Im Licht der Sandbank

In the Light of the Sands

Cinema Documentary | 75 mins. | Germany 2026

As a bird warden, Kilian spends seven months alone on a barrier island in the North Sea. His tasks are simple: monitoring wildlife and collecting flotsam. The rich birdlife, extreme weather and ever-changing landscape are conveyed both through imagery and a soundtrack of wind, rain and birdsong. Contact with others is rare, but the intrusion of the outside world is all the more striking. Whilst climate change threatens the island, messages from his relatives in war-torn Lebanon echo in the solitude. Through his slow-paced observations, the island becomes a mirror for much larger turmoil.

Director, Cinematography, Sound: Kilian Helmbrecht
Produced by: Alex Hasskerl
Editing: Maja Tennstedt
Sound Design and Mixing: Lorenz Fischer

Premiered at the 47th Max Ophuels Film Festival, Official Selection, Documentary Film Competition

Berlin permiere at the 22th Achtung Berlin Filmfestival
Sreenings:
19.04. | 12:00 am | City Kino Wedding
22.04. | 06:30 pm | fsk Kino

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