Experiencing Interruptions?

The Neighbor

The pensioner Mr. Kummer is desperate to attend a Christmas party of his estranged family, who have invited him by surprise. An illness slowly makes its way into his life. He himself knows nothing about it for a long time. The eternal bachelor lives a withdrawn life, but enjoys talking to the young neighbors about historical events. Unexpectedly, his brother, whom he hasn‘t seen for a long time, calls him and invites him to spend the holidays with him. A story about the loss of illusion, based on a true story.

  • Asbirg Naranjo
    Director
  • Asbirg Naranjo
    Writer
  • Asbirg Naranjo
    Producer
  • Erwin Geisler
    Key Cast
    "Rüdiger Kummer"
  • Paula Essam
    Key Cast
    "Noelia"
  • Jakob Gehrmann
    DoP
  • Jessica Schneller
    Editor
    Nackte Tiere
  • Malte Hafner
    Gaffer
  • David Nacke
    Sounddesign
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Der Nachbar
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 3, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    8,400 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Germany
  • Country of Filming:
    Germany
  • Language:
    German
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1:1,85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Long Island International Film Expo
    Bellmore, Long Island
    United States
    July 19, 2023
    World Premiere
    Award: Best International Film
  • Weyauwega Film Festival
    Weyauwega
    United States
    November 10, 2023
    Official Selection
  • Weihnachtsfilmfestival Berlin
    Berlin
    Germany
    December 23, 2023
    German Premiere
    Nominee Short Film
  • Leo´s Kino
    Leopoldshöhe
    Germany
    January 14, 2024
    Official Selection
  • WIFFEN - Women´s International Film Festival Nigeria 2024
    Abuja
    Nigeria
    West-African Premiere
    Official Selection
  • FrauenFilmTage Bielefeld
    Bielefeld
    Germany
    March 7, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Short Film Breaks
    Romania and world wide
    Romania
    February 12, 2024
    Nominee Best Mental Health Film
  • 6. Accra Indie Film Fest - AiF
    Accra
    Ghana
    July 30, 2024
    Ghana Premiere
  • Raleigh Film and Art Festival
    Raleigh
    United States
    October 4, 2024
    North Carolina Premiere
  • 3. International Diyarbakır Short Film Festival
    Diyarbakir
    Turkey
    October 20, 2024
    Turkish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Vienna International Film Awards
    Vienna
    Austria
    December 6, 2024
    Official Selection
  • Short Film Evening German Embassy Accra
    Accra
    Ghana
    December 18, 2024
  • Screen Talent Europe 2025
    Berlin
    Germany
    February 14, 2025
  • Femme Filmmakers Festival

    United Kingdom
    September 24, 2025
    Showcase Selection
Director Biography - Asbirg Naranjo

Asbirg Naranjo was born 1987 in Germany and grew up on a farm. Her journey spans continents, from Zurich to Pemba (Mozambique), London, São Paulo and Münster. Filmmaking is her compass, regardless of location. Her short films SELDA, FLORES and THE NEIGHBOR ignite fresh perspectives, evoke emotions, and liberate self-expression. THE NEIGHBOR won the Best International Film award at the 2023 Long Island International Film Expo. She holds a degree in sociology, anthropology, film and photographic studies. Her mission is simple: stir emotions, liberate voices, and let stories reshape the world.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

"THE NEIGHBOR is dedicated to people like Rüdiger. THE NEIGHBOR is there to remember Rüdiger, to get to know him at all. THE NEIGHBOR is for people, for all those people who live alone and seem to have no one, who have hardly any contact with their families, who hardly get any visitors, who have practically no help. And who then become ill.
What happens to someone then? What becomes of one?
This film is painful and powerful at the same time because it shows exactly that - and it is a homage to my Rüdiger, to my neighbour Rüdiger. I made this film for him, to set up a monument to him and someone who is absolutely invisible, invisible through and through, although he painted a thousand walls, to make him visible."

" DER NACHBAR ist für Menschen wie Rüdiger. DER NACHBAR ist dafür da sich an Rüdiger zu erinnern, ihn überhaupt kennenzulernen. DER NACHBAR ist für Menschen, für all die Menschen, die alleine leben und die scheinbar Niemanden haben, die kaum Kontakt haben zu ihren Familien, die kaum Besuch bekommen, die so gut wie keine Hilfe haben. Und die dann krank werden.
Was passiert denn dann mit Einem? Was wird aus Einem?
Dieser Film ist schmerzvoll und kraftvoll zugleich, weil er genau das zeigt - und er ist eine Hommage an meinen Rüdiger, an meinen Nachbarn Rüdiger. Für ihn habe ich diesen Film gemacht, um ihm ein Denkmal zu setzen und jemanden, der absolut unsichtbar ist, durch und durch unsichtbar, obwohl er tausend Wände angemalt hat, um ihn sichtbar zu machen."