THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE
2026 Press Kit
About the film
German Genre Film
Female Writer & Director contact@nataliemacmahon.com
@humanexperience film @humanexperiencefilm
A coming of age story about two women from different generations, who have more in common than they are willing to admit.
In this psychological drama, an actress who has lost her sense of identity after years immersed in the surreal theatre play “The Human Experience” retreats to a remote summer holiday house, where an unexpected visitor pushes her to confront her primal instincts and the core of humanity.
Genre: Psychological Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Length: 87 min
Language: German with English subtitles (Main version) Available: , Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese subtitles
Release year: 2027/Colour/16:9/Stereo
YOU WEREN’T BORN TO FOLLOW SOMEONE ELSE’S SCRIPT, YOU WERE BORN TO WRITE YOUR OWN STORY
“I have done nothing all summer but wait for myself to be myself again.”
(Georgia O'Keeffe)
about the director
NATALIE MACMAHON
Screenwriter/Director contact@nataliemacmahon.com
nataliemacmahon.com
@nataliemacmahon
@nataliemacmahonfilm
Directors Filmography:
“The Human Experience” (Feature Film, 2026)
"The Meaning Of A Ritual" (Feature Film, 2023)
"Living In A Bubble" (Short Film, 2021)
"Becoming Human" (Short Film, 2021)
Natalie is a film director, screenwriter, and creative director whose work explores themes of identity, human connection, and transformation through visually distinctive storytelling. Natalie created a range of award-winning short films and web series that have screened at international film festivals In 2023, she made her feature debut with “The Meaning of a Ritual”, a coming-of-age drama that has been presented and won awards at festivals around the world. Her second feature film, “The Human Experience” is set to premiere in 2027.
"Skeleton Tiger" (Short Film, 2020)
"Malsano Nomata Amo" (Web Series, 2019)
"Pink Me Blue" (Short Film, 2019)
"A Violent Noise" (Short Film, 2019)
"Silent Disco" (Instagram Series, 2019)
"The Funeral Dancer" (Short Film, 2018)
"The Redhead" (Short Film, 2018)
"A Universal Love Story" (Short Film, 2017)
"It's getting darker every day" (Short Film, 2017)
"Senses" (Mini Web series, 2016)
"Lola wants to see the sea " (Short Film 2016)
“Like A Summer Sonata” (Short Film, 2016)
“The Man Who Couldn't Cry” (Short Film, 2015)
“ The Secret of Berlin” (Web Series, 2015)
awards & nominations
2025: Best Drama Feature Film Award- 7 Colors Lagoon Bacalar International Film Festival - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2025: Nomination Best Feature Film- Close: Up Reykjavík Film Festival- “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Best Director Award - Cine Paris Film Festival - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Best Feature Film Award- “Dallas Independent Film Festival” - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Honorable Mention- Achill Island Film Festival- “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Dallas Independent Film Festival - Award Nomination - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: AltFF Alternative Film Festival (Canada) - Best Feature Drama- Award Nomination - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: North Carolina Film Festival- Honorary Mention- “ The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Nomination Best Feature Film- Montmartre Movie Extravaganza - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Honorable Mention- International Film Arts and Hearts Film Festival - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: AltFF Alternative Film Festival (Canada) - Best Actress Award - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Amsterdam New Cinema Film Festival - Best Feature Film Director Award - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Wallachia Int'l Film Festival - Feature Film Award- The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: INFLUX Film Awards (USA) - Honorable Mention - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Nomination Best Feature Film- New Zealand Independent Film Festival - “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: RIFFA - Regina International Film Festival and Awards- Nomination Best Feature Film Award- “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Women's Independent Film & Television Festival - Finalist- “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
2024: Best Fantasy Short Film Award - Pink City International Short Film Festival - “Becoming Human”
2023: Finalist at the London International Screenwriting Competition- “When I Stop Dreaming”
2023: Award Winner- Los Angeles International Sci-Fi Film Festival- “Pink Me Blue”
2023: Nomination in the categories: “Best International Feature Film”, “Best International Feature Film Director”, “Best International Feature Film Cinematography”, “Best International Feature Film Screenplay”, “Best International Feature Film Actress”- “The Meaning Of A Ritual”
awards & nominations
2023: Honorable Mention- Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards- “When I Stop Dreaming”
2023: Nomination- Best Short Film- Alternative Film Festival (Canada) - “Living In A Bubble”
2022: Silver Spotlight Award- Spotlight Short Film Awards- “Living In A Bubble”
2022: Best Original Screenplay Award- SICAFILM Los Angeles International Film Awards- “Pink Me Blue”
2022: Arizona International Film Festival- Best Experimental Short- “Living in a bubble”
2022: Spotlight Short Film Award - Silver Award- “Skeleton Tiger”
2022: Award WInner- “Best Sci-Fi”- Alternative Film Festival (Canada)- “Skeleton Tiger”
2021: Best Animated Short Award- Istanbul International Nartugan Film Festival (IINFF)- “Living In A Bubble”
2021: Best Fantasy/Sci-Fi Short- Alternative Film Festival (Canada)- “Becoming Human”
2021: Best Sci-Fi Short Award- “The Quarantini Monthly Film Festival”- “Skeleton Tiger”
2021: Award Winner- “Best Writer” at the “Alternative Film Festival” (Canada)- “A Violent Noise”
2021: Nomination "Best Experimental Animated Abstract Short Film" at “Palm Springs Int Animation Film Festival”- “Pink Me Blue”
2021: Finalist "Best Sci-Fi Short" + Finalist Best Script + Special Mention- Dark Story Festival (Spain)- for “A Violent Noise”
2021: Nomination Best Short Film- Short Encounters International Film Festival- “Living In A Bubble”
2021: Nomination Best Short Film- Naturgan Film Festival- “Living In A Bubble”
2020: Most Original Short Film- Portland Short Fest- "The Funeral Dancer"
2019: Silver Award- Spotlight Short Film Awards- “Pink Me Blue”
2019: Unstoppable Creator Award at “Sydney Indie Film Festival”- “The Funeral Dancer”
2019: Award Of Commendation- Canada Shorts Film Festival- "Pink Me Blue"
2019: Special Mention- Best Direction- Montevideo Fantastic Film Festival
2019: Nomination Best Narrative Film- “Orion IFF Film Festival” (Australia)- “The Funeral Dancer”
2019: Best International Short Film Award at the “Disappear Here Film Festival” (Ireland)- “The Funeral Dancer”
awards & nominations
2019: Nomination Best Foreign Short Film- Kapow Intergalactic Film Festival- "The Funeral Dancer"
2019: Best Web Series/New Media Award at the "Elderhall Texas Independent Film Festival"- "Malsano Nomata Amo"
2019: Best International Short Film- Horsetooth International Film Festival- "The Funeral Dancer"
2019: Nomination Best Sci-Fi Short- Genre Celebration Festival- "The Funeral Dancer"
2019: Best Costume & Make Up in a Film at “Short Film Reviews Film Festival” in London for “The Funeral Dancer”
2019: Best Sci-Fi Short Nomination- "Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival"- "The Funeral Dancer"
2019: Spotlight Short Film Awards- Spotlight GOLD AWARD for “The Funeral Dancer”
2019: Nomination Best Costume & Make Up at Short Film Reviews Festival London- “The Funeral Dancer”
2019: Nomination Best Music at Short Film Reviews Festival London- “The Funeral Dancer”
2018: Best Experimental Film Award- Porto Femme International Film Festival"- for "A Universal Love Story"
2018: Best Short Film- Silver Award- Spotlight Short Film Awards- for "A Universal Love Story"
2018: Extra Mile Award- Nomination- Sydney Indie Film Festival- The Redhead
2018: Nomination Best Foreign Short at "Kapow Intergalactic Film Festival" for "The Redhead"
2018 Bronze Award- European Independent Film Awards ("The Redhead") (Best Short)
2018: "Best Narrative Short" Award at "Pinnacle Film Awards" for "The Redhead"
2018: Finalist Best Short at "Alternative Film Festival" for "The Redhead"
2018: Nominee Best Fantasy Short at "Genre Celebration Film Festival" for "A Universal Love Story"
2017: Best Short Film Award at the "LA Film Crash Film Festival" for "A Universal Love Story"
2017: Canada Shorts Film Festival 2017- Award of distinction for "It's getting darker every day"
2017: Headline International Film Festival- Award of Merit for "A Universal Love Story"
