Reeling

Reeling is a touching drama directed by Yana Alliata and executive produced by legendary filmmaker Werner Herzog. The film world premiered at the 2025 South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas — selected as one of only eight films in the narrative competition.

The Role

Hans Christopher stars as John Brown, delivering a performance built on the emotional depth and physical presence that has defined his career across prestige drama. The role demanded the intersection of vulnerability and contained intensity — a man navigating circumstances that test the limits of what he can hold together.

The Festival

SXSW's narrative competition is one of the most selective programs in American independent film. In 2025, only eight films were chosen from thousands of submissions for the narrative feature competition. Reeling's selection places it alongside work that has historically launched careers and earned distribution deals, critical attention, and awards consideration.

Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog's involvement as executive producer brought the project an uncompromising creative standard. Herzog — whose filmography spans Aguirre, the Wrath of God, Grizzly Man, and Fitzcarraldo — is known for demanding raw, authentic performances from his collaborators. His presence on the project reflects the caliber of work Reeling represents.

The Director

Yana Alliata directed Reeling with a vision that balanced intimate character study with broader emotional scope. Her approach gave Christopher the space to build John Brown from the inside out — a performance grounded in behavior rather than exposition.