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“He who jumps into the void owes no explanation to those who stand and watch.”

— Jean-Luc Godard



Axel Koenzen consults film projects in all phases of development from the initial idea through outline and script stages to post-production. He works as a script editor and visual consultant with a special focus on the conceptual storytelling approach. 


Anything that supports the writer/director’s imagination is good! Chosing the appropriate method of development often leads to an insight regarding the mechanics of the film, its poetic invention, narrative drive and movement in time and space in a given setting.

Yet, every project needs its own unique and organic process. Axel Koenzen proposes customized research techniques such as workshopping the characters with actors in an early stage, anthropological field trips or inquiring expertise from the arts and science.

Having worked as a writer, director and producer in the arthouse industry as well as in advertisement for more than twentyfive years, he offers dramaturgical expertise in various formats including documentary and fiction film as well as hybrid storytelling.

Recent references include:


ALFREDO LARON
Writer/Director: Benjamin Mirguet
Production: Rohfilm Productions
(feature film; in development)
PREPARATIONS FOR A MIRACLE
Writer/Director: Tobias Nölle
Production: hugofilm/Flare Film
(documentary; in post-production)



BERLIN CONVERSATIONS ON MENTAL HEALTH
Concept: Nassim Mehran, Margareta von Oswald
Production: Mindscapes/Wellcome Trust, London
Screened at: YOY! Care, Repair, Heal (Gropius Bau)
(visual research project; completed)


PALMARIA
Writer/Director: Frederica di Giacomo
Production: Italy (tbd)
(documentary; in development)


ALICUDI KAMMERSPIEL
Writer/Director: Corrado Sassi
Production: Italy (tbd)
(feature film; in development)

2009–2012 participant in the scriptwriting and development programs at Binger Filmlab, Torino Filmlab’s Script & Pitch and FrameWork program and CPH:Lab, gaining script editing experience with tutors such as Franz Rodenkirchen, Molly Stensgaard, David Howard, Anita Voorham, Ian Sellar and Hedi Zardi.


2018 until now, advisor at personalised test screenings of The Coproduction Office (Philippe Bober) for “The Square” (Dir. Ruben Östlund; Cannes, 2017), “Little Joe” (Dir. Jessica Hausner; Cannes, 2019), “About Endlessness” (Dir. Roy Andersson; Venice, 2019), “Il Buco” (Dir. Michelangelo Frammartino; Venice, 2021) amongst others.


For further information see CV.