the festival’s main competition lineup. Much of that criticism was overblown, as German filmmakers were positively represented across the wider festival programme. On the ground in Berlin, it was also difficult to ignore the increased presence of a new and diverse generation of local artists.

Chief among them was Lamin Leroy Gibba, who was one of the buzziest names at the festival. The 31-year-old is the showrunner behind Black Fruit (Schwarze Früchte), the breakout series of 2024 in Germany.

A co-production between Jünglinge Film, Studio Zentral, and Ard Degeto, Black Fruit debuted at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival before a highly publicized release on Ard in Germany. The show is currently screening at the BFI Flare Film Festival in London. Zdf Studios...

Exclusive: Zdf Studios has acquired international distribution rights to Black Fruit (Schwarze Früchte), the buzzy debut series from actor-writer Lamin Leroy Gibba.

A co-production between Jünglinge Film, Studio Zentral, and Ard Degeto, Black Fruit debuted at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival before a highly-publicized release on Ard in Germany.

Set in contemporary Hamburg, the series follows the journey of mid-twenty Lalo (Gibba) as he grapples with the sudden loss of his father, embarking on a tumultuous path of impulsive decisions that reverberate through his life and those around him. Alongside his ambitious best friend Karla, Lalo strives to define his identity amidst societal pressures and personal struggles. The show is one of the first serial productions in Germany to chronicle the lives of Queer people of color.

Gibba stars in the series and also serves as the showrunner. Writers on the show include Sophia Ayissi, Naomi Kelechi Odhiambo, Lisa Tracy Michalik,...

In the age of post-Brexit Britain, heightened racism, aggression towards immigrants and gentrification taking over cities, it’s no wonder that feelings of discontent continue to soar across the board – the system is broken. A state of affairs that filmmaker Beru Tessema channelled into drama short Lions, his thought provoking portrait focussed on two very different sides of this story. A young immigrant family whose application for asylum is rejected and are forced into subpar living conditions unintentionally come into conflict with a pair of disgruntled British men who have been forced out of their homes and see taking advantage of those who equally have nothing themselves as their only route to survival. Placing us in the heart of a conflicted area, an inner London estate where the brutalist architecture and deprived streets and stairways play their own role, Lions is at heart a story about understanding and acceptance which...

Because Sleeping Dog is swimming with great characters, it somehow drowns in its own excited details. In six episodes, a lot happens, and because there’s not one particular thing to focus on, some of the characters end up taking the back seat, and Britney happens to be one of them. A black lesbian cop in Germany is unique, and in the first half of the series, we learn a lot about Britney, but as the series progresses to the climax of Mike’s story, she doesn’t get to be a cop; there’s more of a focus on her personal life. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but considering her back story, we’d imagine she’d be more interested in figuring out more about Mike and why people are digging up old cases again. Britney is played by Melodie Wakivuamina, who is great at expressing Britney’s fear and determination simultaneously.

Sleeping Dog (Schlafende Hunde) is a German series starring Max Riemelt. Created by Oded Davidoff and Noah Stollman, this entertaining thriller takes us into the world of lawyers, detectives, criminals, and unsolved cases.

It is perfect for those who seek a well-crafted police intrigue, with charismatic characters and a corollary story, primarily well-told in its entirety.

Plot

A new death awakens disturbing doubts about an old case supposedly closed. A former policeman who now lives on the street sets out to uncover the truth.

About the Series

“A Good Script” is the primary strength of “Sleeping Dog” built on well-constructed, real, and charismatic characters in a story that knows precisely what fascinating history to tell and how to make everything surrounding the main axis interesting.

Technically, it does not strive for aesthetics or the treatment of shots. There is a lot of handheld camera work, many sequences that want to be real and natural,...

Noé (Sheri Hagen) lives alone in the depths of the forest in a house with whole walls made from glass. She is visible and invisible at the same time, a secret self hidden away, ready to be revealed to anyone who might seek her out. How did she come to be in this place? It feels more metaphor than reality. She is buried in grief. Someone – perhaps her sister – has recently vanished from her life. Among the trees, in this landscape of stories, she searches for answers.

When we first meet Ela (Melodie Wakivuamina), she is running. We are primed to expect very particular dangers when we see a woman running like this, in a lonely place – frantically, without looking back. But Ela is not a woman. She collapses not from exhaustion, but because her battery has run out. Transferring those expectations, we might imagine her as a...