Santa's Secretary

Based on the classic 19th century tale by German writer/composer E.T.A. Hoffmann, the film investigates the tale's themes of obsession and madness, emphasizing expressionist imagery and theatrical style. The story relates the life of the young student Nathanael, whose childhood memories are haunted by a sinister man. As a child, Nathanael believed this dark figure to be the mythic Sandman, who puts children to sleep by stealing their eyes. When confronted by this same evil presence as an adult, he is pushed toward madness as he tries to confront his childhood fears.

Silvia, a successful architect and single mother of nine-year-old Marc, is about to marry her colleague Rolf. Just now, after years of silence, Marc's father Ricardo, a rich South American entrepreneur's son, shows up.

Barbara Herzog has managed the traditional Maibach paper mill since the death of her father. The respected medium-sized company is a well-established family business: Mother Elisabeth works in the office, Barbara's younger brother Rainer manages the technical processes, and Barbara's daughter Ina is to join the company after completing her studies. When machine damage paralyzes production, Barbara has to cancel the annual profit distribution in order to buy new machines.

The attractive young Franka runs the traditional porcelain manufactory Rhomberg with her father. In contrast to her fun-loving sister Joe, the sensible Franka has no time for men. That changes when she meets the sensitive, good-looking Luca - who unfortunately has just married her "best enemy" Nathalie. Franka suddenly has to fight against unfamiliar feelings. Joe falls seriously in love too, but is the easy-going bartender Marco the right one for her? The lives of the two sisters are turned upside down.

Anneliese is living together with her son Florian on a run-down farm. But her exaggerated demands drive him mad. The 14-year-old son is supposed to fulfill his mother’s dreams and become a chemist. The boy fits his wishes, but he secretly dreams of becoming a farmer. Then, the situation escalates.

Stockinger is an Austrian-made police television drama, with fourteen 45-minute episodes first aired from 1996 to 1997. The series is a spin-off from the popular Austrian television drama Inspector Rex, and focuses on Ernst Stockinger, one of the original members of the Homicide division or Mordkommission in German. Stockinger leaves the series to return to Salzburg where his wife has inherited a dental practice from her late father . He is appointed a Bezirksinspektor at the Landes Gendarmerie, sharing an office with District Inspector Antonella Simoni. Unlike the members of the team in 'Rex', who appear to be self-directed and are seldom seen to answer to senior management, Stockinger reports to Dr Brunner, a philosophising burecratic senior police inspector. Stockinger is portrayed as a clumsy, almost Inspector Clouseau-like character, driving a clapped-out 1973 VW Variant, but single-minded when following up clues.

Natalie (Anne-Sophie Briest) has found a job and a new love. She meets her 14-year-old Miriam, who risks being under the influence of Natalie's ex-pimp. Natalie and the computer nerd Sven research a child pornography ring.

Natalie has her life under control: She works in her dream job as a street worker and is happy with her boyfriend Sven, with whom she is expecting a child. He has no idea that disaster will strike soon...

A very skilful young architect from Berlin, Lea Winter, who has a promising career, is pregnant with Klaus Arnheim, her head of department, a long-time lover but married and father of a family. At the announcement of this unexpected pregnancy, of course, he only envisages abortion for Lea. However, the young woman hesitates. On the advice of her gynecologist, she decides to leave Ireland for a few days to think and make a decision without any pressure. She finds there a simple, authentic life and is confronted with another rhythm of life, with other values and with herself.

No job, no plan. So lawyer Svea returns to her old job as a shepherdess on a temporary basis. Back home, she meets her childhood sweetheart Hannes again, who is now married to Svea's school friend Ute...

Power woman Carla Bergmann is a committed pastor with heart and mind. Thanks to her media-effective appearances, Carla has made a difference in the Third World and, after eventful years abroad, is now looking forward to her pastorate in Cologne. Here she finally wants to take care of her daughter Sarah, who is in a marital crisis. But nothing goes as planned: Sarah resists her domineering mother, and Carla's promised position is already occupied by someone else. The pastor is forced to take over a small church in Sauerland, where she has to start from scratch.