Sonja Rohleder

Sonja Rohleder is a visionary animator and director whose work dissolves the boundaries between abstract form and emotional intimacy. Drawing from a background in experimental graphic design, she cultivates a cinematic language defined by rhythmic fluidity, bold chromatic palettes, and a deep preoccupation with the architecture of human longing. Her films operate like visual poems, where minimalist silhouettes dance through fluid, shifting landscapes to interrogate the complexities of desire, identity, and the ephemeral nature of connection. Her acclaimed short films, most notably the festival-darling Coconut and the evocative Ohne dich, serve as testaments to her mastery of pacing and non-verbal storytelling. Rohleder has garnered significant international recognition, with her work gracing the programs of prestigious platforms such as the Berlinale and Annecy. Each frame she constructs functions as a kinetic canvas, establishing her as a singular voice in contemporary animation who transforms the static image into a profound, breathing experience.