(originally published in Varsity 2016, Cambridge)

Fabian Stephany talks to director Lea Volke about her new short film thriller, Blue Hour

Blue hour, or golden hour, is the time when day changes into night and vice versa. Contrast and transcendence are the recurring themes of the psycho-thriller short film of the same name, based and made in Cambridge. “The storyline was born in the late autumn days of November”, director Lea Volke reminisces, Continue reading “MEDIA – Interview – Lea Volke (Blue Hour)” →

(originally published in Varsity 2016, Cambridge)

The wife of Rudi Dutschke, spokesman for the German 1960s Student Movement, talks to Fabian Stephany about revolutions, feminism and their time in Cambridge

Gretchen Dutschke-Klotz (GDK) is a contemporary witness of German history. She tells the story of how the 1960s Student Movement in Germany ultimately transformed the country to a modern and democratic society. At that time, Germany was still struggling with its undemocratic past. Continue reading “MEDIA – Interview – Gretchen Duschke-Klotz” →

(originally published in Varsity 2016, Cambridge)

The former Justice minister of Germany discusses surveillance, Snowden, and ‘the right to be forgotten’ with Fabian Stephany.

Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger is one of Germany’s most prominent advocates of human and civil rights. As a member of Germany’s liberals, she served as Federal Minister of Justice in the cabinet of Kohl from 1992 to 1996 and Merkel until 2013. Continue reading “MEDIA – Interview – Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger” →

(originally published in Varsity 2016, Cambridge)

Fabian Stephany speaks to the economist and former Deputy PM of Poland about the Euro, ‘monetary addiction’, and the power of civil society

Leszek Balcerowicz came to Cambridge to talk about nothing less important than the future of the Eurozone. Certainly, he is a man for the bigger picture. After the liberation of Poland, the well-recognised Professor of Economics and Statistics joined the Solidarity Party, became Deputy Prime Minister and the first Minister of Finance of the Third Republic of Poland; he reformed the post-communist system to a modern, flourishing economy, with a “shock therapy”, the “Balcerowicz plan”.

Continue reading “MEDIA – Interview – Leszek Balcerowicz” →

(originally published in Varsity 2016, Cambridge)

Although the EU has its flaws, leaving it won’t solve our problems, says Fabian Stephany

This is a reply to a Comment piece published last week in Varsity entitled ‘It’s time to break the Brexit taboo’. The article started quite promisingly: “70 per cent of 18-24 year olds [think] that we should remain in the EU“. Great news! Unfortunately, as on many other questions, generations are divided. The same ORB poll claimed that only 38 per cent of those 65 and older would like to stay. Interestingly, those who still have a life with the EU ahead of them seem to like the idea, and I guess this applies to the majority of Cambridge students, too. Dear author: how and why would you like to change your generation’s mind? Like most Eurosceptics, the author refers to four main issues, namely: migration, economics, bureaucracy, and democracy. Continue reading “MEDIA – Ignore the Brexiters: The EU still has value” →