The Chimpanzee Complex
a film by Marc Schmidt
The Chimpanzee Complex is a science fiction documentary about a psychiatric institution for traumatized chimpanzees.
Synopsis
The main characters in THE CHIPMANZEE COMPLEX are traumatized chimpanzees. After years in solitary captivity, the traumatized chimpansees in a Dutch rescue center must learn to live with members of their own species again. The caretakers who accompany this process, work towards a paradoxical goal: as people they try to let the animals be animals again. Emotional confrontations and ethical issues emphasize the ambiguous relationship between man and primate. Is it possible to think beyond the boundaries of our human perspective when trying to understand another species?
Screenings and media
Grand Jury Prize for THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX at the 360 International Film Festival of Science and Technology in Moskow. Jury statement: "The film won the Prize because it got the uneasy glimpse into the place and role of man in this world. It is a very interesting movie, which does not insist on anything. It asks a lot of questions to which no one has been able to give an answer. And it raises some really uncomfortable issues.”
THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX has been screened at the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival (Sheffield, June 5-10 2015).
THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX has been screened at the Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival (Tel Aviv, May 7-16 2015).
THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX has been screened at Thessaloniki International Documentary Film Festival (March 13-22, 2015). Director Marc Schmidt is attending several screenings.
Swiss première of THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX at the Solothurner Film Days (January 22-29th 2015).
THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX has been screened at the Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival (Sheffield, June 5-10 2015).
THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX has been screened at the Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival (Tel Aviv, May 7-16 2015).
THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX has been screened at Thessaloniki International Documentary Film Festival (March 13-22, 2015). Director Marc Schmidt is attending several screenings.
Swiss première of THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX at the Solothurner Film Days (January 22-29th 2015).
in the media
Marc Schmidt at VPRO Nooit meer slapen - 4 December 2014
NRC about the Chimpanzee Complex - 26 May 2015
NRC about the Chimpanzee Complex - 26 May 2015
Additional information
Coproduced with: NCRV, MIRAFILM, SRG SSR, SRF
In coöperation with: 3SAT. Financial support: Dutch Cultural Media Fund, CoBO, Dutch Filmfund, Bundesamt für Kultur, Zürcher Filmstiftung.
Distribution Netherlands: AMSTELFILM
Length: 55' and 75' minutes.
THE CHIMPANZEE COMPLEX is a multi platform documentary project that includes a documentary film, a game and a social media campaign with unique content (Dutch language only).
Director Marc Schmidt
Credits
WRITTEN, DIRECTED AND FILMED BY Marc Schmidt
EDIT Katarina Türler NCE, Govert Janse at The Gentleman’s Club
CAMERA Rogier Timmermans
MUSIC Jasper Boeke
GRAPHICS Rogerio Lira
IMAGE PROCESSING, COLOURGRADING & MASTERING Joppo in De Grot
SOUND DESIGN Daniel Almada
SOUND MIX DIE BASISberlin, Florian Beck
PRODUCTION MANAGERS Eline van Wees, Edgar Kapp
PRODUCER NCRV Yolande van der Blij
NCRVCOMMISSIONING EDITOR Jelle Peter de Ruiter
SRG SSR COMMISSIONING EDITOR Sven Wälti
SRF COMMISSIONING EDITOR Urs Augstburger
ZDF 3SAT COMMISSIONING EDITOR Nicole Baum
PRODUCERS MIRA FILM Vadim Jendreyko, Hercli Bundi, Susanne Guggenberger
PRODUCER BASALT FILM Simone van den Broek
EDIT Katarina Türler NCE, Govert Janse at The Gentleman’s Club
CAMERA Rogier Timmermans
MUSIC Jasper Boeke
GRAPHICS Rogerio Lira
IMAGE PROCESSING, COLOURGRADING & MASTERING Joppo in De Grot
SOUND DESIGN Daniel Almada
SOUND MIX DIE BASISberlin, Florian Beck
PRODUCTION MANAGERS Eline van Wees, Edgar Kapp
PRODUCER NCRV Yolande van der Blij
NCRVCOMMISSIONING EDITOR Jelle Peter de Ruiter
SRG SSR COMMISSIONING EDITOR Sven Wälti
SRF COMMISSIONING EDITOR Urs Augstburger
ZDF 3SAT COMMISSIONING EDITOR Nicole Baum
PRODUCERS MIRA FILM Vadim Jendreyko, Hercli Bundi, Susanne Guggenberger
PRODUCER BASALT FILM Simone van den Broek
