Intercultural Film Production
Officially supported by:
Intercultural Film Production
Officially supported by:
Across The Board is an international film production company based in Cologne, Germany. Led by director Poutiaire Lionel Somé (BFA) and cinematographer Christian Mario Löhr (DE/COL), they are driven by a shared passion for intercultural storytelling.
They envision a world where diverse cultures, experiences and perspectives are brought together through the power of storytelling. They aim to produce compelling and thought-provoking films, documentaries and series that transcend borders, connect people and promote mutual understanding, highlighting unique stories, traditions and struggles from Germany, Africa and Latin America.
They are committed to fostering inclusivity both in front of and behind the camera, collaborating with partners around the world to provide a platform for underrepresented voices and ensure that stories from marginalised communities find their place on the global stage.
Together, let us build bridges that connect people and celebrate the universal language of film.
Poutiaire Lionel Somé is a film and theatre director based in Cologne, Germany. He was born in Burkina Faso and grew up between Niger, Mali and Ghana. He studied cinematography at the ISIS/SE Film Academy in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) and completed postgraduate studies at the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne. He has been living in Germany for 10 years, where he explores intercultural narratives through his various projects.
He has won several international awards for his work, such as the Gold Remi Award 2015 for "Kollegen" with Damian Weber at the Houston International Film Festival, the Gold Medal 2016 at the Students Academy Awards in Los Angeles with Ahmad Saleh for "Ayny", and most recently the Kurt-Hackenberg-Preis für Politisches Theater 2022 in Cologne for his interactive theatre piece “Colonia on Eis”.
Born to German-Colombian parents, Christian Mario Löhr grew up in Tanzania and Kenya. After graduating from the German School in Nairobi, Kenya in 2005, he studied film in Sydney, Australia. There he quickly discovered his passion for cinematography.
In 2013, he began postgraduate studies at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne with a focus on cinematography. Since graduating in 2016, Christian has been working as a freelance cinematographer on international and national documentaries, narratives and commercials.
He has won several international awards for his cinematography, including the NSW Australian Cinematography Society Gold Award for the documentaries "Eisenkopf" and "El Murmullo de la Marimba".