“I am happy to find that Cinema in Pune, India at PIFF is treated like a live music concert,” Florian Steinbiss, Director, Neander Jin – The Return of the Neanderthal Man

What is your film Neander Jin all about?

My film Neander Jin – The Return of the Neanderthal Man takes a comedic look at where we came from and where we are now headed.
My film is a social satire on fame and money and is about the growing commercialism in our society in our day to day lives.

What message do you set out to drive home through your film?

The message that I set out to drive home through my film is that we should think about our lives and start enjoying our lives. My aim is not just to entertain the audiences but also to make them think. You can say that mine is a user friendly film which is also slick because I have often seen films which bore you top death with its long duration.

What does PIFF mean to you?

I enjoy being at PIFF not only as a filmmaker with my own film but also as a member of the jury for the Short films as well as Marathi Cinema Competition sections. What I like about PIFF is that the audiences are friendly, open and knowledgeable about not only films but also the society as a whole. I am happy to find that Cinema in Pune at PIFF is treated like a live music concert.

Is it true that is your first visit to PIFF this year?

Why just PIFF, this is my first visit to India itself and I am glad that this year it was PIFF that took the initiative to ask me to enter my film on its own. I´d say that PIFF is truly an independent film festival which is hard working. It is a blessing in disguise that I was asked by Dr. Jabbar Patel to step in as a member of the Jury at the last minute when there was a vacancy. I am honored and thus made my trip to do something creatively instead of just touring the place.