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‘Das Boot’ star Klaus Steinbacher leads the cast.

German football player and manager Franz Beckenbauer’s life story is to be told in a Sky Original film titled Der Kaiser, with shooting underway in Prague, and Das Boot star Klaus Steinbacher playing Beckenbauer.

The feature is directed by Tim Trageser, whose previous credits include German title The Magic Kids: Three Unlikely Heroes [Die Wolf-Gäng], and written by Martin Rauhaus.

Der Kaiser is produced by Bavaria Fiction on behalf of Sky Studios.

The film will be broadcast at the end of 2022. NBCUniversal Global Distribution is responsible for international distribution on behalf of Sky Studios.

Filming has begun in Prague on the Sky Original film “Der Kaiser,” which focuses on the life of German soccer player and manager Franz Beckenbauer.

In the movie, Beckenbauer is shown fighting against the rigid structures and outdated rules in soccer, in order to do things his way. He also is shown to conduct his private life as he wishes, outside of the moral contraints and expectations of the time. The movie culminates in the victory of the German national team, which he managed, in the 1990 World Cup.

Klaus Steinbacher, whose credits include “Das Boot” and “Oktoberfest 1900,” takes the leading role. Other roles are played by Ferdinand Hofer (“Tatort München”), Teresa Rizos (“J.G.A.”), Stefan Murr (“The Ibiza Affair”), Oliver Konietzny (“Kids Run”), Bettina Mittendorfer (“Zimmer mit Stall”), Heinz-Josef Braun (“Hindafing”), Christine Eixenberger (“Marie fängt Feuer”) and Sina Tkotsch (“Up Up”).

“Der Kaiser” is produced by Bavaria Fiction on behalf of Sky Studios.

Sky has greenlit a feature about legendary German footballer Franz Beckenbauer, with shooting kicking off in Prague in the past few weeks.

Das Boot’s Klaus Steinbacher will play Beckenbauer in Der Kaiser, titled after Beckenbauer’s nickname, about a footballer who won the World Cup as a player and a coach and was deemed a soccer legend.

Taking place against the backdrop of breathtaking tournaments, the film tells of a man who fought against the rigid structures and outdated rules in football and fights for self-determined action as a sports personality.

Also starring are Ferdinand Hofer (Tatort München), Teresa Rizos (J.G.A.), Stefan Murr (The Ibiza Affair), Oliver Konietzny (Kids Run), Bettina Mittendorfer (Zimmer mit Stall), Heinz-Josef Braun (Hindafing), Christine Eixenberger (Marie fängt Feuer) and Sina Tkotsch (Up Up). The biopic is directed by Tim Trageser (The Magic Kid) with Martin Rauhaus writing.

The biopic...

The 2020 Berlin Film Festival, the first edition under new artistic director Carlo Chatrian, has unveiled its first wave of titles.

Matteo Garrone’s Pinocchio, starring Roberto Benigni, will have its international premiere at the festival as a Berlinale Special Gala. The team have removed the ‘out of competition’ classification this year and those films will now play as Special Galas. Pinocchio is released theatrically in Italy this weekend and Berlin will mark its festival premiere.

“Garrone succeeds in re-telling the well-known story with his very own world of images. Although he is faithful to Carlo Collodi’s ideas, he has nevertheless created a very personal Pinocchio that is much more cheerful than we’ve experienced before,” commented Carlo Chatrian on the selection.

Also announced today were four films in the Perspektive Deutsches Kino program, which presents debut features. The section will open with Kids Run from Barbara Ott, whose graduation...