I thought you were in Germany

A whimsical short film about Valentine’s quest to return a pet fish to a long-lost friend. I Thought You Were In Germany is a 15-minute comedy that explores friendship, memory, and the ways we hold on to people, even when life pulls them away. It’s about the absurdity of trying to fix the past, the humour in small, unexpected moments, and the emotional weight of connection. The film reflects on how love, loyalty, and curiosity drive us toward each other, even in the strangest circumstances.

• Director and Lead Actor 

  Maximus Charteris: Maximus is a 19-year-old filmmaker and actor, born and raised in Hong Kong before moving to New Zealand for his high school years. He is the founder of the production company Comica Pictures and has won numerous awards for his short films at both regional and national levels. As an actor, he starred as Freddie in the feature film We Were Dangerous and has appeared in a range of short films and music videos. More recently, his focus has shifted from acting to filmmaking as he pursues his studies at the New Zealand Film and Television School in Wellington.

   

• DOP 

  Melissa is a 19 year old filmmaker and actress, originally from the UK but moved to NZ in 2019. She thrives in creative spaces and says that she can’t imagine herself doing anything else. She aspires to work in filmmaking in any way that she can; whether that be as an actress or behind the camera. Currently, Melissa studies at New Zealand Film and Television School, trying to make her mark in the New Zealand film industry.

   

• Production Manager and 1st AC 

  Alexandra is a NZ based actress and filmmaker, whose passion for the arts started on stage, most notably with producing and acting in the one-woman-play The Butcher’s Daughter in the 2023 Christchurch Arts Festival. Now 19, her focus has shifted to filmmaking, and she is currently studying at the NZ Film and Television School, where she is developing her growing passion for filmmaking and camera work. She is a keen and hardworking individual, looking to get any and all experience in the professional screen industry.

Rest of Crew:

• 1st AD - Quinn Wilson
• Gaffer - Seth Pengelly
• Sound - Jayden Bradshaw
• Head of Makeup Department - Sarah Elford

We are raising funds to give this film the highest possible production value and bring its dreamlike world to life on screen. Because the story relies so much on striking, memorable imagery, part of the budget will go toward:

•  Lighting and camera equipment to create the film’s distinctive look. 
• Unique props that play an essential role in the narrative
• Catering to keep our hardworking cast and crew supported on set
• Festival entry fees, ensuring this project reaches audiences around the world and has the chance to live on beyond production.

This project was inspired by a true story and by feelings that I think many of us share. At just 19, I’ve already experienced how friendships can fade, not because of conflict, but because life simply pulls people in different directions. It can be disorienting, wondering where you stand with someone who once felt so close, when silence has replaced connection. I Thought You Were in Germany is my way of exploring that uncertainty through comedy, surrealism, and heart.

I believe this story is worth telling because friendships shape us just as much as family or love. They define who we are and how we see the world. When those bonds shift or disappear, we’re left searching for meaning in the absence. This film turns that very real, often painful experience into something imaginative and humorous, reminding us that even distance and loss can be approached with curiosity, warmth, and creativity.

By supporting this project, you’re helping to tell a story about the universal human desire for connection, and the strange, funny, sometimes beautiful ways we try to hold on to it.
 

This film needs to be made because stories like this show the value of independent cinema, where creativity, risk, and originality thrive outside the studio system. I Thought You Were in Germany doesn’t follow a formula; it experiments with surrealism and comedy to capture something deeply human in a way mainstream films rarely attempt. 

By backing this project, you’re helping prove that audiences want bold, unconventional stories, and you’re giving young filmmakers the chance to push boundaries and bring new perspectives into the industry.