River

Timo Grosspietsch / Germany / 2026 / International Premiere / 83 min.

synopsis

The Elbe. One of Europe’s greatest rivers, engineered and tamed by weirs, dams and embankments. A river serving as a source of water, a transport channel and a natural boundary between countries and regions. This hypnotic audiovisual essay immerses us in the history of river engineering and weir construction. Through wordless images, it presents an industrial symphony of hydraulic works and structures from the industrial age, alongside water as an untamed elemental force. The journey from the river’s source in the Krkonoše Mountains to its estuary on the North Sea traces a natural path through the water cycle while exploring the fascinating depths of human coexistence with a river that is absolutely crucial for life.

“The River is a cinematic exploration that delves deep beneath the surface of visible reality and reveals traces of human activity. With The River, documentary filmmaker Timo Großpietsch brings his trilogy City, Landscape, River to a close.”
Source of the quote.

biography

Timo Großpietsch (1977) is a German documentary filmmaker and journalist. He holds a degree in media studies and folklore from the University of Hamburg. His documentaries have been screened at numerous festivals, including the Berlinale and DOK.fest Munich. He teaches documentary filmmaking at universities and serves on film committees. River (2026) is the final instalment of his City, Countryside, River trilogy.

film details

director:	Timo Grosspietsch
producer:	Marc Brasse
photography:	Timo Grosspietsch
editing:	Martin Huesges
sound design:	Michel Waehling
composer:	Vladyslav Sendecki
Distributor:	Joachim Kuehn