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Busk Life

Ten years after his first documentary, Busking for Berlin, Carl Tomich is back on the streets of Berlin to explore how the city’s busking scene has changed and grown. The original film followed the rise of “Neigh Kid Horse,” a fresh face in the busking world who became a local sensation. Now, a decade later, Busk Life catches up with him and introduces new performers who’ve taken to the streets to share their art.

The film dives into the lives of these buskers, old and new, uncovering their struggles, triumphs, and what drives them to perform day after day. It also paints a picture of how the busking scene itself has evolved in Berlin, capturing the raw energy and creativity that continue to thrive in the city.

Through personal stories and street performances, Busk Life offers an honest, unpolished look at the people who bring music and art to the sidewalks, showing how much they’ve changed—and how much they’ve stayed the same.

  • Carl Phillip Tomich
    Director
    Busking for Berlin (2014)
  • Carl Phillip Tomich
    Writer
  • Carl Tomich
    Key Cast
    "Carl AKA The Neigh Kid Horse"
  • Max Buskohl
    Key Cast
  • Stephen Paul Taylor
    Key Cast
  • Zach Walscher
    Key Cast
    "Zaktakular"
  • Ruby Jean Rose
    Key Cast
  • Dimitri
    Key Cast
    "DEANisHOME"
  • Suzie Fleur
    Key Cast
  • Kelly O'Donohue
    Key Cast
  • Dorian
    Key Cast
    "Gray Contrast"
  • Georgina Fisher
    Key Cast
    Spellbinder
  • Andrew David Tomich
    Key Cast
  • Carl Tomich
    Producer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature, Web / New Media
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 18 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    December 23, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    0 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Germany
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    21:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Carl Phillip Tomich

Carl Tomich’s filmmaking journey began in 2011, capturing the raw energy of live music and band performances. This early work shaped his love for storytelling and his knack for finding emotion and humanity in real-life moments.

In 2013, Carl took a leap and moved to Berlin to make his first feature documentary, Busking for Berlin. The film followed “Neigh Kid Horse,” a young street performer navigating the city’s vibrant busking scene, and charted his rise to local fame. The documentary struck a chord for its unfiltered look at life on the streets and the passion it takes to turn art into a living.

After nearly a decade, Carl returned to Berlin with Busk Life (2024), revisiting the world of street performers to see what had changed—and what hadn’t. The film reconnects with “Neigh Kid Horse” while introducing a new wave of artists keeping Berlin’s busking culture alive. Busk Life goes deeper into the stories of its subjects, exploring the challenges, creativity, and resilience that define the scene today.

In between these two Berlin-centered projects, Carl took on an entirely different adventure with A Sail Untold (2021). The film documents his attempt to escape Australia during the COVID-19 lockdowns by setting sail, only to face unexpected challenges on the open ocean. Equal parts thrilling and personal, A Sail Untold showcased Carl’s ability to turn even his own struggles into a gripping story. - This Movie was only a youtube release

Carl Tomich’s work reflects his drive to uncover raw, honest stories. Whether it’s the grit of street performers, the chaos of a sailing misadventure, or the beauty of everyday human resilience, his films draw viewers into worlds they might otherwise overlook. Carl isn’t just a filmmaker—he’s a storyteller who lives the stories he tells.

In early December of 2024 Carl started filming his new production still the name TBD, It will feature him on a year long journey to uncover the originals of several famous and non famous martial art's forms where he will immerse himself in the culture and travel world wide to each destination and participate in the training of each art form.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When I first set out to make Busking for Berlin, I wanted to dive into the experience of becoming a busker—to understand what it’s like to step onto the streets with nothing but your art and a lot of courage. What I didn’t expect was how much I would fall in love with the project and with busking itself. After the film was finished, I kept busking, and over the years, the stories and connections that emerged stayed with me.

Now, ten years later, it felt like the right time to revisit this world. Busk Life is about exploring where the people from the first film ended up, how their lives and careers unfolded, and how the busking scene itself has evolved. From the rise of new technologies to the challenges of COVID, street performers have faced incredible changes, but their passion and resilience remain.

This sequel isn’t just a continuation of the first story—it’s a reflection on how time shapes us and the art we create. With Busk Life, I hope to show the beauty, grit, and heart of the busking community, and I can’t wait for audiences to see where this journey has taken me—and them.