Atlas International has acquired worldwide sales rights to EMBER, the gripping German thriller-drama marking the feature directorial debut of Jakob Gisik. The announcement was made by Michel J. Vandewalle, Managing Director of Atlas International. Produced by Try Us Film, EMBER will make its market debut at the 2025 American Film Market (AFM).
A Story of Family, Crime, and Redemption
Set against the shadowy backdrop of Germany’s criminal underworld, EMBER follows Chris (played by Thure Riefenstein, Behind the Candelabra, The Man in the High Castle, Torpedo/U-235), who returns home after seven years in a Russian prison. He reunites with his estranged father Leonard (Udo Schenk), who conceals a deadly illegal arms trade behind the façade of a coffin business.
Determined to leave the past behind, Chris is pulled back into his father’s manipulative orbit as he tries to protect his younger brother Andre (Dennis Mojen, 60 Minutes, Dream Factory) from being dragged into the same criminal path. As loyalties fray and secrets surface, the story unravels into a tense psychological battle between love, betrayal, and survival. Sophia Thomalla co-stars as Samantha. Watch the trailer below:
A Genre Film with Emotional Depth
“We are thrilled to present EMBER to our international partners at AFM,” said Michel J. Vandewalle of Atlas International. “This is a gripping family drama set within the world of organized crime — an ambitious, emotional debut that blends genre tension with authentic human stakes. Jakob Gisik has created a film full of atmosphere, resonance, and raw intensity.”
“EMBER is a story about brotherly love, inner conflict, and the sacrifices people make for family,” added Jakob Gisik, who co-wrote the screenplay with Adnan Köse and produced alongside Matthias Kampmann. “It’s about standing up for what’s right, even when it means facing rejection from the people closest to you.”
With its cinematic realism, powerful performances, and haunting score, EMBER promises to mark a major new voice in contemporary German cinema — a thriller that burns with emotion as much as suspense.
REELated:
West Kentucky Film Commission debuts at AFM
