© Credits: Thomas Mohn
Sometimes first encounters unexpectedly create a basis for later collaboration. This was the case when Steffi Köhler and Anna Schlottbohm met on the doorstep of the Pumpenhaus. The starting point for a deeper interest and shared understanding was a Hanseatic city in eastern Germany. Halle (Saale) in Saxony-Anhalt was an important station for both of them: Anna Schlottbohm studied media and communication science there, while Steffi Köhler completed an apprenticeship before beginning her media technology studies in Leipzig. However, their paths only crossed in 2016 at the Filmwerkstatt Münster – Steffi had just started working as a freelancer while Anna was working on her feature-length documentary film.
DIE BERKEL was made in 2017 as a Filmwerkstatt production. Anna wrote and directed the film, while Steffi was responsible for production management. During this intensive collaboration, they got to know each other not only professionally but also personally – and a close friendship grew out of this experience.
Since then, the two have worked together on various projects: they have given film workshops for children and young people, filmed together, raised their first funding for cultural events and, together with other collaborators, organised panel talks and the exhibition “Das queerfeministische WIR” as part of the Münster Film Festival. They share a passion for independent filmmaking as well as their joint cultural and political commitment in Münster and many years of media education and artistic collaboration. Always present: the motivation to make different perspectives and diversity in the film industry visible and to open up spaces for solidarity between artists and cultural workers.
“I think it’s important that the film workshop is further strengthened as a ‘workshop’, a place where young people or up-and-coming filmmakers can try things out and have the freedom to experiment,” says Anna. This has been a fundamental idea of the Filmwerkstatt Münster for 44 years. “We want to continue to strengthen up-and-coming filmmakers, support productions, make film culture visible, network with filmmakers, be active in cultural policy and sometimes be artistically uncomfortable,” says Steffi Köhler.
Anna Schlottbohm was born in Coesfeld in 1989 and studied media and communication science as well as political science at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. During her studies, she made her first short documentary films and completed Horst Herz’s documentary film masterclass at the Filmwerkstatt Münster in 2013. There she developed the material for her feature film DIE BERKEL. Since graduating, Anna has been working as a freelance filmmaker – focussing on documentary film, film education and media art.
After working at Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences and Münster University of Applied Sciences, Anna most recently worked full-time on the topic of acquiring media skills in voluntary work. Before the birth of her child in summer 2025, she was also the freelance production manager of the FLURSTÜCKE festival.
Anna has been active in various roles at Filmwerkstatt Münster since 2013 – whether as an employee, member or freelance project manager. She has been part of the board since 2021 and now manages the organisation’s business alongside Steffi Köhler
Steffi Köhler was born in Lutherstadt Wittenberg in 1986, studied media technology in Leipzig and completed a traineeship at STORY HOUSE PRODUKTIONS GMBH in Berlin. She then worked there as a post-production supervisor. Steffi has been part of the Filmwerkstatt Münster since 2016, from 2020 to 2025 she took over the co-management of the Filmwerkstatt and since 1 January 2025 she has been the head of the Filmwerkstatt together with Anna Schlottbohm.
Steffi also works as a producer and filmmaker. In 2021, she founded the film production company ANTIMAE FILM together with filmmaker Marc Pierschel. They are currently producing their feature film debut MATILDA. In 2023 she was a scholarship holder of the Mediengründerzentrum NRW with her company Antimae Film and in 2024 part of the Producer Lab of the IFF Rotterbahm. She is a member of WIFT-Germany, Pro Quote and Filmbüro NW.
