Jan Tenhaven - Documentary Filmmaker
AUTOLAND – AN OBSESSION MADE IN GERMANY
AMERICA 2024 – THE IRRECONCILABLES (CLAN WARFARE)
SCHOCK SCHALOM – YOUNG, JEWISH, NOW
ARD Documentary: Medicine of Tomorrow
Price fighters / Life on the Polish Market
Adam & Ida
HEY, I AM A JEW!
4 WALLS BERLIN
BERLIN CLEANS! DIRTY TIMES
COLOURFUL GERMANY
SILICON VALLEY REVOLUTION – HOW A FEW NERDS DID CHANGE THE WORLD
BERLIN AND BRANDENBURG FROM ABOVE
PRETTY UGLY
IRELAND: THREE SHADES OF GREEN
AUTUMN GOLD
“What kind of films do you make?”
“Actually about everything what fascinates me.”
“So, any focus?”
“No. history, culture, travel, politics, science. Somehow everything.”
“No focus?”
(Pause) “Actually it’s always about humans.”
“Ah. So, portraits?”
“No, not necessarily. But in the end it’s always about humans, right?”
“And are these reports or docs or?”
“Everything. It depends”
“Documentaries?”
“Yeah, as well.”
“I prefer those. Actually we’re only watching Arte and stuff like that at home.”
“Aha.”
“So, what are you doing exactly?”
TV premiere for KRAFTFAHRZEUG
12th December 2024 By Jan Tenhaven
After years of development and financing, and an intense period of filming and editing, I’m very excited about the television premiere of my new documentary film KRAFTFAHRZEUG – EINE DEUTSCHE LIEBE (Autoland – An Obsession Made in Germany): 09.09.2025, 23:25, ARD and Online.
In this 90-minute film, I explore the question of why Germans’ passion for cars remains unbroken. To do so, we filmed with car enthusiasts and critics, showcasing the work of designers, engineers, and influencers. With striking visuals and many engaging interviewees, we paint a vivid and fascinating portrait of Germany as a nation of cars.
The film is a co-production by Hoferichter & Jacobs Filmproduktion with NDR, SWR, and MDR for ARD, supported by Nordmedia and MFG Filmförderung.
Nomination for SCHOCK SCHALOM
23rd November 2024 By Jan Tenhaven
I am delighted that my film SCHOCK SCHALOM has been nominated for the DAFFNE 2025 in the TV Journalism category.
The German Academy for Television (DAfF) awards the DAFFNE annually for outstanding achievements in television – in 21 categories, from acting and directing to make-up, sound design, stunts and special effects. Because television is always teamwork! Click here for our complete staff list. The decisions as to which of the nominees will be presented with a DAFFNE in February will not be made by a jury, but by all 800 members of the Academy. It will be exciting!
THE IRRECONCILABLES
2nd October 2024 By Jan Tenhaven
My colleague Jens Strohschnieder and I travelled to the USA four times during this very special election year. Will there be a comeback for Donald Trump? What concerned us more was how ordinary people are faring. What are their hopes and fears? This is America beyond the headlines. We filmed in rural Missouri and New York City, in a struggling industrial town and glittering Las Vegas, at the Mexican border and in San Francisco. It was an intense shoot, as we quickly navigated the stark contrasts between the states, meeting many very different people. Of course, even this long-term documentary can only begin to capture the complexity of the United States, a country no longer united. But we gave it our best shot. AMERICA 2024 – THE IRRECONCILABLES. From 22 October on arte.
