Westerwelle (2026)
A documentary that offers an intimate portrait of Guido Westerwelle, Germany’s former Vice-Chancellor, balancing his political career with his groundbreaking role as a gay pioneer. Released for the 10th anniversary of his death, the film explores the sharp contrast between his polarizing public persona and his private vulnerability. The narrative anchor consists of never-before-heard audio recordings from 2014, captured in Mallorca by journalist Dominik Wichmann as Westerwelle battled acute leukemia. The movie weaves these raw archives with emotional interviews from his husband, Michael Mronz, and key political rivals. It charts his rise within the FDP, his historic 2004 public coming out, and his legacy as Germany’s first openly gay cabinet minister. The plot highlights the unique diplomatic challenges he faced visiting nations hostile to LGBTQ+ rights, his sudden fall from political grace, and his final fight against cancer alongside Mronz.
Director:
Jobst Knigge
Writers:
Dominik Wichmann, Klaus Brinkbäumer, Jobst Knigge.
 |
Guido Westerwelle as Self (archive footage) |
| Directing | Jobst Knigge | Director |
| Writing | Dominik Wichmann | Screenplay |
| Writing | Klaus Brinkbäumer | Screenplay |
| Writing | Jobst Knigge | Screenplay |
| Camera | Benedict Sicheneder | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Jean Schablin | Director of Photography |
| Camera | Sebastian Seibert | Director of Photography |
| Editing | Marek Weinhold | Editor |
| Sound | Felix Schlag | Sound |
| Sound | Mohammad Alzamel | Sound |
| Sound | Sascha Cyzykowski | Sound |
| Sound | Zora Butzke | Sound |
| Sound | Erick Espinosa | Sound |
| Crew | Philip Hansmann | Mix Technician |
| Editing | David Holfelder | Color Grading |
| Art | Dominik Anweiler | Graphic Designer |
| Editing | Janne Gärtner | Archival Footage Coordinator |
| Production | Klaus Brinkbäumer | Executive Producer |
| Production | Dominik Wichmann | Executive Producer |
| Production | Rüdiger Barth | Producer |
| Production | Katharina Knocke | Production Manager |
| Production | Anahita Nazemi | Line Producer |
| Crew | Kristina Warndorf | Editorial Staff |
| Crew | Christiane Hinz | Editorial Staff |
| Crew | Thomas Kamp | Editorial Staff |
| Crew | Michael Mronz | Thanks |
| Crew | Michael Hallek | Thanks |
