Two centuries of scientific discovery. Three minutes to bring them to life.
Commissioned by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, we helped develop and produce the opening film for the 2026 Annual Conference, created in honor of the UNESCO commemorative year dedicated to Joseph von Fraunhofer. Blending newly filmed material with footage captured across numerous Fraunhofer productions between 2023 and 2026, the film connects Fraunhofer’s pioneering discoveries with the research and innovations shaping the institute today.
Rather than creating a standalone film, the project was conceived as part of the live stage experience from the very beginning. Developed in close collaboration with Neumann & Müller, the three-minute film was precisely synchronized with an elaborate laser installation surrounding the historic Fraunhofer refractor. Its circular projection and visual language were designed to interact seamlessly with the architecture of the telescope, transforming one of Fraunhofer’s most important scientific instruments into the emotional centerpiece of the conference opening.
As Director of Photography, Max Mayer was closely involved in both the creative concept and the production of the film, combining newly shot footage with material created over several years for the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft into one coherent visual narrative. In addition to the stage version, dedicated online editions were produced in both German and English for international audiences.
Experience the complete opening: