
Acting
Heiko Pinkowski is a German actor, screenwriter, and film producer. After graduating from high school in 1988 and subsequently dropping out of degree programs in civil engineering, German studies, and philosophy, Heiko Pinkowski worked in various capacities—including as a drafting technician, nursing assistant, welder, truck driver, print prepress specialist, and caregiver for the severely physically disabled. He has been passionate about the theater since his youth. He performed at KRESCH—the Children's and Youth Theater of the City of Krefeld—and, without ever attending drama school, went on to join the City Theater of Krefeld, the Studiobühne Köln, and the Schiller Theater in Berlin. In 1994, he passed the official professional certification exam for stage actors. This was followed by engagements at the Bauhausbühne in Dessau and, from 1995 to 2001, a permanent position at the State Capital Theater in Magdeburg. In 2001, Heiko Pinkowski moved with his family to Berlin, where he has since worked as a freelance actor and producer—performing on stage as well as working both in front of and behind the camera. In 2011, Heiko Pinkowski co-founded the film production company *Sehr gute Filme* (Very Good Films) alongside cinematographer Dennis Pauls, producer Anne Baeker, and director Axel Ranisch. The company's first productions were the no-budget feature *Dicke Mädchen* (Heavy Girls) and the children's film *Reuber*—both directed by Axel Ranisch. With *Dicke Mädchen*, Heiko Pinkowski achieved international festival success and garnered numerous awards in his triple role as actor, co-writer, and producer. Furthermore, at the 2013 Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival, the films *Kohlhaas oder die Verhältnismäßigkeit der Mittel* and *Stufe Drei*—in which he appeared as an actor—won the Audience Awards; the film *Schrotten!* received the same honor in 2016.

Nele is a young call center agent who moonlights as a cloakroom attendant at the State Opera. When she falls in love with the small-time street dancer Kolja, she must confront the demons of her past and descend into the underworld. At the same time, talent scout Höllbach notices Nele's singing talent and offers her a great opportunity for a career as an opera singer. Axel Ranisch's modern adaptation of Orpheus and Eurydice is a cinematic opera pastiche between Puccini, Handel and Christian Steiffen.

The students of the School of Magical Animals want to perform a musical for the school's anniversary. Will rehearsals end in chaos or will the class pull together? And what's up with the strange holes on the school grounds?

As a nun, Katharina von Bora lives the life destined for her until she comes into contact with a completely new world of thought in the early 20s through the writings of Martin Luther. She flees with some of her co-sisters and comes without legal status, without income and rejected by her family to Wittenberg, where she meets Martin Luther personally. Katharina decides to marry the reformer and, as his wife, becomes a respected housekeeper, an equal interlocutor and the mother of their children together.
Rosa von Praunheim, the director of the film, parodies himself and his time as a professor at the Film School in Potsdam Babelsberg, where he taught for six years.

Finn has some bad luck. First, the paddling trip with his father falls through, and then he is robbed on the train to Berlin. On top of that, neither the conductor nor the police believe that his backpack and ticket have disappeared. Luckily, he meets the adventurous Jola, who quickly hijacks a rickety tractor. An exciting journey to the sea begins, where a brazen gang of rockers, a real wolf and many other fist-pumping adventures await the two runaways.

Sven lives with his mother Edeltraut, who is suffering from dementia. He shares his entire life, the apartment, even the bed with her. During the day he works at a bank. While he is at work, Daniel comes to the apartment to look after Edeltraut. He takes her to hairdresser's, goes for walks, shopping, and tidies up the apartment. But one day while Daniel is cleaning the windows, Edeltraut locks him out on the balcony and takes off. The two men go out looking for her. But what they find is not just Edeltraut, but also a tender fondness for one another, one which turns both of their lives upside down.

Deep in the Bavarian countryside Kleist’s historical drama Michael Kohlhaas is being shot. But instead of shooting a huge epic with impressive costumes and extraordinary props, grown-up men in suits fight with imaginary weapons. What has happened? Young director Lehman is fighting for his film, although all funds have been canceled. He’s convinced that the actor’s play and the fantasy of the audience will be sufficient. He fights for his vision as much as Kleist’s Kohlhaas fights for his rights. This film has to be finished. Whatever may come. Even if he has to go too far.

Paula, a young supporting character, studies at the Main Character School and dreams on graduating to become a lead.

Robby screwed up. And because he is afraid of going home, he escapes head over heels into the wood. But there are living some dark 'friends', who are just waiting for such a young desperate boy who get lost in the wood! The Magician Stefan wants to have Robbies childhood and the bad-tempered robber-chief sneaks through the wood with his machete. No wonder that Robby is in big trouble very soon.

A youth in middle of self-discovery, offending with his father, just discovering his sexuality and hiding it again. A boy who's often lonely loses a loved one and is in love with the wrong one.

Tobias and Flasche are childhood friends. However, their alcoholic friendship is doing more harm than good to Tobias, who realizes he should focus on his family and career. Everything changes when Tobias tells this to Flasche.

Nele is a young call center agent who moonlights as a cloakroom attendant at the State Opera. When she falls in love with the small-time street dancer Kolja, she must confront the demons of her past and descend into the underworld. At the same time, talent scout Höllbach notices Nele's singing talent and offers her a great opportunity for a career as an opera singer. Axel Ranisch's modern adaptation of Orpheus and Eurydice is a cinematic opera pastiche between Puccini, Handel and Christian Steiffen.

Robby screwed up. And because he is afraid of going home, he escapes head over heels into the wood. But there are living some dark 'friends', who are just waiting for such a young desperate boy who get lost in the wood! The Magician Stefan wants to have Robbies childhood and the bad-tempered robber-chief sneaks through the wood with his machete. No wonder that Robby is in big trouble very soon.

Tobias and Flasche are childhood friends. However, their alcoholic friendship is doing more harm than good to Tobias, who realizes he should focus on his family and career. Everything changes when Tobias tells this to Flasche.

Robby screwed up. And because he is afraid of going home, he escapes head over heels into the wood. But there are living some dark 'friends', who are just waiting for such a young desperate boy who get lost in the wood! The Magician Stefan wants to have Robbies childhood and the bad-tempered robber-chief sneaks through the wood with his machete. No wonder that Robby is in big trouble very soon.
