Klaas Diersmann, a winner at the 2020 Young Director Award, has joined the directors' roster at Greatcoat Films.

The London-based German director received a YDA Silver Screen award this year, winning the Art Film category for Divided We Scroll - a Barbican-commissioned film that explores the bizarre effects of our screen dependence. His work includes short films, music videos, such as the promo for Twin Atlantic's Barcelona, an ad for men’s mental health charity CALM, and installations and moving image pieces for HKW (Haus Der Kulturen Der Welt) Berlin.

A self-taught filmmaker who studied art and design before pursuing moving image, Diersmann’s work explores society’s complicated relationship with wellbeing and technology, often accompanied by a ripple of dark humour or surrealism - including the short film ZenMan In Love. He is currently working on a script for a sci-fi TV series which tells a coming of age story set in the not too distant future.

Simon Oxley, MD of Greatcoat Films, says that the company's relationship with Diersmann began last year with the making of Divided We Scroll (above).

“Klaas needed a production company and we loved the concept, though I think watching his short ZenMan In Love cemented the deal for me: the first romantic comedy written by a purpose-built AI program - and the AI programme is not great at writing it turns out," says Oxley. "But fortunately, Klaas is great at directing and pulled it off. I felt like anyone who would take on a challenge like that was coming from a good place for us so we’re delighted to have him join Greatcoat’s roster.”

Diersmann adds: “When I joined forces with Greatcoat on a commission from The Barbican they were immediately on the same page. With a challenging timeframe and budget, and with many stakeholders, Simon, Sandra and the whole Greatcoat team really put their heart into making the film the best it could be, and I now know this is how they operate on every single project." 

• Watch Klaas Diersmann showreel at Greatcoat Films here