Empire Me
A creative documentary by Paul Poet
In co-production with Navigator Film (Austria) and Minotaurus Film (Luxembourg)
Funded by MEDIA, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Fonspa (Luxembourg) and ÖFI (Austrian Filminstitute)
On the verge of globalisation, hundreds of do-it-yourself states create their own little world. Micronations, eco-villages and secessionists create alternative ways of living together. A road movie on land, at sea, and in the head.
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Empire Me
A creative documentary by Paul Poet
In co-production with Navigator Film (Austria) and Minotaurus Film (Luxembourg)
Funded by MEDIA, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, Fonspa (Luxembourg) and ÖFI (Austrian Filminstitute)
Don’t we sometimes fancy the idea of breaking out of our daily routine in order to start a new life beyond all conventions and constraints? The idea of Utopia, of a better life in an earthly paradise, is a dream mankind has long imagined in many versions – for example, reigning as a king on your own island once in your life. But the rigid principles of a globalised world hardly allow alternatives and visions.
A phenomenon finally puts an end to this: The establishing of counter worlds. In search of an ideal lifestyle, hundreds of do-it-yourself entities build their own little microcosms. Micronations, eco-villages and secessionists are creating an alternative way of living together, with real territories and communities. Over 500 have been invented since the late 90s, some barely bigger than a sheep farm, a sea platform, or a laptop.
Thousands of free spirits thus battle against the new world order. They annex whole regions and districts. They create their own laws, languages, stamps and banknotes. The populations range from 1 to 500,000, and they come from different stratums and ideologies. With “Empire Me”, the author Paul Poet, himself veteran of alternative networks and social experiments, encounters six of these counter worlds which represent the movement at its best. The feature-length film, which also includes a Web project, is staged as a road movie going straight to the heart of foreign social structures; like a glance at and behind the art of self-presentation.
Paul Poet and his team explore more than just the various visions of the counter worlds and their makers. They also look for the common human need that unites them: The yearning for meaning, recognition and community in an increasingly bewildering world order.
And the spectators realise: In the 21st century, dropping out is joining in. The existence of a parallel world today means a life as a potential “I-corporation”, crying for high-class socio-political management, global networking, economic sustainability and decentralised alliances. And above all: The constant outsmarting of established power systems and authorities with whom one stands in permanent war. What at first glance seems colourful, charming and bizarre, turns out to be congenial at a closer look, an eccentric challenge of ordinary people who feel suppressed by the neo-liberal world. With their pragmatic, political Gotham projects they open to the audience and encourage them not to feel like powerless cogs of the post-democracy. True to the motto: You don’t like the world you live in? Go and create your own!
Script & Director: Paul Poet
Director of Photography: Enzo Brandner, Gerald Kerkletz, Jerzy Palacz
Camera Assistant: Andi Winter, Dieter Knestel, Joachim Hausleitner, Keir Suggett
Sound: Joe Knauer, Atanas Tcholakov, Klaus Kellermann, Dan McMahon
Editing: Karina Ressler
Editing Assistant: Paul Schön
Score: Alexander Hacke
Songs: Múm, Dark Dark Dark, Oro Tel, Sir John English K.R.O. and the Foster brothers
Animation: Michael Stenitzer, Klaudia Palcok
Graphics: Sonja Kolmanitsch
Dramatic Advisor: Johannes Holzhausen
Head of Production: Andrea Minauf, Kathrin Isberner
Production coordinator: Maria Wischnewski, Jean-Laurent Csinidis
Head of post-production: Sabine Kraberger
Secretary to the production: Sonja Harzfeld
Executive in charge of production: Johannes Rosenberger, Daniela Schöne
Commissioning editor: Martin Pieper (ZDF/arte)
Executive producer: Johannes Rosenberger, Christian Beetz, Bady Mink
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Empire Me
Festival Univercine – Cinéma Allemand - Nantes
7 - 13 November 2012 -
"Empire Me"
Hot Spring Documentary Film Festival - Hot Springs National Park / Arkansas
12-21 October 2012 -
Empire Me
Hackesche Höfe Kino - Berlin, Germany
26 January 2012 at 3.15 pm -
Empire Me
Hackesche Höfe Kino - Berlin, Germany
23 January 2012 at 5.15 pm -
Empire Me
45th WorldFest Houston International Independent Film Festival - Houston, USA
13 - 22 April 2012 -
Empire Me
Hackesche Höfe Kino - Berlin, Germany
01 February 2012 um 3.15 pm -
Empire Me
Hackesche Höfe Kino - Berlin, Germany
30 January 2012 at 3.15 pm -
Empire Me
Hackesche Höfe Kino - Berlin, Germany
29 January 2012 at 11.00 am and 3.15 pm -
Empire Me
Hackesche Höfe Kino - Berlin, Germany
28 January 2012 at 3.15 pm -
Empire Me
Hackesche Höfe Kino - Berlin, Germany
24 January 2012 at 5.15 pm -
Empire Me
Regina - Hofer Filmtage, Germany
27. October 2011 at 02.45 pm -
Empire Me
Filmforum Museum Ludwig - Cologne, Germany
18 January 2012 -
Empire Me
Großes Haus, Volksbühne - Berlin, Germany
19 January 2012 at 09.00 pm -
Empire Me
Cinéma le Pagnol (International Film Festival Aubagne) - Aubagne, France
21 March 2012 at 3.15 pm -
Empire Me
KIZ Royal / Diagonale - Graz, Austria
26 March 2011 at 9.00 pm -
Empire Me
Regina - Hofer Filmtage, Germany
26. October 2011 at 08.30 pm -
Empire Me
Hackesche Höfe Kino - Berlin, Germany
27 January 2012 at 3.15 pm -
Empire Me
Schubertkino 1 / Diagonale - Graz, Austria
25 March 2011 at 8.30 pm -
Empire Me
TAZ Congress "The good life – There are alternatives" - Berlin
14 April 2012 at 4.45 pm -
Empire Me
Hackesche Höfe Kino - Berlin, Germany
31 January 2012 um at 3.15 pm
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