Private Project

A Living Dog

The war between mankind and intelligent machines has begun - and the machines are winning. Tomasz is a deserter who tries to hide as far away from the battle as possible.
In the vast emptiness of northern Scandinavia he meets Lilja, the last survivor of a resistance group, who is determined to fight the superior machines. A scheme that unavoidably collides with Tomasz’s plan of lying low and surviving.
With every minute that passes the machines get closer, searching for the last remains of the human race. And the enemy doesn‘t just shoot on sight - their perfect sensors are programmed to detect human voice patterns. So if you speak or even whisper - you die.

  • Daniel Raboldt
    Director
    TubeHeads (Web Series), Furple Reign (Shortfilm) et al.
  • Daniel Raboldt
    Writer
    TubeHeads (Web Series), Furple Reign (Shortfilm) et al.
  • Thorsten Franzen
    Producer
    The Last Survivor (Shortfilm), Furple Reign (Shortfilm) et al.
  • Axel Ricke
    Producer
    TubeHeads (Web Series), Deus in Machina (Shortfilm) et al.
  • Daniel Raboldt
    Producer
    TubeHeads (Web Series), Furple Reign (Shortfilm) et al.
  • Stefan Ebel
    Key Cast
    "Tomasz"
  • Siri Nase
    Key Cast
    "Lilja"
    Patchwork Gangsta (Web Series), Parfum (TV Series), Soko Köln (TV Series) et al.
  • Michelle Wiesemes
    Key Cast
    "Refugee"
  • Nikolai Will
    Key Cast
    "Dr. R. Carnap"
    Der Staat gegen Fritz Bauer, Alarm für Cobra 11 (TV Series)
  • Thorsten Franzen
    Director of Photography
    The Last Survivor (Shortfilm), Furple Reign (Shortfilm) et al.
  • Nora Ebel
    Music
    The Last Survivor (Shortfilm)
  • Sebastian Tarcan
    Sounddesign and -editing
    Snowgirl (Shortfilm) et al.
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Genres:
    Sci-Fi, Action, Drama
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 34 minutes 30 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 23, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Finland, Germany
  • Language:
    English, Russian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • SciFi Film Festival
    Sydney
    Australia
    September 7, 2019
    World Premiere
    WINNER: Georges-Méliès-Award for Best Visual Effects
  • Wasteland Filmfestival
    Mojave Desert, California
    United States
    September 28, 2019
    North American Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Morbido Film Fest
    Mexico City
    Mexico
    November 3, 2019
    Official Selection
  • Morbido Merida
    Yucatan
    Mexico
    October 26, 2019
    Mexican Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Dreamers of Dreams Festival
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 14, 2019
    European Premiere
    WINNER: Best Sci-Fi Feature Film 2019
  • Berlin SciFi Filmfest
    Berlin
    Germany
    November 29, 2019
    German Premiere
    WINNER: Best Cinematography, Nominated: Outstanding German Contribution
  • Sci-Fi, Terror and Fantasy Film Festival
    Bogotá
    Colombia
    December 12, 2019
    South American Premiere
    Nominated: Best Sci-Fi Feature Film 2019 & Best Sound Design
  • Filmfestival MAX OPHÜLS Preis
    Saarbrücken
    Germany
    January 21, 2020
    MOP-Watchlist
  • SNOWDANCE Independent Film Festival
    Landsberg am Lech
    Germany
    January 27, 2020
    Nominated: Best Feature Film 2020 & Best Director (Daniel Raboldt)
  • Moody Crab Film Fest
    Moga
    India
    February 8, 2020
    Asian Premiere
    WINNER: Best Special Effects
  • New Renaissance Filmfestival
    Amsterdam
    Netherlands
    February 29, 2020
    Netherlands Premiere
    WINNER: Best SciFi Fantasy Film / Nominated: Best Feature Film, Best Actor (Stefan Ebel) & Best Actress (Siri Nase)
  • Phoenix Film Festival
    Phoenix, Arizona
    United States
    April 2, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Miami International Science Fiction Film Festival
    Miami, Florida
    United States
    April 10, 2020
    WINNER: Best SciFi Thriller & Best Supporting Actress (Siri Nase)
  • 3rd Amazing Shorts and Movies! Film Festival
    Madrid
    Spain
    January 13, 2021
    Spanish Premiere
    WINNER: Best Sound, Cinematography & Editing
  • Gold Star Movie Awards
    Newark
    United States
    February 5, 2021
    WINNER: Best Sci-Fi Feature
Distribution Information
  • Hewes Pictures LLC, New York, USA
    Sales Agent
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Daniel Raboldt

Daniel Raboldt is a german writer / director who was born in Berlin in 1978 and grew up in Celle, Germany. He studied philosophy and German literature at Cologne University while already shooting short films. Nowadays he makes a living as a writer, director, VFX artist and film lecturer in Duesseldorf, Germany. He won several international prizes for his shortfilms and the web series "TubeHeads".
"A Living Dog" is his first feature film, that he and and producer Thorsten Franzen completely financed with a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"Realism is a form of hypocrisy. We are telling stories that take place in simulated worlds. Genre films like scifi, fantasy or horror are just more honest about that."

"I wanted to make A LIVING DOG not only because I love genre films and independent films but also because I admire silent movies and the era of german expressionism. Dialogue is a great thing but I think today we hear far too much talking in movies. Actors explain the plot to each other in endless expository scenes. I didn't want that. I wanted something pure! Something you can see and feel and that keeps you on the edge of your seat."