HEARTWAKE films GmbH produces and coproduces fiction and documentary films with German and international talent for the local and international market. HEARTWAKE films seeks to develop and promote films with social and artistic relevance, inspiring characters and unique power to engage audiences.

With a portfolio of projects with feminist and queer protagonists or underrepresented voices taking action, we embrace diversity in all its forms to produce films that challenge the status quo. HEARTWAKE films offers space for filmmakers, partners and projects, to work and grow - with one another and within the industry.

PROJECTS

fiction features, creative documentaries & drama series

HEARTWAKE films heartwake.de, Julia Wagner, Film Produktion, Berlin, (c) Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films heartwake.de, Julia Wagner, Film Produktion, Berlin, Julia Wagner EMBODIED CHORUS, WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD Natalia Sinelnikova

ABOUT

HEARTWAKE films

film & development

 

HEARTWAKE films heartwake.de, Julia Wagner, Film Produktion, Berlin, Julia Wagner EMBODIED CHORUS, WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD Natalia Sinelnikova

CONTACT

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HEARTWAKE contact, way, message, hello, get in touch, HEARTWAKE films heartwake.de, Julia Wagner, Film Produktion, Berlin,  (c) Julia Wagner, WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD, EMBODIED CHORUS

NEWS

WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD industry@Tallinn, team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer,
The joy continues: Embodied Chorus / لن تتركنا الطيور is nominated for the IDFA Best First Feature Film Award!
Attending IDFA? Join us for a screening!
CLICK HERE for Embodied Chorus' IDFA - Programme page & ticket links!
"What is the shape of a virus? To some, it’s a kiwi, to others, it’s a butterfly, a wart or an unnameable mass. In Embodied Chorus, filmmakers Danielle Davie and Mohamad Moe Sabbah bravely open a dialogue about living with sexually transmitted infections. Drawing from their own experiences and collaborating with five actors, they turn individual testimonials—recorded across the city of Beirut—into an ensemble of personal stories and transformations. “My biggest fear is changing as a person… I feel like an outsider in my own self,” says one of the people. While the experiences are distinct—in languages, gender identities and sexual orientations—they share the emotions of shock, fear, anger and shame. At times, the screen becomes a canvas that visualizes people’s inner worlds: images of metamorphosis, search engine results, a body consumed by darkness. Gradually, the conversations move towards recovery and change. Confusion and stigmatization fade away, as people find acceptance within themselves."
WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD industry@Tallinn, team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer,

We're thrilled to share amazing news ith you:

Embodied Chorus / لن تتركنا الطيور is celebrating WORLD PREMIERE at IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam 2023 - THE place to be for documentary-loving audiences, filmmakers, programmers, distributors & buyers.

We look forward for to share and watch this film with you all & open exciting conversations about #cinema, #bodies, #intimacy, #STI & #sex .. THANK YOU to each and all of you who encouraged, were part of & supported the long journey of EMBODIED CHORUS! Thank you, IDFA programming team to open your festival stage for our work <3 See you soon. In cinema.

WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD industry@Tallinn, team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer,

Honored and grateful to be part of the Audiovisual Women* / Female Leadership Programme by Erich Pommer Institute, among all these successful and inspiring colleagues! Already during our kick-off days, everyones' bravenesss, commitment, and visions to shape our industry's future with human & professional generosity opened a powerful start for further professional and personal growth, innovation and holistic transformation. Be it content, strategy, management, collaboration, a future-proof re-invention of our industries' work-places, or new approaches to leadership: There's hope and courage in this womxn-power!

