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Der Heimatlose

Trial of Hein
Perspectives 2026
© Florian Mag
After 14 years on the mainland, Hein returns to the place he is from – the only village on a remote island in the North Sea. Much to his surprise, the close-knit community no longer recognises him. Even his childhood friend Friedemann distances himself from Hein, despite their once unbreakable bond. The community convenes a village court to determine whether Hein truly is who he claims to be. As the trial unfolds, contradictions begin to pile up. Hein’s recollections of his youth sharply differ from those of the witnesses called before the court. With each day of the trial, the mood in the village increasingly shifts from suspicion to open hostility as the villagers become more and more convinced that Hein is an impostor. On the verge of losing everything, Hein desperately searches for proof to validate his memories – only to realise what he has long refused to see.
by Kai Stänicke (Director, Screenplay)
with Paul Boche, Philip Froissant, Emilia Schüle, Stephanie Amarell Germany 2026 German 122' Colour World premiere | Debut film

With

  • Paul Boche (Hein)
  • Philip Froissant (Friedemann)
  • Emilia Schüle (Greta)
  • Stephanie Amarell (Heide)

Crew

Director Kai Stänicke
Screenplay Kai Stänicke
Cinematography Florian Mag
Editing Susanne Ocklitz
Music Damian Scholl
Sound Design Kirsten Kunhardt
Production Design Seth Turner
Costumes Stefanie Bieker
Make-Up Christina Wagner, Tanja Adams
Casting Liza Stutzky, Andrea Rodríguez
Producers Andrea Schütte, Dirk Decker, Dario Suter
Co-Producers Felix von Böhm, Katrin Jochimsen, Kai Stänicke

Produced by

Tamtam Film

Hamburg, Germany

Co-produced by

Lupa Film

Berlin, Germany

World Sales

Heretic

Athen, Greece

Photos

Kai Stänicke

© Florian Mag

The director has a bachelor’s degree in film studies and completed a production management traineeship at X Filme Creative Pool in Berlin. He then worked as an assistant director before going on to direct his own short films. The script for his debut feature film, Der Heimatlose, secured him a place in the Berlinale Talents Script Station and a Wolfgang Kohlhaase scholarship.

Filmography

2011 Cold Star; short film 2012 It's Consuming Me; short film 2013 Gay Goth Scene; short film 2015 Golden; short film · B.; Animation, short film 2018 Circle; short film 2019 Pace; Animation, short film 2026 Der Heimatlose (Trial of Hein)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2026