CHRISTOPH SILBER

AT LAST... -- JAN 2012

2012-01-09T15:47:00.016Z

...our title track MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU is now available for download on iTunes.

A Black Reels nominee for "Best Song" opposite the likes of Mary J. Blige and Jamie Foxx, the song performed by leading lady Nicole Beharie was co-written by Chris alongside Scott Jacoby and Stefan Schaefer.

Check out the music video on youtube.

MEANWHILE, TOP REVIEWS IN EUROPE...

...for the THE CARINTHIA MIRACLE. An official selection at last year's Hamburg Film Festival, Chris wrote the truth-based thriller with Berlin collaborator Thorsten Wettcke for Austrian helmer Andreas Prochaska (DEAD IN 3 DAYS). Austria's leading newspaper KURIER gave it 5 stars out of 5, praising the screenplay as "terrific".

ORF January 18, 8:15 pm / ARD March 5, 8:15 pm

TWO FOR THE ROAD -- DEC 2011

2011-11-30T02:06:00.009Z

The year ends with two European premieres of films written by Chris:
GIRL ON THE OCEAN FLOOR, a period film about how diving pioneer and Oscar winning filmmaker Hans Hass met his wife and diving companion Lotte, airs on December 8 on ZDF (Germany) and ORF (Austria), followed by a documentary on their life and work.

Under its German title NIE MEHR OHNE DICH, the New York one-day lovestory MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU, which Chris also produced with Diane Crespo and co-writer Stefan Schaefer, will open in select theaters there December 15.
Stateside release will soon be announced. In the meantime, check out our stellar leading lady Nicole Beharie in SHAME opposite Michael Fassbender and Carey Mulligan, in select US theaters December 2.

THAT EXTRA BOW -- NOV 2011

2011-10-28T04:00:00.009Z

With lead actress Nicole Beharie and director Stefan Schaefer at HIFF, Honolulu Oct. 2011

After much Aloha from audiences at Hawaii and Heartland Film Festivals, MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU is ready for some cowboy love at Lone Star Film Festival in Texas Nov 13. Right before that, Chris will be in LA with Stefan Schaefer to finalize multiple sales deals for the film and discuss future projects during the AFM.
If you can't make it to Texas, don't despair. We'll soon announce the US release for the film. Also, don't miss our stellar lead actress Nicole Beharie in her new recurring role on CBS' THE GOOD WIFE.

"YOUNG GOETHE IN LOVE" NOW IN THEATERS

After the award-winning international hits GOOD BYE LENIN and NORTH FACE, another German language film Chris collaborated on is making its way to US audiences.

A surprise box-office success in Germany and Austria, this gorgeous period drama by NORTH FACE director Philipp Stoelzl is coming to arthouse screens across the United States on Nov 4.

SURF'S UP -- OCT 2011

2011-09-03T14:13:00.013Z

The Hawaii Int'l Film Festival will screen MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU Oct. 14 and 16 as an Official Selection with director Stefan Schaefer, star Nicole Beharie and Chris attending. A special program hosted by the Vilcek Foundation will honor Chris as "an immigrant filmmaker...whose creative spirit enlivens and inspires American cinema."

Also in October, DAS WUNDER VON KAERNTEN (The Carinthia Miracle), a truth-based thriller written by Chris and Thorsten Wettcke and again starring Ken Duken, will premiere at Germany's Hamburg Film Festival.

IT'S SHOWTIME -- AUG/SEP 2011

2011-08-04T16:04:00.038Z

At the NYC premiere with Reg E Cathey, Laith Nakli, Francis Benhamou, Diane Crespo, Ken Duken, Dan Hersey, Stefan Schaefer, Lance Cain, Scott Jacoby.

NEWS ON MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU:

After winning the Best Producer award at its Brooklyn Film Festival premiere, the film has been selected for the Oldenburg International Film Festival. Held in September, Oldenburg has been dubbed the "German Sundance" by Variety. Watch out for the film's release under its German title NIE MEHR OHNE DICH in Germany, Austria and Switzerland soon.

