High Diver / Turmspringer (2024)

Since early childhood, Tuan and Felix have been inseparable. As they train to become Olympic high divers, however, their budding love for each other suffers under the weight of the competition. Professional sport is a harsh business, and Tuan will sacrifice everything for it ... or will he?

At the Baltic Sea, Tuan and Felix discover their love for water as young children. They soon become divers, as this allows them to spend their hours after school together at the indoor swimming pool. However, when they face each other at the Olympics, their athletic future is at stake. But when Felix unexpectedly suffers a serious injury, Tuan - despite the immense pressure to win the gold medal - decides for his partner.

Director - Oscar Bittner

Director - Oscar Bittner

Director Biography - Oscar Bittner

Oscar Bittner was born in Berlin, 1996. He gained his first experience in professional Filmmaking during internships in France and in Berlin. In 2024 he graduated at Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. From 2019 to 2020 he did an exchange to the renowned Gobelins school in Paris. After finishing his graduation film “Turmspringer” he works on an animated feature film.

Filmography

2024 Turmspringer (5 Min. – 2D Animation – Graduation Film)

2017 Omaheke (6 Min. - 2D & Sand Animation – Student Film)

Director Statement

Turmspringer is a story of liberation; not only from a challenging environment but from the toxic mindset within. I wanted to give opposition to the dangerous teaching of shutting out your feelings to go past your limitations. Not only because I had lived it as a filmmaker, but especially because I saw the powerful and metaphorical imagery, high diving had to offer – which as a child I had seen whenever my sister competed. Then, just as I started working on my film, the German sport system in 2021 was shaken by a scandal of abuse.

Credits:

Oscar Bittner

Director

Oscar Bittner

Writer

Andra Berila

Producer

David Steffen

Key Cast

Tianqin Li

Key Cast

Peter Albrecht

Music

Philippa Kinsky

Music

Tim Fröhlich

Music

Elias Gürtler

Sound

Tim Kraushaar

Editor

Esther Brechlin

Art Director

Benjamin Wahl

Lead Animator

Andra Berila

Lead Compositor

Specs:

Project Type:

Animation, Short

Genres:

Sport, coming-of-age, LGBTQIA

Runtime:

4 minutes 58 seconds

Completion Date:

April 1, 2024

Country of Origin:

Germany

Country of Filming:

Germany

Shooting Format:

Digial

Aspect Ratio:

16:9

Film Color:

Color

First-time Filmmaker:

No

Student Project:

Yes - Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg