Andreas Marschall | 2011 | DE | 112' | German, EN subtitles

After multiple rejections from drama schools, aspiring actress Stella gets accepted into the "Matteusz Gdula" private school. But despite her hard work, her lack of talent makes her the target of ridicule from her peers. The only person she befriends is Cecile, a charismatic girl who seems to live at the school. Cecile tells Stella about Gdula, the mysterious founder of the school, who invented a controversial acting method in the 70s that was supposed to make every actor “shine.” However, when several students died during his sessions, Gdula committed suicide, and his method was banned. The disappearance of a fellow student, strange noises from the abandoned wing of the school, and the teachers' odd behavior when asked about Gdula and his method—all suggest that someone is still practicing Gdula’s bizarre technique. And Stella wants to participate, no matter the cost—even if it might cost her life...

Please note: Masks contains disturbing depictions of graphic violence, self-harm and death.

Andreas Marschall, born in Karlsruhe in 1961, is a renowned German artist and filmmaker. He became known in the 1980s as a cover artist for rock and metal bands like Blind Guardian, Kreator and Hammerfall, before starting to direct and edit music videos, commercials, and films. Marschall's notable works include the 2004 psychological horror film Tears of Kali (2004), the Giallo-inspired Masks (2011), and his contribution to the horror anthology German Angst (2015) alongside Jörg Buttgereit and Michal Kosakowski. In addition to filmmaking, Marschall continues to design album covers and direct music videos.