ON SCREENS NOW IN GERMANY:DER ALBANER, Ophuls festival winner, co-written by Chris.

ON TV IN GERMANY:
TATORT MUENSTER - ZWISCHEN DEN OHREN, 90 min TV special written by Chris and Thorsten Wettcke, ARD Sep 18, 8:15 pm.

FIRST DAY FOR 'LAST DAY' -- MAY/JUN 2011

2011-05-11T15:16:00.008+01:00

MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU will have its official US premiere at the Brooklyn International Film Festival on June 11. Our stars Nicole Beharie and Ken Duken will be attending.

In addition LA-based Mission Pictures International, who are handling international sales, will hold a market screening for potential buyers at Cannes on May 14.

SPRING IN MY STEP -- MAR/APR 2011

2011-03-11T15:05:00.003Z

MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU -- Sales and distribution negotiations underway, festival premiere will soon be announced.
GOETHE -- Period film I consulted on is nominated for 4 Lolas (German Academy Awards), including Best Film and Best Actor.
THE ALBANIAN -- Debut film I co-wrote won the Max Ophuls, one of Europe's top newcomer awards, for Best Film.
IN PRODUCTION: Two TV movies in Germany and Austria, helmed by Franziska Meletzky and Andreas Prochaska.
IN DEVELOPMENT: Silver Shepherd & Cicala have been able to win a heavy-hitting European partner for our new project based on a book by Shira Nayman. More on that soon.

BERLIN BOUND -- FEB 2011

2011-02-03T22:58:00.003Z

It's that time of the year again... meetings, screenings, more meetings. See you at Berlinale!
Also this month, NACHTANGELN is going into production. Helmed by the wonderful Franziska Meletzky, the new TATORT film written by Silber-Wettcke stars two of my favorite German actors, J.J. Liefers and Axel Prahl.

AS NEW AS IT GETS -- JAN 2011

2011-01-08T04:31:00.002Z

What better way to start the New Year than with the first trailer for MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU - online now. Enjoy!

LA CALLING -- NOV/DEC 2010

2010-11-12T18:36:00.005Z

Silver Shepherd's annual November trip to Los Angeles brought plenty of good news. Our film MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU got great feedback from several key players in sales and distribution at AFM. Watch out for the trailer on the website.
On other fronts, there were several development offers for Silver Shepherd and for me individually, thanks to the enthusiastic response to the screenplay for my upcoming directing debut DEVIL'S BANE. I've been able to get some top-notch creative collaborators on board, plus land a pitch for a new high-level writing deal. More on that soon.
The AFM also saw great deals for Warner Bros German release GOETHE, which I collaborated on as a script and editing consultant. The period piece by helmer Philipp Stölzl, who's currently preparing his first English language film, will see a theatrical release in the US and Canada next year.

ALL OVER THE PLACE -- OCT 2010

2010-09-30T13:14:00.006Z

Heading to Orlando, then New York and Los Angeles to finalize sales deals for MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU, plus discuss several projects on both sides of the Atlantic. One of those is Finnish-German co-pro RUE DE LY, a development of mine that recently won a coveted FFA funding award.
Speaking of Germany, October will see two premieres of films I collaborated on there. One is Warner Bro's release GOETHE! (see picture), helmed by my good friend Philipp Stölzl (NORTH FACE), in theaters Oct 14. The other, a TATORT film co-starring two-time Lola winner Sibel Kekilli, airs on Oct 24.

NEW HORIZONS -- SEP 2010

2010-09-01T11:42:00.023Z

Back in the Tennessee Valley, co-writing a Euro actioner for Christian Alvart (PANDORUM), whose Renee Zellweger/Bradley Cooper thriller CASE 39 opens nationwide in October.
Also, my 2006 short film ICEWIND, which was selected at the LA Shorts and other international festivals, is now available for online viewing at Vimeo.
Meanwhile at the Cicala & Silver Shepherd headquarters in New York, our romance MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU is making great progress in the editing room. Festival submissions and sales deals are under way.

