17/09/2013 - German filmmaker Detlev Buck brings kids cult serie Bibi & Tina on the big screen

After 29 shooting days, German filmmaker Detlev Buck (Tough Enough [+see also:
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film profile], Measuring the World [+see also:
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film profile]) wrapped the production of his new teenager film Bibi & Tina, which is based on the popular German audio drama for kids. “Bibi is a superstar like Batman, Spider Man, Superman or X-Men,” underlines Detlev Buck. “We held a public casting similar to the one for Gone With the Wind because the fans have a pretty good idea of what Bibi is like.”

The original character was created by German author Elfie Donnelly in the 80’s. The script for this modern pop drama was written by Bettina Börgerding who developed the story together with Detlev Buck. The young witch wants to help her best friend but the problem is beyond her power. “She can’t conjure emotions,” explains the filmmaker. After shooting kids films such as Tough Enough and Saving Mississippi the director has experience working with children. “If young people get too much attention, they become too spoilt,” says Detlev Buck.

Due to the limited shooting days all scenes were filmed with two or three cameras. The director himself was sometimes standing behind the camera. “The film gets a colourful pop look,” says Detlev Buck. Produced with a low budget of  € 4,4 m, Bibi & Tina received production support from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, MDM, Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, the Federal Film Board (FFA), and ZDF. DCM Distribution will release the film theatrically in Germany and Switzerland in spring 2014.