Alex Helfrecht (Writer/Director)

Alex was born in Oxford to British and American parents. She studied English at UCL and then trained as a theatre professional at Central School of Speech and Drama.

She worked in Los Angeles in theatre, film and commercials before turning to directing in 2006.

Credits include 2+2+2 featuring Richard E. Grant at the Kings Head Theatre, 1800 ACRES at Riverside Studios, the critically acclaimed short film BATTLE FOR BRITAIN starring Julian Glover and a number of commercials and documentaries.

Most recently, Alex adapted and directed her West End adaptation of Ernest Hemingway's first novel FIESTA (The Sun Also Rises) at Trafalgar Studios to great commercial and

critical success. The press almost universally praised it, calling it "raw, intense, cutting edge" (★★★★ Sunday Telegraph), “imaginative and steamy” (Sunday Times).

Together with her long time creative partner Jörg Tittel, Alex is set to co-direct a feature-length screen adaptation of György Dragoman's multiple award winning novel THE WHITE KING, filming between Detroit and Europe in Spring 2014.

Jörg Tittel (Writer/Director/Producer)

Jörg is Oiffy's co-Founder and co-Director. He writes, produces and/or directs films, games, theatre, branded entertainment and transmedia projects.

Jörg studied theatre at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and the Stella Adler Conservatory. To finance his degree he wrote for videogame magazines such as, Next Gen Magazine, the

Official Dreamcast Magazine (USA), Famitsu (Japan) and others. Fresh out of university, he was hired by Activision to adapt Steven Spielberg's MINORITY REPORT into a videogame. He's been crafting stories across all forms of entertainment since.

After moving to London in 2007, he wrote and starred in the dystopian satire 2+2+2, which played at London’s King’s Head Theatre and also featured Richard E. Grant.

Time Out called it a “crackling firebrand… fiercely original… beautifully crafted… a song to the irrepressibly individual human spirit. A rare, ebullient treat.”

In 2010, Jörg wrote and produced BATTLE FOR BRITAIN, a 35mm short film starring Julian Glover and directed by Alex Helfrecht directed. The film was selected by leading festivals including Palm Springs ShortFest, Cleveland International Film Festival,

Krakow Film Festival and East End Film Festival. Little White Lies magazine called it “superb… illuminating, poignant… the kind of short film that leaves a lasting impression.” The film is available worldwide on iTunes.

In 2013, Jörg helped Alex bring Ernest Hemingway's first novel to the West End as a producer and creative directed its P&A campaign. FIESTA premiered at Trafalgar Studios in February. One of the fastest selling

shows in Trafalgar Studio 2 history, FIESTA garnered nearly unanimous critical acclaim. The Sunday Telegraph gave it four stars, calling it a "hot, sweaty, lustful tale… intense, raw and compelling… cutting edge.” The Sunday Times called it “imaginative… steamy… succeeds in creating danger and excitement." The Jewish Chronicle also gave it four stars, praising its "fine storytelling with a muscularity that does Hemingway justice.”

Jörg recently finished the script for a hyper-violent action comedy set in China. The project has been designed from ground-up as a motion picture, series of games and graphic novel. Jörg has just started working on the comic book with a world renowned artist.

For 2014, Jörg and Alex plan to co-direct a feature-length adaptation of György Dragomán's multiple award-winning novel THE WHITE KING.

Jörg is a BAFTA member and frequent speaker at leading trade and industry events including Develop, London Book Fair, GDC, Frankfurt Book Fair Story Drive etc.

(Scroll to the right for images and clips from a selection of Jörg's projects before Oiffy.)

Philip devoted his whole life to philosophy, until in 2007 he began wanting to apply concepts in the real world, in the face of what was happening in the U.S. and abroad due to absolute failure of leadership. He found a perfect place to do that at the Institute for State Effectiveness, where he became a Fellow.

He first got interested in producing film when he commissioned documentary footage to be

made of a very successful development program in Afghanistan called the National Solidarity Program, which had been founded by his mentors at the Institute before they left the Afghan government in 2005.

Despite having conducted 15,000 NGO supervised secret ballot elections by 2008 - including women - even in the most remote and conservative villages in the country, and having convened councils that supervised the

construction of access roads, clean water and sanitation facilities, electricity, and agricultural products for 10 million people, no footage of the National Solidarity Program existed in any form.

And it had never been covered in the West, which meant an opportunity lost to show that Islam was compatible with grass-roots democracy and enfranchisement, if we would just give people a chance to govern their

own lives. The 30 minute commissioned film turned out be crucial in motivating think-tank members and policy-makers in the U.S. to take a look. The program is now in 30,000 villages.

Since then, Philip has kept his eye out for anything well-designed, well-written, well-produced, that is being ignored or having trouble finding a foothold in this world, in order to devote time and resources to making

those things take off. One such thing was the novel "The White King," which Alex Helfrecht brought to his attention in 2011. He was inspired by the book and by Alex and Jörg’s not-yet-well-known talent to take the leap into commercial film production, helping Oiffy acquire the rights in early 2012, and working actively on the quick development of the script.

Predominantly based in Los Angeles and New York City, Philip is now involved in a range of projects across Oiffy's slate, as well as advising on the company's overall strategy.

Set against a dystopian American backdrop where everyone eats the same food, thinks the same thoughts and sleeps only for another day of senseless labor, 2+2+2 tells the story of a man trying to break free from his inner dictator to find his true love.

Adapted by Jörg Tittel from his short story (NPR’s Andrei Codrescu called it “a creepy parable of robotic genesis”), 2+2+2 is a social

satire in the spirit of Brecht, Orwell, Kafka and Beckett.

2+2+2 was first performed at the Working Stage Theater in Los Angeles, then transferred to London’s King’s Head Theatre in 2007. Richard E. Grant played “The Voice.”

