RHEINGOLD

Fiction, 140 min Germany / Italy / Netherlands

Written by

Fatih Akin and Hark Bohm

Directed by

Fatih Akin

Cast

Emilio Sakraya, Kardo Razzazi, Mona Pirzad, Arman Kashani, Hüseyin Top, Sogol Faghan

Original language

German, Arabic, Kurdish, Turkish, Dutch, English

Genre

Drama, Biographical

SYNOPSIS

Rheingold traces the remarkable life of Xatar, a Kurdish-German rapper who rises from the rough streets of Bonn to become one of the most influential figures in the German rap scene. Born in a refugee camp, Xatar becomes involved in criminal activities before entering the music industry. The film follows his struggles, his conflicts with the law, and his eventual transformation into a celebrated rap artist. It tells a story of survival, ambition, and the complexities of identity and success in the face of adversity.

Crew 

Direction Fatih Akin Screenplay Fatih Akin, Mardik Martin Producer Fatih Akin Co-producers Karl Baumgartner, Reinhard Brundig, Fabienne Vonier, Francis Boespflug, Alberto Fanni, Valerio De Paolis, Ruben Dishdishyan, Aram Movsesyan, Laurette Bourassa, Doug Steeden, Piotr Dzieciol, Ewa Puszczyńska Executive Producers Nurhan Sekerci-porst, Flaminio Zadra Commissioning Editor for Ndr Christian Granderath Production Manager Marcus Loges Cinematography Rainer Klausmann (Bvk) Editing Andrew Bird Production Design Allan Starski Assistant Director Ralph Remstedt Casting Beatrice Kruger Costume Design katrin Aschendorf Make-up Waldemar Pokromski Music Alexander Hacke Sound Jean-paul Mugel

Production

Warner Bros. Entertainment Germany, Bombero International, Lemming film, Palosanto Films with Rai Cinema

Produced by

Nurhan Åžekerci-Porst, Fatih Akin, Herman Weigel

Co-producers

Flaminio Zadra, Paolo Del Brocco, Leontine Petit, Erik Glijnis

Supported by

German Federal Film Fund (DFFF), Film-und Medienstiftung NRW, MOIN Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, the German Federal Film Board (FFA), Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MFG Filmförderung Baden-Württemberg, The German Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media, The Netherlands Film Fund, The Netherlands Film Production Incentive, World Sales The Match Factory

Italian Distributor

∞ I Wonder Pictures

International Sales

The Match Factory

FESTIVALS

Berlin International Film Festival 2023

Official Selection

German Film Awards 2023

Nomination for Best Actor, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography

Bavarian Film Award 2023

Winner in the category of Best Film

Festa del Cinema di Roma 2022

(Grand public)

Film Fest Hamburg 2022