From university to the cinema screen: IU students present cinematic final theses

Berlin, 5 May, 2025. End of April, the Filmtheater am Friedrichshain in Berlin transformed into a stage for young talents: Students of the dual bachelor's programme in media design at IU International University of Applied Sciences presented their final projects on the big screen.

Vistors to the cinema expected an impressive programme: a wide variety of moving image projects by IU students from all over Germany were shown. Everything from short films and documentaries to music videos, commercials and image films to computer-generated animations was represented.

The graduates spent over a year developing the concepts and production planning for their projects. The final films were created in just a few months as part of their final thesis. Their approaches were extremely diverse: While some realised large-scale live-action productions using traditional dramaturgy, others relied on experimental forms of expression or motion graphics and 3D animation. The young filmmakers acquired the necessary know-how during their dual studies at IU locations such as Berlin, Dresden, Stuttgart, and Nuremberg. By combining theory at the university with 20 hours of practical work per week at a partner company, they developed into true professionals in their field in around three and a half years.

The cinema event marked the celebratory conclusion of this creative journey – and a fantastic opportunity for networking: students, industry professionals, and interested parties came together for discussion. The highlight was the audience voting for the best project at the end. The neon-coloured (typical of IU)  trophy went to the elaborately produced short film ‘Solace’ by Hannes Berthold, closely followed by Julian Dreher's commercial ‘Bis zum letzten Bissen’ (Until the Last Bite) and the CGI trailer ‘Aftermath’ by Manuel Strack.

Excerpt from the programme

• Tim Höher : "Does AI need a break?" | Animation: A visual journey into the world of algorithms | 1:47 min | Virtual IU Campus
• Hannes Berhold : "Solace" | Short film: In a post-apocalyptic world, a speech-impaired grandfather and a young boy fight for survival | 10:34 min | IU Dresden
• Julian Dreher : "To the Last Bite" | Humorously exaggerated commercial for a pizza delivery service | 1:00 min | Munich 
• Niklas Heck: "Your Adventure at Agapedia" | Image film for the children's centres of a foundation for social work and education | 3:06 min | IU Stuttgart
• Jochen Marksteiner : "The Silent Conquerors" | Animated explainer video on invasive species in Germany | 6:15 min | IU Freiburg
• Clara Günther : "Mymoria" | Short film about escaping into other people's memories | 8:47 min | IU Bielefeld
• Matthias Werr : "Balkon" | Official music video for the post-pop duo Flur | 5:25 min | IU Nuremberg
• Luisa Eesmann : "Fast | Slow" | Experimental short film that explores the contrast between overstimulated, digital fast-paced life and a decelerated, mindful reality | 1:30 min | IU Berlin
• Sophie-Charlotte Britze and Tina Helleken: "The Unique Characters of German Cities" | The short film shows Dresden, Berlin, and Hamburg in a visual journey | 10:18 min | IU Dresden
• Jannik Winkelhake: "Hardcore" | Documentary about the phenomenon of hardcore music | 13:00 min | IU Hannover
• Manuel Strack: "Aftermath" | CGI trailer for a sci-fi action adventure | 2:26 min | IU Bielefeld
• Bianka Nagy: "Beyond Blue" | Underwater Photography | IU Nuremberg
• Bennet Flade: "Café Mehrwert – A Place by & for Everyday Heroes" | Documentary image film about an innovative café | 7:41 min | Virtual IU Campus

Organisation: Prof. Daniela Reuß | Prof. Joern Zielke | Prof. Till Maiß

ABOUT THE MEDIA DESIGN PROGRAMME

In the dual degree programme in media design at IU International University of Applied Sciences, students learn how to design content creatively and appropriately for their target audience – whether analog, digital, or cross-media. The programme combines technical know-how with creative thinking. Topics such as web design, video editing, app development, typography, and printing technologies are covered, as are cross-media concepts. Starting in the first semester, students work on projects for their own design portfolio. Depending on their specialisation, they develop expertise in interaction or cross-media design. Business administration principles are also part of the curriculum – practical, future-oriented, and industry-relevant. Artificial intelligence has also become an integral part of numerous courses – both as a design tool (e.g., for text and image generation) and as a topic of discussion in the context of ethical and design issues. Further information can be found at: https://www.iu.de/bachelor/mediendesign/duales-studium/

ABOUT THE DUAL STUDY PROGRAMME AT IU

Theory meets practice: In the dual study programme at IU International University of Applied Sciences, students gain valuable professional experience in a company of their choice while studying. The split-week model alternates between practical work and lectures. The theoretical component can be completed flexibly on-site at one of the campus locations throughout Germany or online on the virtual campus. This allows them to enter the professional world while still studying. Further information is available at: https://www.iu.de/duales-studium/