What’s your favourite film of the year? Here’s why we asked Jonas Poher Rasmussen

Jonas Poher Rasmussen is a German filmmaker/animator. In 2014, he and his partner Micha Ribeiro won first place in the Pixar Animation Competition for an animated short film which is being turned into a full-length feature film.

Jonas is currently working on a film and document collection about founder of the Neo-Nazi group National Democratic Party of Germany (NPD) Beatrix Finkbeiner, whose aggressive radical-right-wing political views and armed criminal exploits were partly inspired by Jon’s own “To be a Brown Boy.”

For this movie, in which Jonas narrates about his latest film project – a one-hour animated short film based on the story of a young girl in Germany who flees the Nazis – can you tell us a little about Jonas and his background?

I was born in Bayreuth in 1968. From childhood, I was a bit (and still sometimes am) a self-centred narcissistic individual who often exhibits restless and self-important impulses.

After five years of study in the art classes department at the Humboldt University in Berlin, I decided to enter a gifted liberal arts program in French, German and culture.

I applied to Berlin’s fine arts school and got in. Then, I graduated with my masters in 2005 with a degree in literature, communications and film.

Shortly after, I was hired to freelance by media and film production companies. My writing and editing were spread among these companies, but I have always done video assignments.

In the last 15 years, I’ve produced documentary, animation and music videos, with my own ideas and offers.

You are inspired by the stories around you – and most people seem to gravitate towards extreme views to protect themselves. How do you understand your current political situation in Germany?

I live in a community filled with different political opinions. Not only on the left, but also on the right, regarding tax, culture, technology, climate change.

Several years ago, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, I don’t think you can categorize people based on the dogma from their religion, political views or gender.

It’s a highly subjective environment, and for me it’s very important to observe a reasonable perspective – not to be completely rude or provocative. This approach doesn’t conflict with one’s ideological beliefs, but it really helps to discover and gain perspective.

In the case of my contribution to the Borris movie, it’s about a person who has to fight against a globalized, globalized financial system.

When you’ve grown up, you have to assume that what your parents did or don’t do is not your business.

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