Schöpflin Stiftung
CV / Christian Slezak
My journey.
Many perspectives.
Film, photography and lighting design have interested me since childhood. These interests have grown into a career that connects creative production, technology and working with people.
Professional experience
Professional roles and activities pursued alongside them. Expand each section to explore individual projects and credits.
Schulterblick Film festival
Festival director · Freelance
Freelance director of the 2026 Schulterblick Filmfestival in Berlin.
Projects & roles in detail 1 entry
2026
- Schulterblick Filmfestival 2026, Berlin (festival director)
Media competence centre Berlin Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
Leadership & project management
Events, media projects and street festivals, including concept development, planning, budgeting and resource coordination. Founder and director of the Schulterblick children's and youth film festival, including its accompanying live broadcast.
Projects & roles in detail 8 entries
2025
- Schulterblick Filmfestival, Berlin (festival director)
- Charlottenburg street festival, Berlin (event planning)
2024
- Schulterblick Filmfestival, Berlin (festival director)
- Bettermakers Filmfestival, Hamburg (jury member)
2023
- Schulterblick Filmfestival, Berlin (festival director)
2022
- Schulterblick Filmfestival, Berlin (festival director)
2021
- Schulterblick Filmfestival, Berlin (festival director)
2020
- Schulterblick Filmfestival, Berlin (festival director)
Imagion AG
Agile Coach
Analysis of processes and workflows, with coaching on innovation, digitalisation, transformation and optimisation.
Optimal Media / Press9
iTunes operator & technical manager
Agile project management, new processes and workflows, IT specifications, technical support, workshops and client communication.
Projects & roles in detail 3 entries
2019
- Works council member at Optimal Media GmbH, Berlin
2018
- Works council member at Optimal Media GmbH, Berlin
2016
- iTunes operator – Press9 Media Solutions, Berlin
Film4Two & other productions
Film production & location management
My own productions and work with other teams: commercials, corporate films, music videos, documentaries, short films and live broadcasts. Some projects ran alongside my other professional roles.
Film projects by year 157 entries
20261 project
- TV film "2 Nummern zu groß", SWR / FFL Ludwigsburg (location management)
20251 project
- Feature film "Heimsuchung", Ziegler Film, Brandenburg (location management)
20231 project
- Series "Sexuell Verfügbar" ARD, Berlin (location management)
202212 projects
- Live broadcast for "Marcel Ostertag Runway Show", Berlin (camera)
- Live broadcast for "Tado° GmbH" auf der IFA Berlin (camera)
- Video streaming platform for "Deutsche Baumpflegetage" (concept & development)
- Series "Vernau" ZDF, Berlin (location management)
- Live broadcast for "Kompetenznetz Einsamkeit", Berlin (directing)
- Live broadcast for "ELES", Munich (camera)
- Feature film "19:04", Brandenburg (location management)
- Corporate video for "Nebenan.de", Berlin (camera)
- Live broadcast for "ANCB", Berlin (camera)
- Event & Live broadcast: "Aktionswochen gegen Rassismus", Berlin (directing)
- Live broadcast "Mad About Dugnad", Berlin (vision mixing)
- Live broadcast "Kompetenznetz Einsamkeit", Berlin (vision mixing)
202112 projects
- Live broadcast "Erinnerungskultur...", Heidelberg (vision mixing)
- Live broadcast "Deutscher Nachbarschaftspreis", Berlin (vision mixing)
- Instructional videos for "Fahrlehrer24", Berlin (directing)
- Series "SAFE" ZDFneo, Berlin (location management)
- Series "KaDeWe" ARD, Berlin (location management)
- Series of live broadcasts "Women in Architecture", Berlin (vision mixing)
- Live broadcast "Crowdfunding Contest: MITWIRKEN", Frankfurt a.M. (camera)
- Commercial for "TP-Link", Berlin (gaffer)
- Series "Mein Freund, das Ekel" ZDF, Berlin (location management)
- International live broadcast "Poly Urban Waters Conference", Berlin (vision mixing)
- Live broadcast "Aktionswochen gegen Rassismus", Berlin (directing)
- Series of live broadcasts "The Aedes Metropolitan Laboratory", Berlin (camera)
202010 projects
- Series "Mein Freund, das Ekel" ZDF, Berlin (location management)
- "Films for the Earth" Film festival, Basel (photography)
- Awards ceremony "Deutscher Schauspielpreis 2020", Berlin (assistant director)