Finally, my script GIRL ON THE OCEAN FLOOR is in production overseas with Benjamin Sadler (LUTHER) and pop star Yvonne Catterfeld starring as Austrian diving pioneers Hans and Lotte Hass. (see picture)

SAME PLAY, DIFFERENT STAGES -- AUG 2010

2010-07-30T16:48:00.006+01:00

Two films written by myself and Stef wrapping on opposite sides of the Atlantic this month: New York love story MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU, shot in Brooklyn and Manhattan, produced by Cicala and Silver Shepherd. And German comedy FIRST LADY, produced by teamworx and directed by Thomas Nennstiel, in Goerlitz and Berlin.
Later this month, another Silber script is going into production. GIRL ON THE OCEAN FLOOR, a German Austrian co-pro about 1950's diving pioneer and Oscar winner Hans Hass and his wife Lotte will be filming in Vienna, Cologne, Egypt and Morocco, helmed by Dutch master Ben Verbong.

SUMMER IN THE CITY -- JUN/JUL 2010

2010-06-02T01:38:00.008+01:00

Pre-production for MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU is in full swing. Alongside with our stars Nicole Beharie (AMERICAN VIOLET, see picture) and Ken Duken (INGLORIOUS BASTERDS), our cast includes Reg E. Cathey (THE WIRE) and Marlene Forte (STAR TREK). Pic will be directed by my Silver Shepherd twin Stefan Schaefer.
On the German front, another Silver Shepherd collaboration, TV movie FIRST LADY, will shoot this summer. Also slated for production later this year is BANKLADY, the story of Europe's first female bank robber, with me co-writing and old pal Christian Alvart (PANDORUM) at the helm.
If you're on the European festival circuit, look out for THE ALBANIAN, a German-Albanian feature film I co-wrote. It will open in competition at Moscow Int' Film Festival end of June, then head on to Munich and Karlovy Vary.

MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU -- APR/MAY 2010

2010-04-12T23:23:00.006Z

The main focus of spring will be on the pre-production of MY LAST DAY WITHOUT YOU, Silver Shepherd's first feature film production. Directed by partner in crime Stefan Schaefer, who also wrote the screenplay with me, the indie film about an unlikely romance is set to start shooting in New York this summer. Indie film experts Cicala Filmworks are handling the production. More details on cast and crew coming soon.

TWO PREMIERES -- MAR 2010

2010-02-28T16:10:00.011Z

In German theaters March 11: TEUFELSKICKER, a soccer themed family entertainment film I wrote with director Granz Henman. Popular mag Cinema calls it "a thrill ride with heart and soul". Starring Benno Fürmann (NORTH FACE) and Reiner Schoene (MORTAL KOMBAT).

Airing on ZDF March 17 at 8:15 pm: LIEBE IST NUR EIN WORT, an adaptation of J.M. Simmel's highly popular novel. Starring Nadeshda Brennicke (TATTOO) and Vinzenz Kiefer (SPEED RACER).

BERLINALE -- FEB 2010

2010-02-12T17:21:00.007Z

On my way to Berlin. With several projects moving toward production this year in Europe and the US, it will be a busy festival. On Feb 17 German news correspondent Markus Spieker will interview me at Filmhaus Potsdamer Platz. See you at Berlinale!

NORTH FACE HEADS EAST & WEST -- DEC/JAN 2009/10

2009-12-01T20:48:00.011Z

As the year ends with one more quick trip to Europe and lots of writing, NORTH FACE is still going strong, heading for screens in the United States, Japan and other territories in January. A cozy winter break, happy holidays and a blessed 2010 to all.

