BaBystar
Directed by: Joscha Bongard
Cast: Maja Bons, Bea Brocks, Liliom Lewald, Joy Ewulu, Maximilian Mundt, Verena Altenberger
Written by: Nicole Rüthers, Joscha Bongard
Producers: Lisa Purtscher, Lotta Schmelzer
Production Company: LiseLotte Films
Release year: 2025
Country: Germany
Genre: Drama
Language: German
Status: Completed
Duration: 98 min
Synopsis:
Since birth, 16-year-old Luca has been the star of her parents’ influencer empire, her every milestone curated for millions of followers. When they announce plans for another child, the cracks in their perfect image widen. Luca spirals into an emotional tailspin, rebelling against the role she’s been forced to play and realising how little of her life truly belongs to her. As the pressure mounts, she must decide whether to keep performing for the feed or reclaim her life beyond the spotlight.
A biting satirical drama, Babystar explores the rise of family influencing and the children who become both product and commodity.
“The screen-time satire 'Babystar' delivers sharp observations about social media coupled with a surprisingly bold visual style”
Kevin Jagernauth - The Film Verdict
"[Bongard's] intimate understanding of our chronically-online era adds authenticity to a film that should attract additional festival play because of its timeliness."
Tim Grierson - Screendaily
“… set to be one of the most discussed titles of the festival, thanks to its highly contemporary setting that explores a hyper-social-media-driven society”
”Bongard’s feature maintains a freshness and likability that feel Netflix-friendly, while still preserving its arthouse style through unconventional techniques and ensuring that the cinematography (by Jakob Sinsel) is meticulously curated and bold.”
Veronica Orciari - Cineuropa
trailer
FESTIVALS
Toronto International Film Festival 2025 Discovery
Filmfest Hamburg 2025 Grosse Freiheit
Zurich Film Festival 2025 Feature Films Competition
Warsaw Film Festival 2025 International Competition
Mostra Internacional de Cinema em São Paulo 2025 New Directors Competition
