Greatcoat Films Signs Director Klaas Diersmann
Klaas Diersmann’s work explores society’s complicated relationship with wellbeing and technology, often accompanied by a ripple of dark humour or surrealism
The YDA-winning director is a self-taught filmmaker who studied art and design before pursuing moving image. He’s made work for men’s mental health charity CALM, directed music videos and produced installations and moving image pieces for HKW (Haus Der Kulturen Der Welt) Berlin - which explores technology’s human impact. Klaas received a Silver Screen award at the 2020 Young Director Award, winning the Art Film category for Divided We Scroll - a Barbican-commissioned film that explores the bizarre effects of our screen dependence.
His work, which is often cinematic in nature, questions our reliance on data and technology, prompting bigger questions around the way society operates and the challenges it faces. He’s currently working on a script for a sci-fi TV series which tells a coming of age story set in the not too distant future.
“The first film we made with Klaas was ‘Divided We Scroll’ for the Barbican which just won the YDA for best Art Video. He needed a production company and we loved the concept, though I think watching his short ‘ZenMan In Love’ cemented the deal for me - the first romantic comedy written by a purpose-built AI program - and the AI programme is not great at writing it turns out - but fortunately, Klaas is great at directing and pulled it off. I felt like anyone who would take on a challenge like that was coming from a good place for us so we’re delighted to have him join Greatcoat’s roster.” - Simon Oxley, Greatcoat Films.
“When I joined forces with Greatcoat on a commission from The Barbican they were immediately on the same page. With a challenging timeframe and budget, and with many stakeholders, Simon, Sandra and the whole Greatcoat team really put their heart into making the film the best it could be, and I now know this is how they operate on every single project. “ - Klaas Diersmann
