The directing duo Franziska Schönenberger and Jayakrishnan Subramanian draw inspiration from life’s flow and the stories that come their way. Jayakrishnan, born in Tamil Nadu, India, initially studied mechanical engineering, but his passion for art led him down a new path. A BA in Fine Arts from the University of Madras and a degree in Graphic Design from the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad opened up a world of creativity.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, Franziska Schönenberger — daughter of a Swiss father and a Bavarian mother—embarked on her own path. After earning an MA in Literature and Film Studies and studying directing at the University of Television and Film Munich (HFF), she found her calling in filmmaking. When their paths crossed, a creative partnership emerged, bridging cultures between India and Europe.
Jayakrishnan’s move to Weimar and his Master’s studies in Media Art at the Bauhaus University, guided by mentors like Andreas Dresen, laid the foundation for their collaboration. Their first major success, AMMA & APPA, premiered at the Berlinale, was shown in cinemas across Germany and at over 50 international festivals, and received the Starter Film Prize of the City of Munich. Supported by the Kirch Foundation, their research also inspired an art installation on Indian migrant workers, which led to the podcast series DUBAI DREAMS. Their second documentary feature, THE SHADOWS OF THE DESERT, premiered in the international competition at Dokfest Munich and the São Paulo International Film Festival and was released in German theaters in 2019.
After establishing themselves with AMMA & APPA, the duo turned more intensely to fictional short films. RETTAI JADAI – THE GIRL WITH THE RED RIBBONS and MY MIRROR were screened at numerous festivals and received prestigious awards, including a nomination for the Golden Sparrow, Best Children’s Film at the Uppsala Film Festival, the Audience Award at Filmzeit Allgäu, and two awards at Oscar-qualifying festivals: Bengaluru International Short Film Festival and Tasveer South Asian Film Festival. Both films have been shown at over 150 festivals, received the rating of "particularly valuable," and were shortlisted for the German Short Film Award in 2021.
With their first fictional screenplay, BRIDE WITHOUT DOWRY, funded by FFF Bayern, they were selected for the Coproduction Market at the NFDC Film Bazaar in Goa. Their current project, MAYA’S SONG, was chosen for the Torino Talents and Short Film Market and is also part of SPOTS, an initiative by the German Film Academy to promote film culture and democracy.
Their current projects include the romantic comedy THE SARASWATI OF ÖTTLING, a humorous culture clash between Bavaria and India; the hybrid short film INVISIBLE ROOM; and the animated hybrid film PAPER PLANE, developed with Palme d’Or winner Kalieaswari Srinivasan and presented at Berlinale Talents. They are also working on their first immersive XR experience, THE G.O.A.T., funded by FFF Bayern and produced in collaboration with the French-Indian company Trampoline Media. The duo is also preparing their feature film debut, THE FABLE OF KAMUNIAK, based on a screenplay by Yvonne Görlach and Cordula Bartelt.
Alongside their creative work, both conducts workshops on intercultural and diverse filmmaking at institutions like the HFF Munich, the Bauhaus University, and the Goethe-Institut. They also offer anti-racist film workshops for children and teenagers. Their work questions stereotypes about culture, identity, and gender roles, exploring themes of home, family, and belonging. The couple commutes between Munich and Pondicherry, hoping to continue telling stories that transcend cultural boundaries and open up new perspectives.