Maximilian is the director and screenwriter of the fictional short FIRE DRILL. The film was shot during the ongoing operations of a container ship, featuring both a professional cast and the ship’s crew as first-time actors. Throughout its development, Maximilian spent several months traveling on container ships, immersing himself in the daily routines and conducting interviews with crew members.

This immersive method exemplifies his approach to filmmaking, which aims to portray complex and universal themes in an authentic and powerful visual experience.

Maximilian graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Directing from the prestigious Film University Babelsberg, focusing on feature and serial storytelling. During this time, he also developed a keen interest in emerging visual technologies, particularly experimenting with innovations like VR.

Prior to his studies, Maximilian worked as an operator for a shipping company in Santiago de Chile. After leaving the shipping sector, he spent two years working in Paris, followed by positions in Hamburg and Berlin within the production of advertising and film. 

To date, Maximilian has both written and directed films with the backing of numerous funding and broadcasting institutions, including Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, 3sat, and ARTE. His mid-length feature film PENTHESILEA earned a nomination for the Studio Hamburg Young Talent Award (Studio Hamburg Nachwuchspreis). A PASSAGE was nominated for a student BAFTA and showcased at various festivals, including the Guanajuato International Film Festival, Aesthetica, the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, and Cinequest.

Previous films have been featured at festivals such as Hofer Filmtage, the Film Festival Oberhausen and Camerimage. 
 

Maximilian is based in Berlin and Hamburg. He is fluent in English and French and has a good command of Spanish, in addition to his native German.