FALL AND NO BREAK -- OCT/NOV 2009

2009-10-02T19:56:00.010Z

In Florida working on my Volker Schlöndorff project NICHT ZUSTÄNDIG (UNACCOUNTABLE) and scripts for top German producers Nico Hofmann and Oliver Berben.
In November I will be in Los Angeles with partner in crime Stefan Schaefer to continue talks over our XYZ films/AJ Annila project HUNTER'S SONG and keep the Silver Shepherd ball rolling.
Also in November, I will be headlining two events commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. One is at Merrimack Hall Performing Arts Center in Alabama on Nov 9, the other at the Hay Adams Hotel in Washington DC Nov 12, hosted by Konrad Adenauer Foundation. Both will feature screenings of GOOD BYE LENIN, a multiple award winner I co-wrote.
German TV air date: TATORT: SCHWEINEGELD, written by Silber&Wettcke, Nov 1, ARD 8:15 pm. The film will also be screened in the "New German Film" showcase at Babylon Berlin Mitte Oct 15.

...THEN WE TAKE BERLIN -- SEP 2009

2009-09-04T16:00:00.009Z

Heading back to Germany for several meetings and events.
The Tatort film SCHWEINEGELD written by Silber & Wettcke will premiere at Oldenburg Int'l Filmfest on September 18.
AUF DER SONNENSEITE, the Tatort that won us the Grimme Award earlier this year, is nominated for Best Cinematography at the German TV Awards.
Wih production wrapped on TEUFELSKICKER, I have been approached about writing a sequel. Universal is going to release a teaser-trailer in theaters across Germany this month. Family entertainment pic will open next spring.
GERMAN TV AIR DATES: Two new hour-long episodes of DER KRIMINALIST starring Christian Berkel (VALKYRIE, INGLORIOUS BASTERDS) will air on ZDF Sep 25 and Oct 2 at 8:15 pm.

NEW YORK MINUTE -- JUL/AUG 2009

2009-07-01T00:38:00.018+01:00

With various projects in development, I'll hardly leave my desk this summer, except for some meetings at the New York office with partner in crime Stefan Schaefer (see picture). Starting up our writing label SILVER SHEPHERD INC. we have optioned our horror script THE HUNTERS SONG to Hollywood-based XYZ films and sold FIRST LADY, a comedy, to German producer Nico Hofmann.
In Production: DIE TEUFELSKICKER (DEVIL'S KICKERS), German family entertainment film starring Benno Fürmann (THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR) and Diana Amft (GIRLS ON TOP).
LIEBE IST NUR EIN WORT (LOVE IS BUT A WORD), German TV drama starring Vinzenz Kiefer (SPEED RACER) and Nadeshda Brennicke (TATTOO).

GREENLIGHTS -- MAY/JUN 2009

2009-05-23T15:28:00.014Z

In development: ABERRATION, an indie thriller set for production in Alabama this fall, to be directed and shot by Bill Sweikart.
In June I will be in Cologne to work on the shooting draft for DIE TEUFELSKICKER (DEVIL KICKERS). Helmed by Granz Henman (see picture), family entertainment pic starts shooting in July to hit screens in 2010.
Later heading for Berlin to collaborate on a new project with Volker Schlöndorff, also shooting this year.

LOLA & GRIMME AWARDS -- APR 2009

2009-03-25T17:10:00.012Z

NORDWAND (NORTH FACE), written by myself and director Philipp Stoelzl, won two Lolas (the German Academy Awards) for Best Cinematography and Best Sound. Earlier this year the script had earned me the German Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay.
AUF DER SONNENSEITE (ON THE SUNNY SIDE), the TATORT film I penned with Berlin collaborator Thorsten Wettcke, won the 2009 Grimme Audience Award, the highest honor in German TV. The winners also included the film's star Mehmet Kurtulus and Paris-based director Richard Huber.

AWARD SEASON UPDATE -- JAN/FEB 2009

2009-01-07T14:55:00.028Z

#1 NORTH FACE won the German Critics Award for Best Screenplay during the Berlin International Film Festival! The film's recent UK release got very good reviews. The Independent calls it "a brave film... that not only offers vertiginous thrills but also probes away at an uncomfortable episode in German history."
#2 AUF DER SONNENSEITE written by Thorsten Wettcke and myself is still in the race for the coveted Grimme awards, the German Emmy equivalent.
#3 Also at Berlinale, Stefan Schaefer and I won the Special Award of the GreenMe Screenplay Contest with our project MATANZA FALLS.

