2026
BACKSTAGE
short film | drama | 27 min
directed by Émile V. Schlesser
written by Jonas Brand & Émile V. Schlesser
produced by Fabien Colas & Émile V. Schlesser
co-produced by Govinda van Maele (Filmreakter)
logline
A theater production becomes a dangerous dance of power and attraction when a young actor discovers that the demanding director who holds his career in her hands may also be the one who will tear him apart – both on and off the stage.
CAST
Jonathan Joèl Albrecht
Sascha Ley
Tommy Schlesser
Jil Devresse
Mayalani Moes
CREW
1st assistant director: Joshua Thil
2nd assistant director: Luca Mahnke
3rd assistant director: Lisa Folschette
DP: Thorsten Robert Harms
1st assistant camera: Alex Weidert
Gaffer: Stepan Novotny
Grip: Enzo Maffei, Yann Gengler
Electricians: Lucie Tratz, Thierry Cumini
Production designer: Christina Schaffer
Costume designer: Virginia Ferreira
Hair & Makeup: Valentina Becker
Wardrobe: Olga Olina
Location manager: Céline Schlesser
Production assistant: Charlotte Piaia
Driver: Julien Colbach
Extras Coordinator: Sandrine Brasseur
Sound recordist: Carlo Thoss
Boom operator / Foleys: Labio Tsaganas
Sound Designer: Paola Macias
Sound Mixer: Ken Nnganyadi
Composer: Rickie Lee Kroell
Editor: Émile V. Schlesser
Colorist: Aljoscha Hoffmann
Music mixer: Julian Collet
Musicians: Axel Kroell, Gero Kempf
FESTIVALS
Max Ophüls Preis (Germany)
Luxembourg City Film Festival (Luxembourg)
Landshuter Kurzfilmtage (Germany)
WorldFest Houston Int. Film Festival (USA)
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
Power abuse is a situation that many of us have sadly experienced — the feeling of being trapped, manipulated, or even sexually harassed, while being unable to fight back or free oneself. This is a reality that resonates with many, particularly within industries like entertainment, where hierarchical structures and closed environments can easily foster manipulation and exploitation.
"Backstage" aims to address this pressing issue by exploring the unspoken dynamics of mentorship, ambition, and coercion, shedding light on the subtle, often invisible mechanisms of power abuse and the victims' difficulty of "simply saying no".
Behind the scenes
Special thanks to Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg
Tom Leick-Burns & Dany Ferreira
Photos @ Lisa Folschette