5Q's w/Martin Tischner "Checker Tobi And Our Planet's Secrets" Director
#1: Can you describe your movie and why somebody should see it?
CHECKER TOBI AND OUR PLANET’S SECRET is the most successful documentary in German cinemas in 2019. A science adventure all over the world.
#2: What do you want the Borrego Springs Film Festival audience to know about your film that isn’t obvious from its title?
The movie is about one of the most important future topics worldwide and addresses both – children and adults. And even if it celebrates the big screen and follows a cinematic storytelling it is a documentary. With real encounters, real people, great wildlife and touching human stories.
#3: What is your movie making background? Tell us about yourself.
I was born in 1982. After my university-entrance diploma I worked as an executive producer and co-producer for the feature film “Happy End". It was awarded best prize for best debut feature film by the Brussels Independent Film Festival. I studied audiovisual media at the Stuttgart Media University. Since 2007 I’m working as a director and producer in Munich for German TV Channels such as Bayerischer Rundfunk, Das Erste and the Children Channel of ARD and ZDF and played an important role in the development of the "Checker" TV-Series. My productions were nominated for the Grimme Preis and won awards such as the Bayerische Fernsehpreis, the children media award Weißer Elefant (Filmfest München), the Goldener Spatz and the EMIL.
#4: What was the biggest lesson learned in getting your film made?
As a director you should always follow your “inner voice”. Don’t make compromises concerning your way of storytelling. For this you need a great team which shares your vision and pushes it even further than you could think up.
#5: What does the future hold for your film and you?
At the moment lots of school classes are watching the movie. And I’m thankful for their great and thoughtful feedback. This motivates me to work on the next “science documentary adventures” – for children or adults. Who knows.
