Save Our Souls

Save Our Souls tells the story of three disillusioned young adults planning a live-streamed suicide off a cargo ship as a protest during the 2026 World Climate Summit. As they sail into the unknown, their will to die clashes with an unexpected desire to survive.

In Save Our Souls, three young activists, Leo, Jade, and Raúl, grapple with deep disillusionment in a world indifferent to the climate crisis. Determined to make a final statement, they plan to livestream their collective suicide from a cargo ship as the 2026 World Climate Summit begins. As their journey unfolds at sea, what begins as a radical act of protest transforms into an emotional confrontation with their own will to live. Directed by Jonas Steinacker and mentored by Oscar-winner Michael Haneke, Save Our Souls is a visually striking psychological drama exploring the intersection of personal despair and global environmental urgency. The film features Idan Weiss, the lead actor in Agnieszka Holland’s upcoming Franz, where he portrays Franz Kafka.

Keywords: youth, suicide, intergenerational conflict

Director's note:
What do you do when attending protests no longer feels like enough? How does a young person feel when they have everything ahead of them but can see no future? And what keeps us holding on to life when everything seems hopeless? Is it love? Fear? Or life itself? "Save Our Souls" tells the story of three young people who no longer see a way out. Leo, Jade, and Raúl are united by the sense that something is fundamentally wrong with the world. They represent many young people today who are increasingly struggling with feelings of disorientation, fear of the future, and depression. This emotional landscape is something I know well as part of this generation. By November 2026, the Paris Climate Agreement and the 1.5-degree target it set will have been in effect for 10 years. Yet, we already know that we will miss this target. I want to use this sad anniversary as a catalyst to spark more meaningful debate around climate change. In a society suffering from division and hardening stances, my goal is to create a film that primarily moves people and fosters greater empathy. "Save Our Souls" is a political film - but without dogma or finger-pointing. One of the central themes for me is the intersection of the personal and the political. How much are we willing to give up our privileges? How much of our anger at the world comes from our own internal wounds? Throughout the film, Leo, Raúl, and Jade - who commit to such a radical act - reveal increasingly personal motivations. The lines between the private and political, between ideology and emotion, blur. While I do not condone the extremism of my characters, I understand their despair. I feel for them. I take their fears and motivations seriously.
At the same time, I am fully aware of the narrative responsibility I carry. The extreme act of suicide must never be portrayed as a solution or glorified in any way. To ensure that our characters are credible and that the subject is handled with the seriousness it deserves, we involved people in the writing process who have experienced suicidal phases in their lives. We also consulted with experts to ensure the story is approached responsibly. In February, my co-writer Moritz Licht and I spent two weeks aboard a cargo ship in the middle of the Atlantic. Through conversations with the crew members, we learned a great deal about their personal stories. Two entirely different realities collide. Despite the exploitative working conditions, the job on the ship provides them with the means to support their entire families and offers them a future. The struggle of the crew is completely different from that of our main characters. This sharp contrast underscores the global complexity of the climate crisis and makes the cargo ship an even more compelling setting for the story. S.O.S. stands for "Save Our Souls." The film is a cry for help. It is meant to alarm, wake people up, and spark discussion. It's about existential questions and figuring out one’s place in a complex world. I’m not here to offer easy solutions - because they don’t exist. Instead, I want to show people that they are not alone in their fears and despair. The story of Leo, Jade, and Raúl is deeply personal to me, and it is my greatest wish to share it with the world.

Producer's note:
As a producer, I have long been searching for a film project that addresses the climate crisis, not only from a political angle but also from a deeply human perspective. Save Our Souls provides that perspective perfectly. For me, climate change is not an abstract issue. In my home region, which is heavily reliant on agriculture and winemaking, the effects are already clearly visible. Droughts and extreme weather conditions are not just threatening crops but also the livelihoods of local communities. With Save Our Souls, I want to create a powerful statement that makes the emotions and fears of the younger generation tangible and encourages audiences to confront the reality of the climate crisis. Jonas Steinacker is one of the most promising emerging directors in Germany, capable of telling socially relevant stories with great visual impact. When I saw his short film Nelly's Story at the Max-Ophüls Film Festival, the most prestigious festival for young filmmakers in the German-speaking world, I was immediately captivated. The film, which also addresses pressing social issues, won several awards and garnered over half a million views on YouTube within a month. This reaction is a testament to how impactful and audience-engaging Jonas is as a director. When Jonas, together with co-writer Moritz Licht, pitched Save Our Souls to me, it was clear that this project is not only artistically ambitious but also highly relevant to the times. Save Our Souls will mark Jonas Steinacker's feature directorial debut, with the support of his former mentor and Oscar-winner Michael Haneke, who will be involved in an advisory role. The screenplay, written by Jonas and Moritz Licht, has already been shortlisted for the German Screenplay Award 2025, further underlining the artistic quality of the project.
The production is slated for 2025, with Save Our Souls already receiving backing from the German fundings Hessen Film and Filmförderung Rheinland-Pfalz. At the moment, we are seeking world distributors, TV broadcast deals, and co-producers with private equity or funding (no tax rebate models). Pre-production begins in 2024, and shooting is scheduled for early summer 2025. Our goal is to premiere the film at a major A-list festival, such as the Berlinale or Venice, and to release it theatrically in 2026, ten years after the signing of the Paris Climate Agreement. The film is feasible within a low budget, thanks to a well-thought-out visual concept. The focus is on carefully crafted cinematography and intense performances, which will maximize the film’s impact. With a small, specialized crew and a meticulously designed audiovisual approach, we will deliver powerful storytelling with limited resources. We plan to shoot on a real cargo ship, and we have already engaged in advanced discussions with shipping companies. A proof-of-concept film was successfully shot on such a vessel, and we are confident we can handle the full production under similar conditions. The lead role will be played by Idan Weiss, whose portrayal of Franz Kafka in Agnieszka Holland's upcoming film Franz (X-Filme) adds international recognition to his performance. We are also planning an international casting for the roles of "Raúl" and "Jade," and the ship’s crew will feature actors from the Philippines and Ukraine, bringing authenticity and a global perspective to the film.
Sustainability is also a key focus for the production. Given the film’s subject matter, it is crucial to ensure the shoot is as environmentally friendly as possible. We will film on a fully operational cargo ship, thus avoiding additional emissions. Furthermore, we will employ energy-saving measures, using predominantly natural light to reduce energy consumption. In this way, we not only align with the film's message but also adhere to ethical standards of sustainable production. We have thoroughly assessed the artistic and commercial potential of the film. In addition to a traditional theatrical release, we plan to embark on a nationwide tour to engage directly with audiences and deepen the societal impact of the film. The global relevance of the climate crisis also positions Save Our Souls as a compelling international story. Moreover, the film will be shot in English, significantly increasing its appeal for international distribution and enhancing its global market potential. We are actively pursuing a worldwide sales strategy to fully leverage the film's global relevance. While rooted in Germany, Save Our Souls speaks to an international audience grappling with the global challenges of climate change and the existential questions it raises. Save Our Souls has great potential to resonate on both an artistic and societal level, and I am confident it will make a strong impact at A-list festivals like Berlinale, Cannes, or Venice. The film explores existential questions and the intersection of personal and political motivations in the face of global challenges, making it an ideal fit for sections such as "Generation" (Berlinale), "Un Certain Regard" (Cannes), or "Orizzonte" (Venice), which focus on socially relevant topics and emerging directors. I am confident that Save Our Souls will resonate both artistically and socially, and I hope you share my enthusiasm and belief in the potential of this extraordinary script.