- Live broadcast "The Aedes Metropolitan Laboratory", Berlin (camera)
- Promotional film "Sorgearbeit FairTeilen", Berlin (camera)
- Corporate film "elinor.network", Fulda (producer)
- Documentary series "Living in the Future", Berlin (production coordination)
- Cooking video series for "Lidl", Berlin (gaffer)
- Web design: www.sarah-sophia.com
- Web design: www.zille54.de
20199 projects
- Commercial "Mercedes eSports - Into the Spotlight again", Berlin (gaffer)
- Documentary series "Living in the Future", Mosel (production coordination)
- Artist portrait "Gitta Weigl", Regensburg (camera & editing)
- Artist portrait "Marcus Weigl", Regensburg (camera & editing)
- Corporate film "OBI Machbar Macher", Berlin (editing)
- Award-winning cinema commercial "Wir sind Zukunft", Dresden (gaffer)
- Feature film "Fegt uns Weg", Hildesheim (gaffer)
- Video installation "Denial", Hannover (gaffer)
- Web design: www.marcus-weigl.de
20189 projects
- Corporate film for "OBI" (producer)
- Feature film "Heroes and Cowards" (production manager, Berlin)
- Corporate film "Wikimedia - GLAM on Tour" (camera)
- Corporate film for "VRXcity", Berlin (directing)
- Case study "T-Systems", AWS Summit 2018, Berlin (camera)
- Case study "Check24", AWS Summit 2018, Berlin (camera)
- Case study "Zalando", AWS Summit 2018, Berlin (camera)
- Case study "Ströer", AWS Summit 2018, Berlin (camera)
- Web design: www.press9.de
201713 projects
- Commercial: "Nike & Flying Steps", Berlin (gaffer)
- TV commercial: "Watchbox" RTL, Berlin (gaffer)
- Corporate film: "OBI Raumplaner", Berlin (directing)
- Commercial: "Brake Force One: Go Flynn", Berlin (gaffer)
- Corporate film: "OBI Bad Planer", Berlin (editing)
- Corporate film: "OBI Gartenplaner", Berlin (directing)
- Music video: "Zugezogen Maskulin - Was für eine Zeit", Berlin (gaffer)
- Corporate film: "Boston Consulting Group", Berlin (directing)
- Music video: "Elif - Anlauf Nehmen", Berlin (gaffer)
- "Amazon Web Services Summit 2017", Berlin (camera)
- Case study "Fraunhofer Institut", AWS Summit 2017, Berlin (camera)
- Case study "Hellofresh", AWS Summit 2017, Berlin (camera)
- Promotional film: Mike David Ortmann, GT Masters (AOK), Lausitzring (director)
20169 projects
- Corporate film: "OBI Macher", Berlin (directing)
- Corporate videos: "Klassik Echo 2016", Berlin (directing)
- Video clips: "Stifterverband", Berlin (camera & editing)
- Corporate film: Quo Vadis Game Developer Conference, Berlin (production)
- "Amazon Web Services Summit 2016", Berlin (camera crane)
- Corporate film: "Integralis Akademie", Rahden (production)
- Corporate film: "SKP Sparkasse", Berlin (1st assistant camera)
- Documentary: "Wissensregion Bremen" (editing)
- Fundraising video: "Velocate", Berlin (1st assistant camera)
201514 projects
- Short film "Hooked", Berlin (directing)
- Promotional film "biond", Kassel (directing)
- Feature film "Skysharks", Braunschweig (1st assistant camera)
- Feature film "5 Frauen", France (unit management)
- Promotional film "AOK Familiensporttag 2015", Berlin (production)
- FFP FX Promotional film, Berlin (production)
- Spec commercials for Salamander Productions, Berlin (gaffer)
- Promotional film "AOK Benefizspiel", Berlin (camera)
- Promotional film "Amazon AWS - Tado Case Studies 2015", Berlin (1st assistant camera)
- Promotional film "AOK Bundespokal", Berlin (camera)
- ZDF-TV film "Der Patriarch", Berlin (unit management)
- Promotional film "Quo Vadis - Game Developer Conference", Berlin (production)
- Promotional film "Pay Pal Plus", Berlin (directing)
- Commercial "Mercedes Benz Sales Funnel", Berlin (gaffer)
201417 projects
- Short film "Lupus Perditus" , Berlin (directing)
- Adidas commercial – Hawkins&Cross, Berlin (1st assistant camera)
- Music video "Femme Schmidt - Kill me", Berlin (lighting technician)
- Short film "Tropos Sois", Crete (directing & camera)
- Video for Alexander Baumjohann, HERTHA BSC, Berlin (1st assistant camera)
- Commercial "Deutsche Eigenheim", Berlin (gaffer)
- Live TV programme "U18 Wahl", Berlin (gaffer)
- Video "The Dark Tenor" for Universal/RTL, Leipzig (lighting technician)
- Documentary "Wächter am Watt", Norderney (directing)
- Music video "Adesse feat. Sido - Elektrisch", Berlin (lighting technician)
- Documentary "65 Jahre SOS Kinderdörfer", Austria (sound)
- News for "France24", Königsbronn (sound)
- Promotional film for AOK, Berlin (director & editor)
- Short film „Zwiebelsuppe“, Berlin (directing)
