SEBASTIAN NIEMANN

Screenwriter/Director

 

Before enrolling in the directing class at Munich Film School (HFF) in 1994, Sebastian Niemann was already working as a screenwriter, storyboard, and concept artist. Together with fellow director Rainer Matsutani, Sebastian Niemann then co-wrote the German box-office hit "OVER MY DEAD BODY" (1995) starring Katja Riemann and Christoph M. Ohrt. In the same year Sebastian's first student short "VERFOLGER" won him the Special Prize of European Television Channels at the International Festival of Fantasy, Horror & Science Fiction in Brussels. In 1996/97, Niemann and Matsutani co-wrote the three-part horror anthology film "GEISTERSTUNDE - FAHRSTUHL INS JENSEITS", a production for RTL television. Sebastian then proceeded to direct the third segment of the anthology "MIRROR IMMAGE", starring Jan Niklas and Corinna Harfouch.

 

In 1998, Sebastian went on to shoot his fist TV feature, the hit supernatural thriller "DAS BIIKENBRENNEN", starring Christoph M. Ohrt and Anja Kling, his first collaboration with producers Christian Becker and Thomas Häberle, who were then working together under the label of Indigo Film. Sebastian's first international theatrical feature followed in 2000, "7 DAYS TO LIVE" starring Amanda Plummer, Gina Bellman, Sean Pertwee, Sean Chapman and Nick Brimble.

In 2002, "THE JESUS VIDEO" mini-series was released by ProSieben, a high-profile made-for-TV action-adventure based on the bestseller by Andreas Eschbach, filmed at various international locations including Morocco and Italy. It went on to become the most successful mini-series production for ProSieben in the last ten years, starring Matthias Koeberlin and Naike Rivelli, with Sebastian both writing and directing.

 

In 2006 the fantasy comedy "HUI BUH – DAS SCHLOSSGESPENST" was released. Directed and co-written by Sebastian, it headlined top German comedy talents Michael Bully Herbig, Christoph Maria Herbst and Rick Kavanian, supported by other German stars including Heike Makatsch and Hans Clarin. The Box office hit went on to become one of the most successful German film releases for Constantin Film in recent years. In 2007, Sebastian shot the screwball comedy "KILLING IS MY BUSINESS, HONEY", starring Rick Kavanian, Nora Tschirner, Bud Spencer and Franco Nero, which was successfully released in German movie theatres.

 

In 2016 Sebastian shot the historical-thriller "JACK THE RIPPER", a production for SAT.1 television – starring Sonja Gerhardt, Falk Hentschel, Sabin Tambrea und Vladimir Burlakov. It went on to become the most successful production for SAT.1 in 2016.

Currently in theaters is "HUI BUH UND DAS HEXENSCHLOSS", which Sebastian Niemann wrote the screenplay and directed. Starring: Christoph Maria Herbst, Michael Bully Herbig, Rick Kavanian, Nelly Hoffmann, Mina Tander, Charlotte Schwab, Carmen-Maja Antonie and Manou Lubowski as the most dangerous spell book in the world.

 

Director

• Hui Buh und das Hexenschloss (2017 - 2021) 
• Jack The Ripper (2016)
• The Edison Experiment (in development)
• Mord ist mein Geschäft, Liebling (Killing Is My Business, Honey) (2009)
• Hui Buh das Schlossgespenst (Hui Buh) (2005/06)
• Das Jesus Video (Ancient Relic, The Hunt for the Hidden Relic) (2002)
• 7 Days to Live (1999/2000)
• Biikenbrennen – Der Fluch des Meeres (1998) (TV)
• Geisterstunde – Fahrstuhl ins Jenseits (1997) (TV) (segment MIRROR IMAGE)
• Verfolger (haunter) (1994) (SHORT)

Screenwriter

• Hui Buh und das Hexenschloss (2017 - 2020)
• Jack The Ripper (2016) (uncredited)
• The Edison Experiment (2014/15)
• Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver (2005/07)
• Mord ist mein Geschäft, Liebling (Killing Is My Business, Honey) (2009)
• Hui Buh das Schlossgespenst (Hui Buh) (2005/06)
• Das Jesus Video (Ancient Relic, The Hunt for the Hidden Relic) (2002)
• Geisterstunde – Fahrstuhl ins Jenseits (witching hour) (1997) (TV) (segment: MIRROR IMAGE)
• Over My Dead Body (Nur über meine Leiche) (1995)