"In the beginning we understood Sterntaucher, above all, to be a tool to make things possible", explains Stefan Heinen. "A film project such as BONNE NUIT PAPA is a very fragile affair, it can only be successful with absolute care and devotion, beyond purely financial motivations", adds Oliver Neis. "We were well aware: that is only possible with your own company."
Only 3 months after the foundation of the film company the three partners applied for project development funding from the Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein. "They took a leap of faith and granted the funding, for which we're still very grateful today", stresses Heinen.
In January 2011 a small team set forth to Cambodia for the first official research trip. In the team were Marina Kem, Oliver Neis and cameraman Notker Mahr who they have both known since their studies at the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy, and with whom they had already worked on various other projects.