- Author portrait "Mara Stadick", Potsdam (camera)
- Promotional clips for "ffp fx", Berlin (camera)
- Promotional film "AOK-Traditionsmasters 2014", Berlin (producer)
201314 projects
- Music video "Heinrich - Lieber allein", Berlin (gaffer)
- Documentary "Soner – Gangster mit Herz", Berlin (directing)
- Feature film "Die glorreichen Sieben Reloaded", Spain (1st assistant camera, second unit)
- Circus Halligalli (Pro7) "Akte Rojinski", Berlin (gaffer)
- Promotional film for die AOK, Berlin (camera & editing)
- Music video "Halt den Ball flach", Berlin (gaffer)
- Short film "Darwin" - dffb, Berlin (best boy electric)
- Promotional film for "biond - Essen fürs Leben", Hesse (producer & director)
- Music video for Michael McGraw, Berlin (gaffer)
- Promotional film for B/S/H Berlin (1st assistant camera)
- Trailer for the International Film Awards Berlin (1st assistant camera)
- Feature film "Psed Zurjami", Cottbus (gaffer)
- Short film "The Saviour", Berlin (second-unit gaffer)
- Short film "Hinter dünnen Wänden", Berlin (gaffer)
201214 projects
- Feature film "World of Leem", Berlin (unit management)
- Documentary "Street Light - Das Musical", Berlin (grip)
- Feature film "Kilian", Munich (unit management)
- 4 music videos for "PUR", Berlin (lighting technician)
- Promotional film "Ideen hoch3", Freudenberg (directing & camera)
- Feature film "Offline", Brandenburg (1st assistant camera)
- Feature film "Anna & Modern Day Slavery", Poland (gaffer)
- Promotional film for "SOS-Kinderdörfer", Austria (sound)
- Short film "Gott und die Welt", Munich (1st assistant camera)
- Commercial for "KlimaschutzPlus Stiftung", Berlin (directing)
- Commercial for BMW Brand Protection, Munich (1st assistant director)
- Short film "Les Regrets", Berlin (camera)
- Short film "Antharys", Berlin & the Harz (grip)
- Short film "Zack", Berlin (gaffer)
20115 projects
- Short film "Morgenröte", Berlin (lighting technician)
- Short film "Erfolgsrezept", Berlin (lighting technician)
- Feature film "Judengasse", Bavaria Studios Munich (1st assistant director)
- Short film "Die Welt Nebenan", Berlin (screenplay & directing)
- Promotional film „ICLEI – Resilient Cities 2011“, Bonn (directing)
20109 projects
- Founded the film production company Film4Two in Berlin.
- Promotional film for "Jugendsymposion Kassel" (director)
- Feature film "Blackout", Munich (1st assistant director)
- Documentary "The Youth Future Project", Bonn (directing)
- Short film "Blaue Stunde", Berlin (1st assistant director)
- Feature film "Lady Europa", Berlin (1st assistant camera)
- Short film "Ein Tag im Leben..." (1st assistant director)
- Documentary "Nepal - Menschen & Religion" (camera & directing)
- Documentary "The Annapurna Circuit", Nepal (camera & directing)
20062 projects
- Short film "A LA CARTE", Kassel (directing)
- Directing, editing and camera work on youth film projects in Kassel, funded by the Aktion Mensch lottery.
20052 projects
- Founded the film production company JCM Productions in Kassel.
- Camera work for Virtual Nights in Kassel
20042 projects
- Short film "Die Beichte", Kassel (1st assistant director)
- Feature film "Auf zwei Rädern", Kassel (production & directing)
20031 project
- Lighting design for various theatre stages in Kassel
Shanghai Film Art Academy & Renmin University, Beijing
Guest lecturer & speaker
Screenwriting and film financing.
Projects & roles in detail 2 entries
2016
- Guest lecturer at Shanghai Film Art Academy: screenwriting
- Guest lecturer at Renmin University, Beijing: film financing
Lighting & event technology
Event technology
Stage construction, lighting and sound for major events, concerts and live shows.
Projects & roles in detail 6 entries
2011–2015
Konzept Freiraum
- Christmas decorations at Potsdamer Platz Arkaden (installation & dismantling)
- Travelling exhibition “Robots” in Germany & Poland
- Berlin International Film Festival (installation & dismantling)
- Easter decorations at Potsdamer Platz Arkaden (installation & dismantling)
- Berlin Wall exhibition at Potsdamer Platz Arkaden (installation & dismantling)
2011–2014
- Event technician at "Black Box Music"
Youth Future Project e. V.
Head of PR & Marketing
Head of PR and marketing for the Youth Future Conference in Bonn, working with the Right Livelihood Award and its laureates. Concept development and production of daily live broadcasts, a conference film and other media.