DOWN SOUTH -- DEC/JAN 08/09

2008-12-01T16:16:00.011Z

Overwintering at the family refuge in the Tennessee Valley, working on my long list of unread (and alas, unwritten) books. I wish everyone a splendid holiday season and a New Year of peace with lots of love and light and painless pleasure.

SWITZERLAND -- NOV 2008

2008-11-08T15:33:00.012Z

On research in Vevey, Switzerland for a new project - can't say more about it yet than what the picture tells.
If you are in Los Angeles these days, watch out for NORTH FACE (NORDWAND) at the AFM festival.
Back in Germany, DIE TRÄNEN MEINER MUTTER (MY MOTHER'S TEARS) is now in theaters. I tutored first-time director Alejandro Cardenas at DFFB film school in Berlin and later became co-writer for this strong and very touching debut.

TWO PREMIERES -- OCT 2008

2008-09-30T14:26:00.009Z

NORDWAND - in German, Swiss and Austrian theaters Oct 23
I co-wrote the script with director Philipp Stoelzl.
Berliner Zeitung: "Breathtaking. Dazzling images. Compelling drama."
Tagesspiegel: "NORDWAND keeps up with Hollywood, hands down."
TATORT: AUF DER SONNENSEITE - ARD, Oct 26, 8:15 pm
I co-wrote the pilot and developed this new concept for Germany's legendary feature-length crime series with Thorsten Wettcke.
Bild-Zeitung: "Extremely intriguing... Tatort re-invented!"
Der Spiegel: "A triumph for German quality television."

BACK IN BERLIN -- SEP 2008

2008-09-12T16:21:00.009Z

Back to Berlin to celebrate the wedding of my friend and partner in crime, Thorsten Wettcke. Another good friend I met here is Volker Schlöndorff. He gave me his book - which I highly recommend. Moving, inspiring and very well written, it shot right up into my top ten of filmmaker's memoirs. Volker went through a lot of bashing here last year when he condemned TV networks for gorging on film funds. It's good to see him restored - the book is winning raves from critics nationwide.

NORDWAND AT LOCARNO -- AUG 2008

2008-07-28T19:41:00.014+01:00

At last - NORDWAND (NORTH FACE), the big European period drama I co-wrote, premiered at Locarno Int'l Film Festival. Hailed by festival audience and critics, pic will hit European screens in October.

INTERVIEW -- JULY 2008

2008-06-19T16:51:00.007+01:00

To hear me chat about screenwriting with non-fiction author and brilliant networker Gabe Lyons, go to iTunes and look for the Fermi podcast.

HOLLYWOOD -- JUNE 2008

2008-06-01T15:22:00.004+01:00

Working in the Hollywood Hills on a family entertainment project with director Granz Henman.

SPRINGTIME IN NYC -- MAY 2008

2008-05-06T22:55:00.011Z

IN PRODUCTION - Two of my German screenplays are being filmed:
AUF DER SONNENSEITE, 90 min TATORT written by Wettcke & moi.
MAUER IM KOPF, starring Christian Berkel (DOWNFALL, VALKYRIE).

ICEWIND IN BROOKLYN -- MAR 2008

2008-03-18T19:35:00.002Z

My 2006 short film ICEWIND, featured at festivals in LA and Chicago, has been selected for BAMkids festival in Brooklyn. See it there on March 8 at BAM Rose Cinemas.

ITALY -- FEB 2008

2008-02-26T14:26:00.003Z

Working in Italy with Terence Hill, not only a film legend but also a true mensch. Terence plans to produce and direct my screenplay MY NAME IS INGEBORG based on Raymond Kennedy's novel THE BITTEREST AGE.

