Tristan Ferland Milewski
Biography
Tristan Ferland Milewski is a writer and director of documentaries and documentary features. In his films, he likes to sensitively dive into microcosms to reflect society on a grander scale. His work strongly revolves around the tension field between sub- and mainstream culture and questioning normativity of sexuality and gender. It has received critical acclaim in publications including The New York Times, Hollywood Reporter, Village Voice, Variety, Vice, I-D, Huffington Post, Movie Pilot, ZDF Heute, Spiegel, FAZ, Tagesspiegel, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and others.
His worldwide success feature-length documentary DREAM BOAT had its world premiere at 67. Berlinale, Section Panorama, and was shown on festivals like Sheffield Doc/Fest, DOK.fest Munich, and Outfest LA. It received international press recognition, and was listed in “The 10 best LGBTI films of 2017“ by Gay Star News, next to "Call Me by Your Name" and "God’s Own Country".
DREAM BOAT was released in cinemas in Germany, France, USA in 2017 and is internationally available on NETFLIX since December 2017.
The documentary series MAKE LOVE for public broadcasters ZDF/MDR/SWR starring sexologist and best-selling author Ann-Marlene Henning, produced by Gebrüder Beetz Filmproduktion, which he wrote and directed, was nominated for the German TV Award 2017 and the Grimme Online Award 2014. The series was running from 2013 – 2017 for five seasons.
From 1998 to 2007 Tristan Ferland Milewski did documentaries on most contemporary pop artists, like Madonna, Britney Spears, Pink, Christina Aguilera, Eminem, Marilyn Manson, Rihanna, and others. He worked as a senior producer and Head of Factual Department at MTV Networks Europe. He developed, directed and was responsible for documentary broadcast formats like "MTV Access All Areas", "MTV Diary", "Fett MTV", "MTV Fanatic", "MTV Masters", "MTV Rock am Ring" a.o. Building up the Factual Department, he developed and was Head of all self-produced documentary broadcast formats of VIVA/MTV Networks.
In 1997, he graduated in Foto-/Film-Design at the FH Dortmund with a feature length documentary and won several short film awards during his studies, one of them awarded by Christoph Schlingensief.
Moreover, he holds lectures regularly in the departments of documentary film, story development, and dramaturgy. Tristan Ferland Milewski lives with his husband, their dog, cats as well as llamas and alpacas in the Berlin region.
Film
Dreamboat, 2018
Directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
Documentary Feature
Co-produced by ZDF and ARTE
World Premiere Panorama section Berlin Intl. Film Festival 2017
Dok.fest Munich 2017: Nomination for Arri Award and Documentary Film Music Award
Theatrical releases in Germany, France, USA
On Netflix worldwide
Gay star news: listed in “the 10 best LGBT films of 2017” next to “Call me by your Name”
Make Love - One can learn how to make love, 2015-2016
Directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
starring sexologist and best-selling author Ann-Marlene Henning
Seasons 3 and 4 of Documentary series w/ 5 seasons (ZDF)
Nominated for German TV Award 2017
Make Love - One can learn how to make love, 2013-2014
Directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
starring sexologist and best-selling author Ann-Marlene Henning
Seasons 1 and 2 of Documentary series w/ 5 seasons (ZDF)
nominated for Grimme Online Award 2014
Beziehungskisten, 2013
6 documentary short films
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
ERGO insurances
Agency: Aimaq von Lobenstein
Science of Doubt, 2011
Dokumentary film
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
Concert series of artist "My Name is Claude"
Deine Waffe gegen Gewalt (Your weapon against violence
Awareness Campaign
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
BVG Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe
Agency: Bransch Europe
Head of Factual Department VIVA / MTV Networks Germany, 2005-2007
Development of the Department
Developer, Director and Head of all inhouse produced 30 - 90 min. documentaries and documentary broadcast formats
Senior Producer MTV Networks Germany, 2002-2005
Developer, Director and Chief Editor of various 30 - 90 min documentaries and documentary broadcast formats
MTV Access All Areas, MTV Masters, MTV Diary, MTV FANatic, MTV Rock am Ring, MTV Campus Invasion, MTV Weekend Stunt and others. With (selection): Rihanna, Britney Spears, Robbie Williams, Christina Aguilera, Madonna, Pink, Gwen Stefani, Kanye West, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas, Busta Rhymes, Pharrell Williams, Snoop Dogg, Marilyn Manson, Missy Elliott, Jan Delay, Die Ärzte, Die Fantastischen Vier, Eminem, Fettes Brot, Fergie, Fünf Sterne Deluxe, Freundeskreis, Herbert Grönemeyer, Kool Savas, Ludacris, Mando Diao, Xavier Naidoo, Nelly, Dirk Nowitzki, Outkast, Peaches, Run DMC, Samy Deluxe, Sabrina Setlur, Silbermond, Xzibit, Wir sind Helden, Xzibit, 2Raumwohnung a.o.