Film & journalism
Early professional roles
Work in film production and online journalism in Germany, New Zealand and Australia.
Projects & roles in detail 3 entries
2009
- Colortape Videoproductions, Perth, Australia (2008–2009) · Produced two short films and planned, designed and built a 6-metre camera crane with a remote-controlled camera head and camera dolly; both films screened at the Mardi Gras Film Festival in Sydney.
2008
- Pacifica Productions, Auckland, New Zealand (2007–2008) · Camera, directing and editing assistant on a report about killer whales for “W wie Wissen” (ARD), and other documentaries about Asia and Micronesia.
2007
- Hessische/Niedersächsische Allgemeine, Kassel · Set up the online video newsroom and trained staff; presented, filmed and edited news, reports and live broadcasts.
Education & further training
Qualifications and ongoing professional and personal development.
Education & further training
Learning & personal development
Education and further training alongside my professional work. In 2025 and 2026, I completed two separate 200-hour yoga teacher training programmes at Durga’s Tiger School in Quito, Ecuador.
Projects & roles in detail 15 entries
2026
- Durga's Tiger School, Quito, Ecuador (200-hour yoga teacher training)
2025
- RSA21 certification (bbfc + RSA GmbH)
- Durga's Tiger School, Quito (200-hour yoga teacher training)
- Completed training in couples and sex therapy at the Institut für Beziehungsdynamik, Berlin
- First aid training
2024
- Qualified as a Heilpraktiker for psychotherapy under German law
- Couples and sex therapy training at the Institut für Beziehungsdynamik
2023
- NLP Practitioner training with Chris Mulzer, Berlin
- Heilpraktiker for psychotherapy training with Thomas Rehork, Berlin
- Couples and sex therapy training at the Institut für Beziehungsdynamik
- Various personal development workshops in Thailand & Sri Lanka
- First aid training
2020
- Further training as Chief Digital Officer, Agile Project Manager, Professional Scrum Master (PSM I) and Certified Product Owner (PSPO I)
2018
- Poco Institut: further training in labour law and works constitution law
2014
- Acting coaching and classes at Die Tankstelle
Dekra Hochschule Berlin
Film & television directing
Degree: Bachelor of Arts.
Apprenticeship & school
Industrial mechanic & university entrance qualification
Apprenticeship in mechanical and systems engineering; German Abitur in 2006.
Projects & roles in detail 2 entries
2007
- Qualified as an industrial mechanic in mechanical and systems engineering
2006
- German Abitur at Waldorfschule Kassel
Internships
An introduction to theatre lighting and the work of a film festival.
Early practical experience
Internships
Practical experience in stage lighting and festival operations at Staatstheater Kassel and Interfilm Festival Berlin.
Projects & roles in detail 2 entries
2010
- Interfilm Festival, Berlin · Film projection and technical support
2003
- Staatstheater Kassel · Internship in the lighting department
Companies & projects founded
Companies and projects I have helped establish.
My own initiatives
Founding companies & projects
I have founded several companies and projects, including JCM Productions, Film4Two, the multimedia climate project Climate Sailor and mindleap.works UG, which is no longer operating.
Projects & roles in detail 4 entries
2025
- Founded mindleap.works UG in Berlin (no longer operating)
2019
- Founded the multimedia climate project "Climate Sailor"
2010
- Founded the film production company Film4Two in Berlin
2005
- Founded the film production company JCM Productions in Kassel.
International experience & travel
Social care, encounters and practical experience while travelling.
International experience & travel
Social care, travel & film
Civilian service in a Camphill community in Auckland, work with international film productions, and travel through Australia and Asia.
Projects & roles in detail 19 entries
2026
- Travel in South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and the USA
2025
- Travel in Ecuador & Morocco
2024
- Travel in Boston, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, USA
- Forestry and carpentry work in southern Germany
2023
- Travel through Sri Lanka and Thailand
- Off-road motorcycle trip through the Pyrenees
- Forestry work in southern Germany
2019
- Motorcycle trip through Croatia
- Sailing near Gibraltar & Ceuta
2018
- Travel through Ecuador and Peru
2010
- Travel in Australia, Nepal, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore
2009
- Short film "Running", Perth (producer)
- Short film "The Boinging", Perth (lighting technician)
- Backpacking in Australia: work as a cowboy, dishwasher and farm worker
2008
- Documentary about backpackers in Australia (director & camera)
- Backpacking in Australia: work in construction, sales and deep-sea fishing
- Travel to Fiji
- Civilian service in a Camphill community in Auckland, New Zealand
2007
- Civilian service in a Camphill community in Auckland, New Zealand
Press
Newspaper clippings from my archive: early film projects, my work at the HNA newspaper and reports on documentaries.
Explore the press archive · 8 articles ↗