BERLINALE -- FEB 2008

2008-02-24T13:24:00.015Z

Back from busy Berlin. THE AMAZING TRUTH ABOUT QUEEN RAQUELA by Islandic director Olaf de Fleur, co-produced and co-written by my man Stefan Schaefer, picked up a Teddy Award. Well-deserved!
LAS LAGRIMAS DE MI MADRE (MY MOTHER'S TEARS) is a film that I co-wrote. The Argentinian-German production by first time director Alejandro Cardenas won an actor's award at the Max Ophuls festival in January, and was sold to a distributor at Berlinale.

"ARRANGED" HITS BIG SCREEN ! -- DEC 2007

2007-12-11T14:55:00.004Z

ARRANGED, winner of Brooklyn Film Festival and other awards, is now on screen at Quad Cinema in Manhattan. I collaborated on it as script consultant. International distribution depends on the film's success in NY. So pack the house and support a film with a message!

GUBBIO, ITALY -- NOV 2007

2007-11-14T08:31:00.001Z

Who said screenwriting was a slave job? Work took me to one of the most beautiful places in Italy. Stunning views, medieval streets, no major highway near, white truffles, pigeon ragout, vino novello, the sweetest people on earth. Gubbio is where Saint Francis talked to the wolf and started his walk to Assisi. Maybe it is the spirit of the "Saint of Peace", the patron of animals and nature, that has sheltered this place from the chills and noises of today.

ROME -- AUG 2007

2007-08-26T14:11:00.001Z

Spending a week in hot, sunny, crazy beautiful Rome for a very exciting new writing project. Above is Fellini's favorite café Canova on Piazza del Popolo. The city has become more chique, more globalized in some ways. But it is still Rome - and I love it.

"INVESTIGATIV" CELEBRATED BY GERMAN PRESS

2007-06-12T07:22:00.000Z

"Die Welt" writes: "Sensational... one of the most exciting Tatort films in ten years!"
"Berliner Zeitung": "The film owes its strength... mostly to the screenplay by Silber and Wettcke."
"Blickpunkt Film": "Explosive... full of suspense and twists."
"TV Today": "Brilliant... literally forces its viewers to think."

HOW TO... COMPLETED -- MAY 2007

2007-05-01T15:42:00.004Z

Discussing a scene with actor Alexander Milo on Kollwitzplatz

Finished principal photography for HOW TO KILL YOURSELF WITHOUT DYING. The comedy short is now waiting for my friend, Los Angeles composer Ori Barel to add his magic.

HIDDENSEE, GERMANY -- APR 2007

2007-04-01T15:57:00.001Z

Writing break at Hiddensee island in the Baltic Sea, North Germany. No cars, none of the familiar noises, ideal for hearing the voices inside. Einstein, Thomas Mann... I guess what was good enough for the Nobel guys should be good enough for me.

NORDWAND -- MAR 2007

2007-03-20T05:31:00.001Z

On research in the Swiss Alps - that small figure at the bottom is me, stepping into the shadow of the legerdary Eiger

Director Philipp Stoelzl has started principal photography for NORDWAND, a period film about the dramatic 1936 excursion. Budgeted at 7 million Euros, the film is a German-Austrian-Swiss co-production. I co-wrote the screenplay.

STORYBOARD -- DEC 2006

2006-12-01T17:15:00.001Z

...I did for a trailer shoot in Berlin. The stressed-out guy on the drawings is my writing buddy from Ireland, S.D. Clifford, who will also act in HOW TO KILL YOURSELF WITHOUT DYING.

GROUND ZERO -- OCT 2006

2006-11-26T10:55:00.002Z

Back to Ground Zero. The ramp leads into the footprint of the North Tower, which will become a memorial. As we looked at what is left of Joe's workplace, this guy from England started shouting near us. He complained that there was nothing, no memorial after all these years. He started to cry, and as people were passing him - tourists looking for good shots, Asian street vendors hovering about with luxury trash, business suits rushing by - I had one of those New York moments. The ones that tell it all. Hard to describe.