Experiencing Interruptions?

Heartware

After his colleague self-destructs by eating ice cream, android Clu tries to process his emotions.

  • Leander Behal
    Director
    Taximan
  • Jan Lamprecht
    Writer
    The Mime
  • Sabina Stöckler
    Producer
  • Lee Reimers
    Key Cast
    "Clu"
    Taximan
  • Marion Barten
    Key Cast
  • Leon Golz
    Director of Photography
    Fool
  • Sarah Hofmann
    Editor
    Ich habe so blaue Augen
  • Peter Albrecht
    Music
    15 Minuten
  • Jan-Eric Heitland
    Sound Designer
  • Elias Gürtler
    Sound Designer
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Heartware
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    June 1, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    6,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Germany
  • Language:
    German
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
  • 58th Hof International Film Festival
    Hof
    Germany
    October 23, 2024
    World Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Watersprite Film Festival
    Cambridge
    United Kingdom
    March 7, 2025
    UK Premiere
    Best Production Design (winner) & Best Sound Design (nominated)
  • Sunderland Shorts Film Festival
    Sunderland
    United Kingdom
    May 17, 2025
    North East UK Premiere
    Official Selection
  • 30th Filmschau Baden-Württemberg
    Stuttgart
    Germany
    December 8, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Blende Eins - Shortfilmfest Wilhelmshaven
    Wilhelmshaven
    Germany
    November 16, 2024
    Audience Award
  • 37. [ki'ta:so]-Filmabend
    Erlangen
    Germany
    January 27, 2025
    Official Selection
  • IM KASTEN
    Darmstadt
    Germany
    April 10, 2025
    Official Selection
Distribution Information
  • Filmakademie Baden-Wuerttemberg GmbH
    Sales Agent
    Country: Germany
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Leander Behal

Leander Behal (b. 1998 in Berlin, Germany) is a director with a penchant for surrealism, magical realism and dark humor. He currently studies Directing Fiction under the tutelage of Maren Ade ("Toni Erdmann") at the Filmakademie Baden-Würtemberg.

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Director Statement

"Heartware" tells the story of Clu. An android who, after the tragic loss of his work colleague, suddenly has to deal with something completely unexpected: Grief. Androids are not supposed to "feel", and yet Clu does. The plot centers around Clu's quest to supress these unwanted emotions. A habit that all humans have to some extent. Suppressing our feelings allows us to 'function'. But life is about more than just 'functioning'.
At its core, "Heartware" can be understood as a metaphor for the way we as humans deal - or choose not to deal - with our emotions. A dangerous game, as we demonstrate in our film.