Stefan Ludwig – Directing. Screenwriting. Documentary.

Docu-drama (90min / 2x52min)
A Metafilm Production, in co-production with ORF, NDR and Arte

TV premiere for our new docu-drama: Flying Women is on Austrian Television in December 2024, Germany and France will follow in 2025. I had the pleasure to work with a fantastic cast again - Lilith Hässle impressively plays Melli Beese, the first woman who obtained her flying license in the all-male pioneer airfield of Berlin-Johannisthal around 1910. We discovered some spectacular archive footage. And thanks to the Wiener Neustadt aviation community, we were even able to film with two very rare replicas of historic flying machines. Worth seeing!

Brodcast dates

Episode 1
Eroberung der Lüfte - Die ersten Fliegerinnen
Friday December 13, 2024, 22:25, ORF2

Episode 2
Der Kampf ums Fliegen - Pilotinnen und der Krieg
Friday December 20, 2024, 22:25, ORF2

Now on Netflix: Victims of the Vikings

Docu-drama about Findan and Melkorka, a brother and sister sold into slavery by Vikings

Adventurers, explorers and conquerors: the Vikings are considered the greatest heroes of the Middle Ages. Is this interpretation justified? In fact, they left a far darker and lesser-known mark on history: they were ruthless slavers, human traffickers and hostage-takers. „Victims of the Vikings“ is the first TV documentary to investigate this infamous and often horrifying aspect of the Nordic warriors.

Co-Produktion of Interspot Film, Abu Media, ORF, ZDF, ARTE, CT, and TG4 – funded by Fernsehfonds Austria and creative europe MEDIA

Watch now on Netflix

Elisabeth - The Driven Empress

A docu-drama about the Austrian Empress Elisabeth starring Sunnyi Melles, produced by Metafilm/ORF/ZDF/Arte. Here is an English spoken trailer:

"Angry Buddha" available online

János Orsós is of Romani descent, a teacher, and a Buddhist. Inspired by the history of the Dalits or "untouchables" in India, birthplace of both Romani culture and Buddhism, he founded a school in a small Hungarian village with the goal of enabling teenagers from the poorest Romani ghettos to attend universities. Angry Buddha documents János' resolute battle against the difficulties he faces over three years, while simultaneously painting affectionate yet honest portraits of the Romani youth who use humour and their own vitality to survive in a world of poverty and prejudice. "Heart warming... full of touching moments... well worth seeing." Alexander Musik, orf.at