In his second music documentary, Total Thrash director Daniel Hofmann takes a cultural music journey through the Sauerland region to explore the importance of voluntary work in rural areas. The film focuses on the concept of volunteering in the cultural sector and shows unpaid work in cultural institutions and projects, such as clubs, museums, theatres and events. The aim is to both create and preserve cultural offerings and at the same time strengthen cultural diversity and infrastructure. At the heart of the voluntary work is the enormous cohesion of the individual people in order to realise common goals and visions. The film follows the 12-year history from the first to the tenth edition of the Metal Diver Festival in Marsberg.
In 2013, seven people from the Sauerland region came up with the idea of organising their own festival right on their doorstep – by 2026, the Metal Diver Festival will be known throughout Germany. An idea became a vision with a unique concept and a comprehensive network of organisers. Always at the centre of the action: the non-profit Metal Diver e.V. from Marsberg. The cultural documentary by Total Thrash director Daniel Hofmann embarks on a journey through real, lived community, fan cultures and classic clichés that only exist in the countryside. A film for all volunteers throughout Germany who share a common vision and work towards it in their free time. Ehrenamt deals with the central question of how important voluntary work really is within the German cultural landscape and how associations can work together on a cultural level.
Photos (a) Daniel Hoffmann