Over half a million people suffer from glaucoma in the UK alone. Many, like Sam, have been unknowingly living with it and are diagnosed too late to slow down its devastating effects. We still don’t fully understand what causes the condition and a cure is yet to be found.

About 10% of glaucoma cases end up legally blind. The percentage is far higher for

advanced end stage cases like Sam. A year from now, Sam might be blind.

What sets Sam apart is his outlook on life. Where some would be paralyzed by fear and even depression, Sam is sure to find a positive spin on his disease. Already he says he’s seeing the world like a Monet painting, but he will have to face many challenges in the months ahead…

Before Dark is the story of an extraordinary man facing up to the most dramatic challenge of his life, a window into some of the brightest minds in ophthalmology, and a cautionary tale to inspire the public to look after their precious eyes.

We follow Sam on a yearlong journey as he confronts his future, memorizing the world and people around him — as well as his past.

Empowered by his indefatigable drive and sense of humor, Sam meets some of the world’s leading glaucoma doctors and specialists and even offer himself up as a “guinea pig” for the imaging of sick cells in the retina, stem cell treatment and other emerging technologies.

A feature length live action film based on
“The White King” by György Dragoman

Status: in development

Written and adapted by
Alex Helfrecht

Directed by
Alex Helfrecht & Jörg Tittel

Produced by
Philip Munger
Alex Helfrecht
Jörg Tittel

Logline

Somewhere in totalitarian Homeland, young dreamer Djata enjoys a life of pranks and dangerous games. When his family is split apart, Djata’s blind faith in his beloved father is put to the ultimate test.

Short synopsis

Twelve-year-old Djata enjoys life with his parents in a totalitarian state known as the Homeland.

A natural rebel with a wild imagination and a tendency towards boyish mischief, Djata idolizes his father Peter, a physics professor who draws mustaches on statues and tells tall stories about outlaws and goldmines.

Djata’s more ‘sensible’ mother Hannah is a virtuoso violinist who is hated by his party-member Grandparents for taking their son away.

Everything changes when Peter is sent off with “co-workers” to “work at a research institute by the sea”.

At first Djata believes that his father is top dog doing vital work for science and the

reason he hasn’t written is because he is so busy… But on his parents’ anniversary, Djata learns the dreadful truth.

Djata vows that nothing in the world will stop him from believing that his beloved father will return.

An animated feature.

Based on the life of Olivier Bancoult and the Chagossian People.

For more info, watch John Pilger’s
Stealing a Nation.

Written by
Jörg Tittel & Sam Snape

Directed by
Jörg Tittel

Produced by
Alex Helfrecht & Jörg Tittel

Status: in development

The Islanders is an animated feature film inspired by historical events, to continue the tradition of recent Oscar winner Persepolis and Golden Globe winner Waltz with Bashir.

The film tells the beautiful and innocent story of two island children as they respond, in their own very special way, to having their childhood wrenched from them and being ousted from their homes.

It is a story of hope over expectation. Of dreams over reality.

We are also designing an iOS game, which is thematically linked to The Islanders.

As well as announcing the film, the game will help raise awareness and funds for the Chagos Refugees Group and related organisations and causes.

A multiplatform sci-fi drama series

Created and written by Jörg Tittel

Produced by Foz Allan

Status: in development

More info upon request.

Mr. Rogulski (Julian Glover) lives in Oxford, alone since his beloved wife’s death. One morning, he sets off for a walk to go and feed the pigeons.

An encounter with the helpful young Steven leads to the scooter ride of his life.

Mr. Rogulski invites his new friend into his home for tea and proudly admits it’s his 101st birthday. Steven does the unthinkable, leaving Mr. Rogulski the choice between vengeance or forgiveness.

A 13-minute short film

Directed by Alex Helfrecht

Written by Jörg Tittel

Produced by
Roksana Ciurysek-Gedir, Alex Helfrecht, Alexandra Schinasi and Jörg Tittel

Executive produced by
David Gerszewski, Krzysztof Szczawinski, Joanna Kalmer, Jadwiga Adey

Director of photography
René Richter

Music composed by
Joanna Bruzdowicz

Distributed by
Shorts International

For festival news and more,
visit the official website:
www.battleforbritain.net

Official Selection
Palm Springs International ShortFest
Krakow Film Festival
Cleveland International Film Festival
Newport Beach Film Festival
among others…

We were hired by digital production house Less Rain to direct and help produce 35 minutes of live action footage for this interactive web experience for multinational Reckitt Benckiser and agency Euro RSCG (now Havas Worldwide).

Planned in only three weeks and shot over four days at Teddington Studios on an extremely tight budget, Insanely Driven was launched online for a limited period in late April 2012.

Insanely Driven won several web awards and was featured on FWA.

Production Company: Less Rain London

Agency: Euro RSCG

Client: Reckitt Benckiser

Directed by Jörg Tittel and Alex Helfrecht

Additional Production by Oiffy

Director of Photography Ian Blumers

Sound and Music David Pringle

Cast
Simon Hepworth, Kimberly Butler and Raphael Fetta

Status: completed

From a stateless Romany Gypsy to an American ghostwriter, from an Iranian refugee to a Polish celebrity, from an Indian woman who feels only Italian to a British malcontent with an aversion to mullets, Passports is a series of thought provoking, touching and funny 3-minute potraits of people who have moved.

Conceived as a series for television, web and mobile platforms, Passports promises to be an entertaining and intense look at identity in our global age.

Watch three concept episodes here.

Producer
Joanna Kalmer, Molton Studios

Directors
Jörg Tittel & Alex Helfrecht

Co-Producers
Jörg Tittel & Alex Helfrecht

Status: in development

More info upon request