Punching the World

Punching the World
Festival release poster
German	Mit der Faust in die Welt schlagen
Directed by	Constanze Klaue
Screenplay by	Constanze Klaue
Story by	Lukas Rietzschel
Based on	Mit der Faust in die Welt schlagen  [ de ] by Lukas Rietzschel  [ de ]
Produced by	Alexander Wadouh, Gabriele Simon, Martin Heisler, Roxana Richters
Starring	Anton Franke Camille Moltzen Anja Schneider Christian Näthe Johannes Scheidweiler
Cinematography	Florian Brückner
Edited by	Emma Gräf Andreas Wodraschke
Music by	PC Nackt
Production companies	Flare Film Chromosom Film
Distributed by	Across Nations
Release dates	16 February 2025 (2025-02-16)(Berlinale) 3 April 2025 (2025-04-03)(Theaters)
Running time	110 minutes
Country	Germany
Language	German

Punching the World (German : Mit der Faust in die Welt schlagen) is a 2025 German drama film directed by Constanze Klaue in her directorial debut. The film based on the novel of the same name by Lukas Rietzschel, follows The childhood of two brothers, Philipp and Tobi, growing up in the East German provinces is scarred by the disintegration of their family. ^{[1] [2]}

It was selected in Perspectives at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival and was screened on 16 February 2025. ^{[3] [4]}

Synopsis

Philipp and Tobias experience their formative years in the expansive yet opportunity-scarce province of Saxony. As time passes, their town faces the challenge of accommodating refugees, leading to a volatile situation. In response, one brother becomes reclusive, while the other channels his anger outward—eventually finding a means to express it.

Cast

• Anton Franke as Philipp Zschornack
• Sammy Scheuritzel as Philipp (older)
• Camille Moltzen as Tobias Zschornack
• Tilman Döbler as Tobias (older)
• Anja Schneider as Sabine, mother
• Christian Näthe as Stefan, father
• Johannes Scheidweiler as Menzel
• Hilmar Eichhorn as grandpa
• Swetlana Schönfeld as grandma
• Jannis Veihelmann as Timo
• Charlotte Kaiser Hannes Wegener as Elisabeth
• Lorenzo Germeno as Frame
• Peter Moltzen as Marco's father
• By the Geiger as Kate
• Alexander Hörbe as Chief
• Beate Christiane Furcht as Policewoman

Production

The film directed by Constanze Klaue has screenplay written by herself based on novel of the same name by Lukas Rietzschel. Produced by Flare Film with Chromosom Film, it is funded by MDM (Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung), MBB, BKM (Federal Ministry of Culture and Media) and DFFF (German Film Fund). ^[5]

Principal photography began at the end of February 2023 in Görlitz, Upper Lusatia for one month. ^[6] The filming ended on 15 June 2023 in Umgebung Berlin, Upper Lusatia, Görlitz, Hoyerswerda, Brandenburg, and Saxony. ^{[7] [8]}

Release

Punching the World had its world premiere on 16 February 2025, as part of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, in Perspectives. ^[9]

The film will be theatrical released in Germany on 3 April 2025 by Across Nations. ^{[10] [11]}

Accolades

The film selected in the newly formed Perspectives competition will compete for Best First Feature Award. ^{[12] [13]}

Award	Date of ceremony	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival	23 February 2025	Best First Feature Award	Punching the World	Pending	[14]

References

1. "Punching the World". Berlinale. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
2. "Punching the World". Flare Film (in German). 17 April 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
3. Davide Abbatescianni (21 January 2025). "The Berlinale unveils the titles playing in its Competition and its Perspectives and Berlinale Special strands". Cineuropa . Retrieved 4 February 2025.
4. Rosser, Michael (21 January 2025). "Berlin film festival reveals 2025 competition line-up 2025". ScreenDaily . Retrieved 4 February 2025.
5. ""Mit der Faust in die Welt schlagen": MDR-Kinokoproduktion im neuen Perspectives-Wettbewerb der Berlinale 2025" ["Punching the World with a Fist": MDR cinema co-production in the new Perspectives Competition of the Berlinale 2025]. Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk (in German). 22 January 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
6. Tim Ruben Weimer (8 February 2023). "MDR dreht ab Ende Februar Rietzschel-Film in der Oberlausitz" [MDR to shoot Rietzschel film in Upper Lusatia from the end of February]. Saechsische. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
7. "Punching the World: Feature Film, 2023-2024, Drama, Film based on literary source, Germany". Crew United. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
8. "Mit der Faust in die Welt schlagen: Deutschland 2023/2024 Spielfilm" [Punching the World, Germany 2023/2024 Feature Film]. filmportal.de (in German). 5 December 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
9. Ntim, Zac (21 January 2025). "Berlin Film Festival Lineup: Richard Linklater, Jessica Chastain, A$AP Rocky & Marion Cotillard Movies Among Vibrant Selection". Deadline . Retrieved 4 February 2025.
10. "Berlinale: Punching the World". Flare Film. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
11. "Mit der Faust in die Welt schlagen" [Punching the World]. Film Starts (in German). 12 September 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
12. "The Programme of Perspectives". Berlinale. 21 January 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
13. "Berlinale Launches Perspectives, a New International Competition for Feature-Length Fiction Debuts, Strengthening the Profile of New Talent Within the Festival". 2 July 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
14. Scott Roxborough (21 January 2025). "Berlin Film Festival Lineup: Movies From Richard Linklater, Michel Franco, Hang Song-Soo in Competition (Full List)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 4 February 2025.

External links

• Punching the World at IMDb
• Punching the World at Berlinale
• Punching the World at The Yellow Affair