The Locarno Film Festival announced that German filmmaker Nicolaas Schmidt’s debut feature film “September Afternoon” will world premiere on Aug. 10 in the Filmmakers of the Present Competition. The festival’s artistic director noted the film presents an adventurous viewing experience that may challenge audiences unfamiliar with Schmidt’s approach to cinema.
Schmidt, born in Leipzig and based in Hamburg, creates work centered on images, sounds, music and moods, emphasizing everyday situations, repetition and silence. The director describes using “dead time” as raw material, stretching mundane moments to explore emptiness. In his approach, he positions ordinary banality as a form of stimulation rather than seeking extraordinary or action-driven narratives.
“September Afternoon” follows a family at the seaside as summer ends, dealing with strong wind and natural elements that disrupt their expectations. The film stars Amin Motallebzadeh, Katharina Grossmann, Hedi Grossmann and Ada Kurzhöfer, with cinematography by Thomas Oswald. Schmidt directed, edited and wrote the screenplay. Production was handled by Maxi Haslberger and Balthasar Busmann, with Kino Rebelde managing international sales.
Schmidt emphasizes developing detailed plans while remaining open to unexpected elements. During filming in late September, actual stormy weather intensified production challenges but also provided authentic material he incorporated into the final work. Music functions as a key element in his films, alongside subtle references to other cinematic works, including a scene from Philippe Garrel’s “Le Révélateur.” Schmidt describes his creative process as gathering extensive collections of ideas and associations that gradually form into thematic structures.
For Schmidt, the absence of traditional action or dialogue serves his artistic vision rather than a desire to provoke audiences. He expresses discomfort with uniformity and trends, instead seeking to connect with like-minded viewers outside mainstream cinema. This represents his second film premiering at Locarno, following his earlier work which received recognition at the festival.
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