Dear future, we're getting ready... 

https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/451414/ |  https://en.epi.media/av-women_23_24/

WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD industry@Tallinn, team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer,
We are extraordinarily happy to announce that WIR KÖNNTEN GENAUSO GUT TOT SEIN / WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD is celebrating its world premiere at BERLINALE 2022 by opening the Perspektive Deutsches Kino. We couldn't be more excited! Thanks to our wonderful cast & crew!
directed by NataliaSinelnikova produced by HEARTWAKE films in coproduction with Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf & rbb Fernsehen, in cooperation with Kojoten Filmproduktion GmbH, with the support of Cine Chromatix Italy, distributed by Eksystent Filmverleih, funded by #leuchtstoff & Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, world sales: Fortissimo Films. If you like, join us on instragram to follow us in the coming weeks: https://www.instagram.com/wemightaswellbedead/, https://www.instagram.com/heartwake
WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD industry@Tallinn, team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer,
We're thrilled to share some more exciting news! Fortissimo Films is joining us as world sales partner for NataliaSinelnikova's debut feature WIR KÖNNTEN GENAUSO GUT TOT SEIN / WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD. Not only is Fortissimo Films a partner with extensive experience and a portfolio we love, but also a wonderful team to work with, who “saw” our film from the beginning. We’re truly happy to team up with Gabrielle Rozing and her team, and trust they’re the best partners to bring this exciting and daring debut feature out into the world. https://bit.ly/3Kp9ksS
WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD industry@Tallinn, team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer,

THANK YOU for the most wonderful closing ceremony at the 2021 Industry@Tallinn & Baltic Event with a Jury Special Mention for WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD, directed by Natalia Sinelnikova & presented in the International work in progress section.

Jury Statement: “A personal approach transformed into a wit & critical attempt on criticizing the contemporary western society that looks singular & exciting. The jury wanted to give a special mention to We Might As Well Be Dead.”

Jury members: Alëna Shumakova / Quinzaine des Réalisateurs, Charles Bin / BFF & Torsten Frehse / Neue Visionen, Pluto

Find out more about all winning project here:

https://industry.poff.ee/news/the-winners-of-the-awards-at-industry-tallinn-and-baltic-event-2021-revealed/?fbclid=IwAR0qsCix263uptH0TB0bhUhjrkFG-FpPGs8KhblboFr2qHNFbocaXovuUtg

 

WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD European Work In Progress, team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer,

This is amazing: We are excited to present our film WE MIGHT AS WELL BE DEAD at upcoming European Works In Progress Cologne. Check out Screen Daily, who are featuring our amazing lead Ioana Iacob in our film still in their article:  https://www.screendaily.com/news/festival-programmers-sales-agents-and-distributors-head-to-european-work-in-progress-cologne/5164277.article

Learn more about all selected project here: https://www.european-work-in-progress.eu/2021/10/13/european-work-in-progress-cologne-2021/

GÜNES - When The Sun comes out, team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, Medienboard, Moin Filmförderung

GÜNES - WHEN THE SUN COMES OUT - a new collaboration on the horizon, with filmmaker Zeynep Güzel and her wonderful producers Armağan Lale, Beste Yamalıolu for Filmada Prodüksiyon. Very happy to take this journey together! Thank you Medienboard Berlin Brandenburg, Meetings on The Bridge & MOIN Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig Holstein for supporting the developemnt in the framework of the Turkish-German Co-Development Fund! 

https://www.medienboard.de/presse-events/kommunikation-und-pressearbeit/mitteilung?tx_news_pi1[news]=3332&cHash=33fb498d24dc9737c0031b9fe1f711d6

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

Overwhelmed to close the FinalTouch Lab by IDM Film Funding and Bolzano Filmfestival Bozen for our work in progress IRIS / Safe in here (WT) with True Colours International's DistributionPrize and the Postproduction Award by Cine Chromatix Italy. Grateful and happy for the amazing expert feedback and powerboost for our final meters.  Jury statement: https://bit.ly/3bw4nhR

 

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

Thank you Beirut Cinema Platform 2021 and Beirut DC for a week full of inspiring meetings for our project WOMEN OF MY LIFE. Very excited to close this wonderful week with the El Gouna Film Festival Award and an invitation to Cinegouna Springboard 2021. written and directed by Zahraa Ghandour (IQ), produced by HEARTWAKE films in co-production with Dschoint Ventschr Filmproduktion (CH).

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

We have recently teamed up with The Film Collaborative:

If you are a US citizen or legal entity,  you can now support EMBODIED CHORUS with a TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION.

Please get in touch if you would like to know more, or find find further info on our project page & donate directly: https://www.thefilmcollaborative.org/fiscalsponsorship/projects/embodiedchorus

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

December 2020: Thank you CNC! The French Centre National du Cinéma supports EMBODIED CHORUS through the CNC Lebanon relief fund, established after the explosion on August 4th.

