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 The eternal bachelor lives a withdrawn life, but enjoys talking to the young neighbors about historical events.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.
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Asbirg NaranjoDirector
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Asbirg NaranjoWriter
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Asbirg NaranjoProducer
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Erwin GeislerKey Cast"Rüdiger Kummer"
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Paula EssamKey Cast"Noelia"
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Jakob GehrmannDoP
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Jessica SchnellerEditorNackte Tiere
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Malte HafnerGaffer
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David NackeSounddesign
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Project Title (Original Language):Der Nachbar
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Project Type:Short
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Runtime:15 minutes
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Completion Date:April 3, 2023
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Production Budget:8,400 EUR
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Country of Origin:Germany
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Country of Filming:Germany
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Language:German
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:1:1,85
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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Long Island International Film ExpoBellmore, Long Island
United States
July 19, 2023
World Premiere
Award: Best International Film -
Weyauwega Film FestivalWeyauwega
United States
November 10, 2023
Official Selection -
Weihnachtsfilmfestival BerlinBerlin
Germany
December 23, 2023
German Premiere
Nominee Short Film -
Leo´s KinoLeopoldshöhe
Germany
January 14, 2024
Official Selection -
WIFFEN - Women´s International Film Festival Nigeria 2024Abuja
Nigeria
West-African Premiere
Official Selection -
FrauenFilmTage BielefeldBielefeld
Germany
March 7, 2024
Official Selection -
Short Film BreaksRomania and world wide
Romania
February 12, 2024
Nominee Best Mental Health Film -
6. Accra Indie Film Fest - AiFAccra
Ghana
July 30, 2024
Ghana Premiere -
Raleigh Film and Art FestivalRaleigh
United States
October 4, 2024
North Carolina Premiere -
3. International Diyarbakır Short Film FestivalDiyarbakir
Turkey
October 20, 2024
Turkish Premiere
Official Selection -
Vienna International Film AwardsVienna
Austria
December 6, 2024
Official Selection -
Short Film Evening German Embassy AccraAccra
Ghana
December 18, 2024 -
Screen Talent Europe 2025Berlin
Germany
February 14, 2025 -
Femme Filmmakers Festival
United Kingdom
September 24, 2025
Showcase Selection
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.
"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."