Sirens Call

Sirens Call
Sirens Call
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Miri Ian Gossing; Lina Sieckmann;
Screenplay by	Miri Ian Gossing; Lina Sieckmann;
Produced by	Mehmet Akif Büyükatalay; Miri Ian Gossing; Claus Herzog-Reichel; Lina Sieckmann;
Starring	Gina Rønning,; Moth Rønning-Bötel,; Rei Spider Barnes,; Jason Bötel,; Mark Ginsberg;
Cinematography	Christian Kochmann
Edited by	Christoph Bargfrede
Music by	Simon Waskow
Production; companies	Schalten und Walten; filmfaust; Elbe Stevens Films;
Distributed by	Syndicado;
Release date	14 February 2025 (Berlinale);
Running time	121 minutes
Countries	Netherlands; Germany;
Language	English;

Sirens Call is a 2025 hybrid film combining documentary, Science fiction and road movie. The film is written and directed by Miri Ian Gossing, Lina Sieckmann in their directorial debut. The film depicts a nomadic siren journeys through a scattered Earth, navigating biography, identity, and belonging while challenging tensions between mythology and postmodern reality.^[1]

The film was selected in Forum at the 75th Berlin International Film Festival, where it had first screening on 14 February 2025.^[2] It is also selected for 39th Teddy Award, and will compete for Best Documentary Film.^[3]

Summary

Miri Ian Gossing and Lina Sieckmann’s debut feature film with a queer, feminist, and technoid aesthetic, challenges standardized norms, using its genre-blending style as a space for alternative ways of living. It explores the merfolk subculture through Una, a nomadic siren navigating a drought-stricken, postmodern world. Blending performance, fiction, and documentary, the film follows Una’s journey of self-discovery, from American diners to a road trip with Moth, set against Trump-era United States. Eventually, they join activist merpeople in Portland, reclaiming hybrid existence from consumerist culture.

Cast

Gina Rønning
Moth Rønning-Bötel
Rei Spider Barnes
Jason Bötel
Mark Ginsberg

Production

Principal photography began on 4 November 2020 at location in Portland (Oregon), San Francisco & Las Vegas (California), Washington State, Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Hawaii, Cologne, and Hanover. Filming ended on 24 September 2022 in locations in Egypt and USA.^[4] Film was shot on 16mm camera.^[5]

Release

Sirens Call had its world premiere in the Forum section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival on 14 February 2025.^[6]^[7]

In January 2025, Canada’s Syndicado acquired the international sales rights of the film.^[8]

Accolades

Award	Date	Category	Recipient	Result	Ref.
Berlin International Film Festival	23 February 2025	Teddy Award for Best Short Films	Sirens Call	Nominated	^[9]

References

^ Miri Ian Gossing, Lina Sieckmann (29 January 2025). "Sirens Call". Cineuropa. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
^ Davide Abbatescianni (16 January 2025). "Berlinale's Forum announces a selection of contemporary cinema questioning our time". Cineuropa. Retrieved 19 January 2025.
^ "39th Teddy Award: Sirens Call". Teddy Award. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
^ "Sirens Call, Documentary Feature, 2020-2024, Experimental documentary, Society, Germany, Netherlands". Crew United. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
^ Gossing, Sieckmann (28 January 2025). "Sirens Call". Gossing-Sieckmann. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
^ Scott Roxborough (16 January 2025). "Berlin Forum Unveils Full 2025 Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
^ "Sirens Call". Berlinale. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
^ Leo Barraclough (20 January 2025). "'Paul,' About a Submissive House Cleaner, and 'Sirens Call,' About the Merfolk Subculture, Picked Up by Syndicado Ahead of Berlinale Premieres (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
^ "39th Teddy Award: Filmtitles". Teddy Award. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.

External links

Official website
Sirens Call at IMDb
Sirens Call at Berlinale
Sirens Call at Berlinale Projects

[1] Miri Ian Gossing, Lina Sieckmann (29 January 2025). "Sirens Call". Cineuropa. Retrieved 30 January 2025.

[2] Davide Abbatescianni (16 January 2025). "Berlinale's Forum announces a selection of contemporary cinema questioning our time". Cineuropa. Retrieved 19 January 2025.

[3] "39th Teddy Award: Sirens Call". Teddy Award. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.

[ten:crew-4] "Sirens Call, Documentary Feature, 2020-2024, Experimental documentary, Society, Germany, Netherlands". Crew United. 5 December 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2025.

[5] Gossing, Sieckmann (28 January 2025). "Sirens Call". Gossing-Sieckmann. Retrieved 8 February 2025.

[osc:hr-6] Scott Roxborough (16 January 2025). "Berlin Forum Unveils Full 2025 Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 January 2025.

[7] "Sirens Call". Berlinale. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 5 February 2025.

[sales:variety-8] Leo Barraclough (20 January 2025). "'Paul,' About a Submissive House Cleaner, and 'Sirens Call,' About the Merfolk Subculture, Picked Up by Syndicado Ahead of Berlinale Premieres (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 30 January 2025.

[9] "39th Teddy Award: Filmtitles". Teddy Award. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 1 February 2025.

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