Tracing Addai

Germany2018documentary30'Konkurs krótkometrażowy (2018)

One day, Addai disappeared without a trace. Soon, he contacted his despairing mother by e-mail sent from engulfed-in-war Syria. The boy ensured her that he was safe and, at the same time, asked for discretion refusing to accept help. Unfortunately, the tragedy was unavoidable and Addai died in mysterious circumstances. His life is shown from two perspectives. His mother talks about his difficult childhood marked by a disease and his former companion Illias takes us to Syria. It is thanks to his story that Addai’s mother may find out more about her son’s past. This unique animated documentary is an attempt to find an answer to the question about what really happened.

directed by
Esther Niemeier

Film director and producer working in Germany and the UK. She is a student of Documentary Film Directing at the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf. Her first short documentary "Walz" (2007) was screened at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. "Tracing Addai" is her diploma film. Currently, she is working on her first feature-length documentary "Bad Girl & Champion".

cinematography
Omri Aloni, Sabine Panossian
script
Esther Niemeier, Sarah-Christin Peter, Britta Strampe
animated by
Jan Koester, Gregor Dashuber, Sonja Rohleder, Anne Isensee, Laurine Kotte, Deniz Zagli, Inês Gomes Ferreira
cast
Kais Setti, Benito Bause
music
Robert Pilgram
sound
Alexandra Praet, Christoph de la Chevallerie
editing
Sarah-Christin Peter
production
Britta Strampe (Filmuniversität Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF), (Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg)
Photo
Kadr z filmu Tracing Addai
Trailer