{"id":413642,"date":"2026-01-02T01:30:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T01:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ucm.one\/%f0%9f%8e%ac-ucm-one-will-release-the-film-darlings-by-steffen-maurer-and-lea-de-boor-in-selected-cinemas-in-germany-on-january-15-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-01-12T12:37:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T12:37:50","slug":"ucm-one-releases-the-thriller-darlings-by-steffen-maurer-and-lea-de-boor-in-selected-cinemas-in-germany-on-january-15-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ucm.one\/en\/ucm-one-releases-the-thriller-darlings-by-steffen-maurer-and-lea-de-boor-in-selected-cinemas-in-germany-on-january-15-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"\ud83c\udfac UCM.ONE releases the thriller “Darlings” by Steffen Maurer and Lea de Boor in selected cinemas in Germany on January 15, 2026."},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

\n

UCM.ONE<\/strong><\/span> will release the thriller “Darlings<\/strong>” in selected German cinemas on January 15, 2026. The film by writer-director duo Lea de Boor<\/strong> and Steffen Maurer<\/strong> sensitively explores the destructive effect of patriarchal behavior in relationships. The film, which has only been shown sporadically in a preview version at festivals, is now finding its way into German arthouse cinemas through UCM.ONE’s global distribution on the Darling Berlin<\/strong> label.<\/p>\n

The film is based on a 20-page script and was developed in an intensive rehearsal process with the actors before and during filming\u2014this approach gave the directors the opportunity to reveal the inner worlds of the protagonists in a palpably authentic and unadulterated way.<\/p>\n

Although conceived as a genre film, “Darlings<\/strong>” sees itself in the tradition of Berlin Mumblecore<\/strong> and thus continues this special series of films curated by UCM.ONE<\/strong><\/span> under the film label Darling Berlin<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”3\/4″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

The theatrical premiere of “Darlings<\/strong>” will take place on January 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the ACUD KINO<\/strong> in Berlin, attended by the film crew, followed by a discussion about the film. Advance tickets are available here: ACUD-Kino<\/a> (external link).<\/span><\/p>\n

Preview dates<\/b>:<\/p>\n

BREMEN – 09.01.26 20:00 – CITY 46 Kino, Q&A with the filmmakers
\nHAMBURG – 10.01.26 19:00 – 3001 Kino, Q&A with the filmmakers
\nDRESDEN – 11.01.26 18:30 – Thalia Kino, Q&A with the filmmakers
\nBERLIN – 14.01.26 19:00 – b-ware! Ladenkino, Q&A with the filmmakers<\/p>\n

In selected Cinemas (from January 15, 2026):<\/strong><\/p>\n

HAMBURG – 3001 Kino
\nDRESDEN – Thalia Kino
\nBERLIN – ACUD Kino
\nBERLIN – Lichtblick Kino
\nBERLIN – b-ware! Ladenkino
\nD\u00dcSSELDORF – Bambi Kino[\/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

Synopsis<\/span><\/p>\n

Lena, a young elementary school teacher from Berlin, accompanies her partner Ole to his home village. What begins as a relaxing break in a winter wonderland soon turns into a nightmare. Surrounded by his old clique, Ole changes and reveals disturbing behavior patterns. A violent dynamic develops that not only destabilizes their relationship, but also becomes increasingly dangerous for Lena.<\/span>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/4″][vc_single_image image=”412901″ img_size=”full” onclick=”link_image” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”413553″ img_size=”full” onclick=”link_image” css=””][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_single_image image=”413555″ img_size=”full” onclick=”link_image” css=””][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n

About the writing and directing duo Lea de Boor<\/strong> and Steffen Maurer<\/strong><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Lea de Boor<\/strong> studied social sciences in Berlin and then worked at Frauen aufs Podium e.V.<\/strong> as a program officer. She currently coordinates project funding and institutional grants at Finanzwende e.V.<\/strong> Lea worked on “Darlings<\/strong>” as a writer, producer, and director while she was still a student. After graduating, Lea continued to work as a writer and director. Of particular note is her work as director of the short film\/series pilot \u201c38irgendwas<\/strong>\u201d (“38something<\/strong>“).<\/p>\n

\n
\n

Steffen Maurer<\/b> works as a director and cinematographer. Since 2014, he has been part of the video collective leftvision<\/b>, producing documentary works on social and political topics. His cinematic approach combines precise observation with a distinct closeness to the protagonists. Most recently, he and Marco Heinig<\/strong> were responsible for the documentary film \u201cAntifa – Schulter an Schulter, wo der Staat versagte<\/b>\u201d (2024).<\/p>\n

\u201cDarlings<\/b>\u201d is the feature film debut of Lea de Boor<\/b> and Steffen Maurer<\/b>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1646580453070{margin-right: -10px !important;margin-left: -10px !important;border-right-width: -3px !important;border-left-width: -3px !important;padding-top: 5px !important;padding-right: 5px !important;padding-bottom: 5px !important;padding-left: 5px !important;background-color: #eaeaea !important;}”][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”15px”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1768174391662{margin-bottom: -20px !important;border-bottom-width: -20px !important;padding-bottom: -20px !important;}”]<\/p>\n

\n

Film Details<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Title:<\/strong><\/td>\nDarlings<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Directed by:<\/strong><\/td>\nSteffen Maurer ans Lea de Boor<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Screenplay:<\/strong><\/td>\nLea de Boor and Steffen Maurer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Produced by:<\/strong><\/td>\nSteffen Maurer, Lea de Boor, Robert Zimmermann, Jessica Rudolph (Co-Producer)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Cast:<\/strong><\/td>\nThea Rasche, Paul Boche, Tom B\u00f6ttcher, Ina-Lene Dinse, Felix Maria Zeppenfeld, Malte Thomsen, Matthias G\u00e4rtner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Countries of production:<\/strong><\/td>\nGermany<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Year of production:<\/strong><\/td>\n2024<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Duration:<\/strong><\/td>\n77 Min.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Language versions:<\/strong><\/td>\nGerman original version<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Original languages:<\/strong><\/td>\nGerman<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Subtitles: <\/strong><\/td>\nEnglisch<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rating<\/strong><\/td>\nPG (German Rating – FSK12)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”-40px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_video link=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/zyP88RgALMM” css=”” title=”Darlings | Trailer \u1d34\u1d30”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_empty_space height=”10px”][vc_column_text css=””]Further information about the film: Darlings<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] UCM.ONE will release the thriller “Darlings” in selected German cinemas on January 15, 2026. The film by writer-director duo Lea de Boor and Steffen Maurer sensitively explores the destructive effect of patriarchal behavior in relationships. The film, which has only been shown sporadically in a preview version at festivals, is now finding its…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":513,"featured_media":413684,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1011,22,942,941,7530],"tags":[17295,17297,17300,10066,17294,17296,16971,7236,8006,15040],"class_list":["post-413642","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cinema","category-darling-berlin","category-film-en","category-news-en","category-world-sales","tag-darlings-2","tag-lea-de-boor-2","tag-manuel-ruge-2","tag-paul-boche-2","tag-paul-boche-3","tag-steffen-maurer-2","tag-thea-rasche-2","tag-thriller-2","tag-tom-bottcher","tag-tom-boettcher-en","category-1011","category-22","category-942","category-941","category-7530","description-off"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nUCM.ONE brings the film "Darlings" to selected 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