Epiphany
Spec Ad for Fujifilm
Directed by Tobias Dolphin

“Epiphany” is a self-produced and independently financed spec ad I created for Fujifilm — based on an idea I’d been developing for quite a while. After a longer and more emotional project ("Unbridled"), I wanted to challenge myself with something shorter and sharper: a dark comedy built entirely around one idea and one location.

The film plays with classic crime-scene clichés — a familiar setup we all recognize from thrillers and “Tatort”-style dramas — only to twist those expectations into something absurd and funny. For me, the main challenge was to make that twist feel natural and earned: to build a believable scene and then pull the rug just at the right moment.

Finding the right location took a long time, but we finally shot over one and a half days in Bad Waldsee, Germany. It was my second spec ad and my second time working with Christian Neuberger as DoP — a collaboration that has grown into a great creative partnership. Our crew was small, about seven people, mostly friends from university, which made the shoot feel intimate and full of trust.

I’m incredibly happy with the cast; their performances captured exactly the subtle tone I wanted between realism and parody. And the music by Hannes Bieber elevated the entire film — he really nailed the atmosphere I was hoping for.

“Epiphany” might be short, but it’s a very personal piece for me — a mix of humor, precision, and collaboration that I’m truly proud of.