Kool Savas feat. Lumidee – „Die Besten Tage Sind Gezählt“, 2004
Music video
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Kool Savas - "Optische Begebenheiten", 2003
Documentary film
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Kool Savas – „Bitte Spitte“
Music video
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
Sony BMG Music Entertainment
Producer MTV Networks Germany, 2000-2002
Developer, Director and Producer of broadcast formats Fett MTV and MTV Access All Areas
with (selection): Eminem, Dr. DRE, Pharrell Williams, Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliott, Xzibit, Outkast, Jan Delay, Black Eyed Peas, Mobb Deep, Kool Savas, Fettes Brot, Samy Deluxe, Deichkind u.a.
JUICE AWARD (Best broadcast format) for Fett MTV
Producer MTV Networks Europe, London, 1998-1999
Developer, Director and Producer of
MTV Millennium Moments, documentary series on 17 years of music history
Diverse Awareness Campaigns
Da Geht Einiges, 1997-1998
Documentary film on the HipHop movement in Germany
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
with Kool Savas, Freundeskreis, Die Fantastischen Vier, Samy Deluxe, Fettes Brot, Fünf Sterne Deluxe, Massive Töne, Eins Zwo, Die Firma, Flying Steps and others
Lee Buddah - „Manchmal Ist sie seltsam“, 1997
Music video, 4 mins
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
„Felix" and "Fu“, 1996-1997
Documentary films
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
shown on ARTE and various contemporary art galleries
„UFOs über Dortmund“ / "Flying Saucers over Dortmund", 1994
Mockumentary
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski
Screenings at international short film festivals
„Manchmal“ ("Sometimes"), 1993
Short film
Written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski and Tanja Steiding
screened on VOX, VIVA, SFN
Lilo Wanders Award, 1995, awarded by Christoph Schlingensief
Off Broadway Award, 1995
Ex-Ground On Screen Award, 1994
Screenings at international short film festivals
DOCUMENTARY FILM
DREAM BOAT
A cruise ship and 3.000 men: a universe that usually remains a mystery to the outside world. Once a year the "DREAM BOAT" sets sail on a cruise exclusively for gay men where most passengers are united by the wish to live and love authentically as themselves in a protected place. The countdown is on. Seven days of hunting for freedom, love and happiness under the southern sun are about to begin. But once on board, personal stories and hidden pasts find their way to the surface … With heart und humor, the film follows five men from five countries on the quest for their dreams, far from family, social, and political restrictions. The passengers come from 89 nations. For many of them, it is dangerous to live openly in their home countries. For months, they have been eagerly awaiting this journey. Now, bodies are pumped and suitcases are filled with push-up swimwear and glamorous costumes. Sun, sea, naked skin and a lot of testosterone stoke the vibes. Day and night, time and space melt with the rhythm of party music. But along this dreamy journey, above all, the five men are confronted with themselves and some feel it can also be quite lonely despite being surrounded by 3.000 potential future partners. Thus, the blissful cruise unexpectedly becomes a soul-searching experience—a voyage to the depths of emotion on the wide open seas.
How many hopes will the DREAM BOAT fulfill?
World Premiere: Panorama Section at Berlin International Film Festival 2017
__________
"The true genius of Milewski’s film lies in the way he singlehandedly destroys the differences that we think divide the heterosexual experience from those of the members of the LGBT community. In Dream Boat he shows us once and for all that each of us needs, craves and wants the same thing: Someone to love us, for exactly who we are."
Huffington Post
"Ultimately, love is love. Anyone who wishes to be reminded of this beautiful fact in all its glory needs to look no further than Milewski's stunning documentary."
Movie Pilot
"A film that restores your faith in cinema."
Screen Anarchy
"Far from being a simple depiction of the gay community, Dream Boat offers the metonymy of a world devoured by capitalism, to the limit of its most intimate consequences."
I-D Vice
"Bizarre, funny, touching. [...] A cruise as a social utopia. A film that touches the heart.
ZDF Heute
"Dream Boat is to be seen and to be shown. More than a documentary, it’s a document that we will dig out in ten or a hundred years."
Garcon Magazine
DOCUMENTARY SERIES
MAKE LOVE
5-part documentary series written and directed by Tristan Ferland Milewski starring sexologist and best-selling author Ann-Marlene Henning.
In our allegedly enlightened society where sex is omnipresent in the public sphere, the true taboos are the silence, insecurities and knowledge gaps within our private relationships. The documentary series MAKE LOVE takes us into the authentic and individual realities of different persons between the ages of 20 and 100 alongside sexologist, couple therapist and best selling author Ann-Marlene Henning. Her expertise, tact and exhilarant naturalness allow Ann-Marlene Henning to help the couples (and us) break the silence.
While interacting with Ann-Marlene Henning, the partners learn to really perceive themselves and their significant other, thus finding true intimacy. With the help of real couples, MAKE LOVE additionally shows many lesser known facts about good sex, regardless of gender and sexual orientation.
Nominated for the German TV Award 2017 and Grimme Online Award 2014
__________
"Explicit without being pornographic; empathetic without being presumptuous; always funny, never embarrassing. A voice like this has been missing in the public debate…"
Stern
"One of the bravest and most provocative German productions since a very long time."
Focus
"Make Love, not Volksmusik - open-minded, serious, unrivalled [...] The first episode, which just aired, avoids all kinkiness, greasiness, sleaziness that could be inherent to this subject."
Tagesspiegel
"Yes, you need to be brave to do this kind of format. It's good that broadcaster was brave. And it's good that the broadcaster worked with the right people."
Zeit