The Long Distance
Eunice and Felix, determined to run their way out of poverty, leave their children and families behind in Kenya when a German manager invites them to Europe to take part in marathons. Their early infatuation with Europe quickly gives way to disillusionment; despite obtaining good race results, the high cost of living and managerial fees leave their earnings at next to nothing. To meet the expectations of their families and their German hosts they must participate in an ever increasing number of competitions. But how much can their bodies take?
Daniel Andreas Sager was born in Berlin in 1985, and grew up in Moscow. He studied social anthropology and philosophy at Leipzig University, and directing at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg. Sager attended the film school UCINE, in Buenos Aires, for one year with a grant from the State of Baden-Württemberg. He also participated in the Script Masterclass, Docu-Village, at the Haifa Film Festival in Israel with a scholarship from the Filmakademie BW. His diploma film. The Long Distance, received the NOFEAR! Award in 2015. He is currently a master-class student pursuing his Ph.D. at the Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, and participates in the Nipkow Program as a Nipkow grant-holder. He also works as a writer and editor for ze.tt (zeit online), and as a freelance writer, director, journalist and cinematographer, living in Berlin.