Rauhnächte – The Wild Hunt

Sebastian Wolthaus

Sebastian Wolthaus was born in 1992 and grew up in a small town near the Teutoburg Forest. In 2020, he
enrolled in a media school with a focus on directing and screenwriting. During his studies, he gained initial
experience in directing and writing, creating several short films. He has recently completed his graduation short
film and will start his master’s degree in directing and screenwriting in winter 2024 to further develop his skills.
EXPERIENCE AS DIRECTOR (EXCERPT)
2022: WASTE WATCHERS
(15 Min, Sci-fi, Germany)
2023: DON’T WALK THE PLANK
(3 Min, Comedy-Drama, Germany)
2023: RAUHNÄCHTE – TRAILER
(90 Sec, Mystery-Horror, Germany)
2024: RAUHNÄCHTE – THE WILD HUNT
(12 Min, Horror, Germany)

Director Statement

The inspiration for this short film came from my fascination with the Rauhnächte and their customs, especially the depiction of Frau Holle (Mother Hulda). Traditionally, she is portrayed in fairy tales as an elderly woman who demands justice and can be kind at the same time. I found the idea of showing Frau Holle as the evil leader of an army of spirits, known as “The Wild Hunt”, spectacular and exciting. This curiosity also led me to discover the original purpose of New Year’s Eve fireworks – to keep evil spirits away.
To emphasize this dark side of Frau Holle, I used elements of the horror film genre and created a new look through costume and make-up. At the same time, I wanted to bring in a modern theme, which is why the film also deals with aspects of environmental protection.
The production faced significant challenges as we were shooting at night in the cold spring and mainly outside. A lot of improvisation was required, and the logistical effort was enormous, especially as our shooting location was very remote.
The team reacted dynamically to the idea and the script and overcame any complications, such as rain, by quickly rescheduling and bringing forward other scenes. The high morale and focused way of working allowed us to spontaneously try out new ideas and improve the script.
I hope the audience will be entertained and stimulated to discuss, in particular, the contrast between maintaining old traditions and new insights, such as environmental protection. The film is intended to show that there are often no clear answers to these issues, but rather a gray area that can and should be discussed – without moralizing. Everyone should let the film have an effect on them, whether by reflecting on the social issues or simply by immersing themselves in the atmospheric images and music.