Just Call me Frida
Discovering the joys of life with a friendly Death.
Eleven-year-old Samuel rarely goes outside, as it is far too risky. After battling a long and tough illness, he prefers a safe and strictly controlled life at home to avoid his biggest fear of falling ill again. One day, the loud and cheerful Frida storms into his life, apparently an apprentice to Death himself, searching for the true meaning of life. For some reason, Samuel is a key part of her plan. Samuel cannot wait to get rid of his uninvited guest, but Frida refuses to leave his side until he agrees to step into the great outdoors. Together, the two stumble from one adventure to the next, and little by little Samuel begins to rediscover how it feels to be bold, curious, and live in the moment without fearing the worst.
Suitable for ages 8 and above.
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Biography
Katja Benrath was born in 1979 in Erbach, Germany, and grew up in Stockstadt am Main and Lübeck. After training as a theatrical tailor at the Wuppertal Bühnen and studying acting and singing at the Vienna Conservatory, she moved behind the camera in 2009. Her short films “Puppenspiel” and “No One Pukes in Heaven” won multiple international awards. Her graduation film “Watu Wote” (2016) became an international success, earning the Peace Prize of German Film, a Gold Student Academy Award, and an Academy Award nomination. In 2018, she directed her debut feature “Rocca Changes the World,” which premiered in German cinemas in 2019.
Biography
Dr Christoph Menardi is a German-Austrian film producer, line producer, and professor with over two decades of experience in inter- national film and television. Born in Linz, Austria, in 1974, he studied International Economics and Law at the University of Innsbruck and Production and Media Business at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF), later training at UCLA. He co-founded NEOS Film GmbH in 2000, producing shorts, commercials, and features including the German-French co-production “French for Beginners.”
His recent credits include “Der Vierer,” “Polizeiruf 110: Funkensom- mer,” “Der Bremerhaven-Krimi,” “Farm Rebellio,” and “Win-Win.” Menardi is Professor of Production Management for Film and TV at Hochschule Ansbach. His doctoral dissertation on the history of Bavaria Film (1945–1994) was published in 2022 and nominated for the Willi Haas Prize.
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