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

October 2020: Yayyyy. EMBODIED CHORUS was selected to participate in the

EAVE on demand programme in Lebanon with our co-producer Yara Abi Nader.

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

September 15-19 2020: New York calling..

Proud and happy to present EMBODIED CHORUS in this year's IFP WEEK New York in the Spotlight on documentaries section.

https://thegotham.org/press/ifp-week-2020-project-forum-slate/

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

September 2020: CLOSING THE FULL CIRCLE programme with MASCHA in Kayserberg, Alsace / France. With scenic hikes, Alsacian wine tasting and - above all: great mentors to get our project to the next level. Thank you!

 

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

September 2020: MASCHA continues to Pop Up Film Residency in Denmark! Thank you Matthieu Darras from Full Circle Lab & PopUp Film Residency and Katja Adomeit from Adomeit Film Denmark for hosting us on the beautiful island of Fynen! This was such a special journey with writer Carl Gerber, director John Kolya Reichart & producer Julia Wagner.

https://bit.ly/3ecavxM

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

July 2020: Another great week for our project MASCHA with Full Circle Lab & EWA Network during Forum Alentours 2020:

https://www.facebook.com/heartwakefilms/posts/2045203098947189

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

June 2020: Great news keep coming: OIF Fonds Images de la Francophonie is joining the support engine for EMBODIED CHORUS. Thank you, OIF team & jury!

https://www.facebook.com/embodiedchorus/posts/2565271986906206

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

June 2020: Most wonderful news bring happiness, hope & progress:

IDFA Bertha Fund Europe is supporting our project EMBODIED CHORUS. Thank you!

https://www.facebook.com/embodiedchorus/posts/2550964851670253

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

April 2020: Thank you Filmland MV:

Writer Carl Gerber receives the scholarship for the Film residency Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with our project MASCHA

http://beta.blickpunktfilm.de/details/449586,

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

March 2020: Thank you German-Polish Film Fund of FFA, Medienboard, MDM & Polish Film Institute for development funding for our project THE QUEEN OF THULE (WT), written by Paula Redlefsen, directed by Ewa Wikiel; produced by HEARTWAKE films in coproduction with KOI Studio Warszaw:

https://www.ffa.de/aid=1394.html?newsdetail=20200303-1351_deutsch-polnischer-filmfonds-unterstuetzt-vier-neue-projekte

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

December 2019 - Rendez-Vous Franco-Allemands, Mulhouse: It's official:

The Full Circle Lab Upper Rhine, run by Matthieu Darras & Nadja Dumouchel, reveals their 6 projects for the 2020 edition, and we are in it with MASCHA (written by Carl Gerber, directed by John Kolya Reichart). This is amazing news and we look forward to continuing this journey with you!

https://cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/382115/ https://fullcirclelab.org/full-circle-lab-upper-rhine/

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

August 2019 - We are grateful & happy: 2 amazing partners confirmed funding support for EMBODIED CHORUS:

Thank you AFAC Arab Fund for Arts and Culture!

https://www.arabculturefund.org/News/46

 

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

And thank you Asian Cinema Fund AND by the BUSAN International Film Festival.  

EMBODIED CHORUS is among the lucky 17 out of 3687 submitted projects to receive the fund. This is incredible!

http://www.koreanfilm.or.kr/view/news.jsp?category=NEWS&seq=5210&blbdComCd=601006

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

Exciting: Julia has been selected to be part of the EAVE producers workshop 2019.

Looking forward to great training and networking with amazing mentors and inspiring colleagues!

https://eave.org/network/list/participants/category/eave-producers-workshop-2019/

 

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

ElGouna Springboard 2018 - "Best Project In Development" Award for EMBODIED CHORUS!

team, Julia Wagner, HEARTWAKE films, Company Portfolio, about, producer, founder, creative producer, shooting DARK SUGAR, SCHWARZER ZUCKER Leipzig, Berlin

Berlinale 2018 DubaiFilmFestival Award @ Robert Bosch FilmPrize for EMBODIED CHORUS