Aug 11, 2026
Film was never the plan
Filmmaker Alina Cyranek
(portrayed in 2026)
Dagmar Möbius
Alina Cyranek completed her Magister program in English Studies, Slavic Studies and Geography. The path to becoming a successful filmmaker didn’t just fall into her hands.
Born and raised in Upper Silesia, Alina works as a writer, director and producer in Leipzig. The 47-year-old likes to devote her time to telling the more hidden stories.
Formative university years
She says she always loved going to school. After graduating, she left West Germany behind and lived in Australia and New Zealand for two years. “I wanted to go out into the world, travel as far away as possible, for as long as possible,” she says. Alina was determined to go to university in Dresden. She already had a very clear idea of what she wanted to study: With a wealth of experience in English-speaking countries and as a native Polish speaker and nature-lover. Just after the flood of the century in 2002, she enrolled at TUD Dresden University of Technology. This made for a rocky start. Owing to the flooding, the trains weren’t running and she struggled to find a place to live. “Later, I moved into a twin room in an unrenovated dorm on Wundtstraße.”
She recalls her early days on campus as being exhausting and confusing, not least because she had to put together her own timetable. Nevertheless, she swiftly completed her undergraduate studies. “I didn’t need to sign up for any language courses,” she says, smiling. Skills she acquired during her time at university — such as independence, time management, and project management — still benefit her today. Alina still fondly remembers Bogumiła Patyk-Hirschberger, who taught her Polish language practice at the Institute of Slavic Studies. Keith Hollingsworth, who taught British Cultural Studies at the Institute of English and American Studies, also has a fond place in her heart. “A warm, humorous Englishman. He was really good at finding ways to reach young people,” she explains. And: “I didn’t know anyone who didn’t like him.”
Thalia Cinema, Dresden: Alina worked here part-time while she was a student; in 2026, she was awarded a Golder Rider at the Film Festival.
“Film was never the plan, but was always a wish”
Even back in high school, Alina wanted to participate in an advanced art course. Unfortunately, this wasn’t possible at the time. In Dresden, she attended numerous seminars on film theory and film studies. “I found some like-minded people, who I could shoot films with in my free time. “The theory came later at university,” she says. She also worked at the Thalia Cinema Dresden. “A lot of input from all sides,” she says, summarizing how she tenaciously pursued her dream career. In 2007, she made her first fictional short film entitled “my visit.” A year later, she followed it up with the experimental short film “Brachycera” and won the funding prize for “Rendezvous” at the Film Festival Dresden. With the inclusion of an Erasmus semester in Łódź and a semester off, Alina completed her Master’s degree at TUD in 2008. Immediately following this, she earned a dual Master’s degree in Media Art from the Bauhaus University Weimar and Tongji University in Shanghai, specializing in documentary and experimental film (2010). This significantly expanded her opportunities.
Thirty years in Eastern Germany
Alina Cyranek on set for her film “Fassaden”.
“I’m interested in fractured life stories,” Alina says. A glance at her filmography reveals not only numerous films, but also a steady stream of awards. Her work explores aspects that are often underrepresented on the big screen. Quiet themes such as loneliness, old age, forgotten history, stillbirths, and domestic violence. Life in East Germany, however, remains a central topic. “This has a lot to do with my upbringing and my personal history,” she says, having lived in Leipzig for many years. “A lot of stories reveal different starting points in life. This is something that affects me too.” Though not always in an overt way. In her documentary „Fassaden“, domestic violence is portrayed using unconventional stylistic devices, and experts from all of the federal states, not just Eastern Germany, have their say. This was a very important aspect for her because violence is not a regional issue, but rather one that affects society as a whole. And the victim’s perspective is one that is too rarely told.
Her documentary “unbemerkt verstorben,” released in 2026, received the Golden Horseman accolade at the 31st Film Festival Dresden in the central German competition. “A life disappears and nothing remains,” is how Aline summarizes the film’s content. No voiceover, no dialog — only the crime scene cleaners can be heard as they clear out the apartment of the deceased. Unsettling and all too real.
Alina Cyranek came to Dresden in January 2026 for the premiere of her film “Fassaden.” Pictured here (right) with film composer Freya Arde (left) and journalist Claudia Hempel (center).
“Success is in the eye of the beholder”
“Its difficult to make a living making films,” she admits. And: “Success is in the eye of the beholder.” Despite the numerous awards, the film industry remains uncertain and precarious. The freelancer hardly knows anyone who doesn’t have at least one other source of income. “Many teach, work on selection committees or work in television,” she explains. She herself serves on several juries, mentors young talent in various programs, works as a writer and director for the MDR short film magazine unicato as well as arte, and is a board member of the Filmverband Sachsen. Alongside her colleague from Halle, Falk Schuster, she founded the production company "hug films". But she still has many ties to TUD today. She remains in touch with her former classmates and participants in the badminton courses that she led for many years.
“Art doesn’t pay the bills, neither does a Magister degree for that matter,” she laughs. “If the film thing doesn’t work out, I’ll find a real job,” she used to tell herself. But anyone that speaks to her today will be able to tell you that she lives and breathes what she does. And of course, she’s already thinking about her next film project. But it will take a while before her ideas materialize on the big screen.
Contact:
Alina Cyranek