2017: Best Film Award at "Warsaw Independent Film Festival" for "Like A Summer Sonata"
2017: Silver Award Winner at the "Spotlight Shortfilm Awards" for "It's getting darker every day"
2017: Finalist at the "Influx Magazine Film Awards" for "It's getting darker every day"
2017: Best Web Short Award for "Senses" at the "Woodengate Film Festival"
awards & nominations
2017: Silver Award- North American Film Awards- "It's getting darker every day"
2017: Alternative Film Festival- Nomination "Best Director"- "Lola wants to see the sea "
2017: Nomination Best Web Short for "Senses" at the Transylvania Cinema Awards
2017: Largo Film Awards Award for Best Editing+ Best Photography for "The Strangest Thing"
2016: Nomination Best Short Film, Charly Chaplin Award, Honorable Mention Certificate at the "Blow-Up Arthouse International Film Festival for "Like A Summer Sonata"
2016: Nomination at the "European Independent Film Award" for "Like A Summer Sonata"
2016: Best Drama Award at the " North American Film Awards" for "Lola wants to see the sea "
2016: "Honorary Mention"- Largo Film Awards for "Senses"
2016: Nomination “Indie Spirit Award” at the “Melbourne Indie Film Festival” for “Like A Summer Sonata”
2016: "Award of Merit" for "Like A Summer Sonata" at the "Headline International Film Festival"
2016: "Extra Mile Award" Nomination for "Lola wants to see the sea " at the "Sydney Indie Film Festival"
2016: Nomination "Best Web Short" at "Bucharest Shortcut Cinefest" for "The Secret of Berlin"
2016: "Best Web Series" Award at the "Direct Monthly Online Film Festival" for "The Secret of Berlin"
2016: "Genre Celebration Festival" Nomination "Best Drama" for "The Man Who Couldn't Cry"
2016: "Best Director" Nomination at the "Top Indie Film Awards" for "The Man Who Couldn't Cry"
2016: "Top Indie Film Awards" Nomination as "Best Short" for "The Man Who Couldn't Cry"
2016: Honorable Mention at the “Amarcord Arthouse Television and Video Festival” for “The Secret of Berlin”
2016: "Best Web Series" Award at TOFF Film Festival for "The Secret of Berlin"
2016: "The Man Who Couldn't Cry" - Special Mention at Snowdance Film Festival
2015: "The Man Who Couldn't Cry" - Special Mention at Canada Short Film Festival
2015: "The Man Who Couldn't Cry"- "Best of Festival" Award at the "Texas Ultimate Shorts Festival"
2015: Nomination Best Female Lead at Sydney Indie Film Fest (Film "The Man Who Couldn't Cry")
director's statement
“At the heart of The Human Experience lies the question: what does it truly mean to be human? Faye’s fear of losing herself in a role pulls her into a dreamlike unraveling where memory, instinct, and identity blur together.
The world around her mirrors her inner chaos, becoming a haunting extension of her mind. Ultimately, the film is a hypnotic exploration of self, of what remains when the performance ends.
The horror in this film lives in identity fragmentation.”
cast
Franziska Rub
Birgit von Bally
Konstantin Maier
Cara Fiona Zoe Schneider
Emma Theresa Hübner
Ella Eiben
Amy Hilbrig
Paul Polack
team/crew
Screenwriter/Director/Producer: Natalie MacMahon
DOP: Tom O'Keefe
Focus Puller: Sebastián Schroth López
Co-Producer & Light Director: Camilo Zamora
Sound: Paloma Schachmann
Sound Post Production: Anastasiia Nasonkina
Original Music composed by: Federico Truzzi
Director Assistants: Aurelia Baier, Svetla Popova, Maria Pavlova
Best Boy: Jose Piña
Make up/Styling: Lesia Vasilets
Set Photographer: Phillipp Götze
about the lead actress
@franziska rub
Berlin-based actress Franziska Rub has built a diverse career across film and television, combining emotional authenticity with a natural, captivating screen presence. With roles in productions including “Das Küstenrevier” and several acclaimed independent films, she is known for portraying nuanced, emotionally layered characters Continuously refining her craft through Meisner, Chubbuck, and improvisation training, Franziska brings both sensitivity and intensity to every performance
In “The Human Experience”, Franziska stars as Faye, a passionate actress who has lost herself in her work Drifting between dream and reality, Faye longs for connection while searching for her own identity Strong yet fragile, fearless yet vulnerable, Franziska delivers a deeply compelling performance that explores the blurred boundaries between art, identity, and reality, capturing the emotional heart of the film.
theme
behind the scenes
behind the scenes
