Backstage
Synopsis
A young actor’s breakthrough role becomes a dangerous game of desire and control when his ruthless director takes a personal interest in him.
Backstage is a 26-minute drama short film from Luxembourg (2026), in German, with subtitles in Deutsch, English, Español, Português, Français, العربية and 中文（简体）.
Film details
- Year
- 2026
- Runtime
- 26 min
- Genre
- Drama
- Country
- Luxembourg
- Language
- German
- Subtitles
- Deutsch, English, Español, Português, Français, العربية, 中文（简体）
Filmmaker's Note
Power abuse is something many of us have experienced, particularly within industries like entertainment, where hierarchical structures and closed environments can foster manipulation and exploitation.
Set in the world of theater, BACKSTAGE explores the subtle mechanisms through which authority can be misused, and examines how ambition, mentorship, misinterpretation, and coercion can gradually blur boundaries and lead to an abusive relationship.
At its core, the film asks what makes these situations so difficult to recognize and resist. How can someone in a position of authority take advantage of a young person’s ambition and vulnerability without the abuse ever appearing clear or explicit? And why can it become so difficult for the victim to "simply say no"?
BACKSTAGE seeks to illuminate the gray areas where power abuse takes root and the psychological mechanisms that make it so difficult to stop.
Festivals & Awards
- Official Selection, Max Ophüls Preis, Saarbrücken, Germany (2026)
- Official Selection, Santa Fe International Film Festival, Santa Fe, United States of America (2026)
- Official Selection, San Diego International Film Festival, San Diego, United States of America (2026)
- Official Selection, Newport Beach Film Festival, Newport Beach, United States of America (2026)
- Official Selection, WorldFest Houston Int. Film Festival, Houston, United States of America (2026)
- Official Selection, Luxembourg City Film Festival, Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2026)
- Official Selection, Landshuter Kurzfilmtage, Landshut, Germany (2026)
- Official Selection, New Filmmakers Los Angeles, Los Angeles, United States of America (2026)
About the filmmaker
Émile V. Schlesser is an award-winning writer, director and visual artist from Luxembourg. He graduated as master student at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Germany. His diverse body of work stretches from narrative films to installations and immersive shows. In 2020, his short film "Superhero" won the "Shocking Short Award", given by NBC Universal and jury president Caroline Link. In 2022, he co-founded the production company 35M Films. He produces and co-hosts the filmmaking podcast, "35M Elevator Pitch". Émile is an alumni of the ZFF Academy at the Zurich Film Festival 2023. He is currently in post-production of his first feature, "Mortal Beings".
