Sad Jokes

Australian Premiere

“Cool, intelligent second feature from Fabian Stumm mines the dangers of being misunderstood.” – Screen Daily

Set in present-day Berlin, this tragicomical second feature from writer-director-actor Fabian Stumm poignantly portrays modern queer life and the perseverance required of an artist. It follows Joseph and Sonya, co-parents who are connected by a close friendship and their young son Pino. While Joseph, a filmmaker, is working on a new project and dealing with a recent breakup with his boyfriend, Sonya, who suffers from depression, has a breakdown. When she is placed in a clinic, Joseph is forced to juggle his everyday family life and his artistic ambition.

Expertly mixing different emotional tonalities into a humorous and heartrending reflection of reality, Sad Jokes is absurd, banal, hopeful and touching, sometimes – as in real life – all at once.

Festivals & Awards

Winner of the Best Director & FIPRESCI Award at the Munich Film Festival 2024
Official Selection of the Tallinn Black Nights 2024
Official Selection of the Stockholm International Film Festival 2024