Private Project

DeadEnd

Created entirely by a single filmmaker, DeadEnd follows a suicidal man who retreats to an isolated alpine cabin — only to be confronted by his own double, turning his final act into an absurd and existential battle for survival.

Ernst is an unhappy pessimist, paralyzed by his inability to make even the simplest decisions. Seeking a final escape, he drives to a secluded cottage high in the Alps, planning to end his life against the backdrop of a breathtaking mountain panorama. But every attempt fails.
Then the impossible happens.
He is confronted by a man who looks exactly like him.
Shaken to the core, Ernst tries to flee — only to discover that his car key has disappeared. Night is falling. The mountains grow darker, colder, more threatening. Trapped in isolation and overwhelmed by his own fears, Ernst is forced into a psychological and physical fight for survival.
DeadEnd is the second feature film by Otwin Biernat — a haunting exploration of identity, fear, and the struggle against oneself.

  • Otwin biernat
    Director
  • otwin biernat
    Writer
  • otwin biernat
    Producer
  • otwin biernat
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    AusWeg
  • Project Type:
    Experimental, Feature
  • Genres:
    Black comedy, Drama, Mystery
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 31 minutes 22 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 24, 2022
  • Production Budget:
    70,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Austria
  • Country of Filming:
    Austria
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Seattle Film Festival
    Seattle
    United States
  • Buenos Aires International Film Festival
  • New York Independent Film Festival
  • Belgrade International Film Festival
  • 37th Girona Film Festival
  • Bratislava Film Festival
  • Sweden Film Awards
  • Nepal Cultural International Film Festival
  • 42nd Vesuvius International Film Awards
  • We Make Movies International Film Festival
  • San Diego Independent Filmmaker Festival
  • Fortean Film Festival
  • Berlin Indie Film Festival
  • Milan Indie Film Festival
  • Madrid Film Awards
  • Antakya International Film Festival
  • Indian Independent Film Festival
  • Roshani International Film Festival
  • SCA - Los Angeles International Award
  • SCA - Barcelona International Award
  • Reels International Film Festival
  • Chambal International Film Festival
  • Caravan International Film Festival
  • Salto Independent Film Festival
  • Wallachia Int'l Film Festival

    Best Feature Movie Award
  • Aussie Gold Film Festival
  • Crown Point International Film Festival
  • Liberty Film Festival
  • Athens International Art Film Festival
  • Cine Fest Sao Jorge Sao Paolo
  • Snow Leopard Film Festival
  • Blow-Up Arthouse Filmfest · Chicago
  • Filmzen International Film Competition
  • Your Way International Film Festival
  • Roshani International Film Festival
  • Crown Wood International Film Festival
  • Buddha International Film Festival
  • Global India International Film Festival
  • Sevilla Indie Film Festival
  • Planet Cinema FIlm Festival
  • Dialog Film Festival
  • Reels International Film Festival
Distribution Information
  • Echelon Studio
    Distributor
    Country: United States
Director Biography - Otwin biernat

Otwin Biernat is an Austrian director and filmmaker born in Graz, known for his uncompromising artistic vision and multidisciplinary approach to cinema. He began his career in theatre before transitioning into filmmaking, developing a distinct voice that blends psychological depth, satire, and experimental narrative structures.
After moving to Berlin, Biernat co-directed Codewort Mr. Bean, which was selected for the Berlin International Film Festival. He later co-produced the feature film Homesick, which celebrated its world premiere at the Berlinale, further strengthening his connection to the international festival circuit.
In 2017, he completed his first feature film, Point of View, an experimental satire distinguished by its bold cinematic form, including an 80-minute uncut sequence.
His second feature, DeadEnd, marked a radical artistic statement: written, directed, shot, edited, and performed entirely by Biernat himself. The film screened at more than 70 international film festivals and received over 50 awards worldwide, establishing him as a fearless independent filmmaker with a strong personal signature.
Beyond feature films, Biernat collaborates internationally with TW Storytelling and the Conrad Hilton Foundation, filming socially engaged projects across Africa. He is also currently developing new film projects, including collaborations with actress and singer Kristina Böhm.

Über Otwin Film
Otwin Biernat ist ein österreichischer Filmemacher aus Graz, bekannt für seine kompromisslose künstlerische Handschrift und seinen interdisziplinären Zugang zum Kino. Seine Laufbahn begann im Theater, bevor er sich dem Film zuwandte und eine eigenständige Bildsprache entwickelte, die psychologische Tiefe, Satire und experimentelle Erzählformen verbindet.
Nach seinem Umzug nach Berlin wurde der von ihm mitregierte Film Codewort Mr. Bean zur Berlinale eingeladen. Zudem co-produzierte er den Spielfilm Homesick, der seine Weltpremiere ebenfalls auf der Berlinale feierte und damit seine internationale Festivalpräsenz festigte.
2017 realisierte er seinen ersten Spielfilm Point of View, eine experimentelle Satire, die durch ihre radikale Form auffiel — darunter eine 80-minütige Sequenz ohne Schnitt.
Mit seinem zweiten Spielfilm DeadEnd setzte Biernat ein außergewöhnliches künstlerisches Statement: Drehbuch, Regie, Kamera, Schnitt und Hauptrolle lagen vollständig in seiner Hand. Der Film lief auf über 70 internationalen Filmfestivals und wurde mit mehr als 50 Preisen ausgezeichnet — ein starkes Zeichen für seine eigenständige Filmsprache.
Neben seinen Spielfilmen arbeitet Biernat international mit TW Storytelling und der Conrad Hilton Foundation zusammen und filmt gesellschaftlich relevante Projekte in mehreren afrikanischen Ländern. Aktuell entwickelt er neue Filmprojekte, unter anderem in Zusammenarbeit mit der Schauspielerin und Sängerin Kristina Böhm.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

What makes AusWeg / DeadEnd so special?
DeadEnd began with a simple but radical idea: to confront both artistic and personal limits without protection.
I stripped filmmaking down to its essentials — no crew, no artificial lighting, no external sound design, no safety structure. Just a camera, a microphone, natural light, and myself. The process became an experiment in reduction: what remains when comfort disappears?
Thematically, the film deals with self-determination. Ernst, the protagonist, is paralyzed by indecision and confronted with a version of himself he cannot escape. His struggle mirrors the filmmaking process itself. As he reaches his limits, so did I.
Working alone in isolation — physically and psychologically — forced me into a state of heightened awareness. There were moments when satire and reality almost collapsed into one another. But that tension was essential. I believe that when you remove comfort, you sharpen perception. When you remove excess, you expose truth.
The Danish Dogme 95 movement influenced me deeply, not as a rulebook, but as a mindset: the courage to reduce, to risk, to trust the immediacy of the moment.
For me, cinema is not about technical perfection. It is about emotional authenticity. The audience may not see the struggle behind a film, but they can feel whether something was at stake.
DeadEnd screened at international film festivals and received many awards. Yet the true achievement was not the recognition — it was the confrontation with my own boundaries.
Cinema, like life, demands that we move forward — especially when it becomes uncomfortable.