12 Paces without a Head

Having fun, sparking chaos and kicking up a riot have long been the way of life for high-sea pirates Klaus Störtebeker and Gödeke Michels. Endless conquests on the North and Baltic seas have lent Störtebeker the reputation of a rebel and a revolutionary, and to his loyal troops of sea pirates he is a living legend. But the constant fighting and battling with those loathed "moneybags" of the Hanse has worn down the once invincible buccaneers and their bold crew. When Störtebeker is seriously wounded in a battle to capture a ship, the legendary pirate begins to question whether this life holds a future for him, and when he ends up falling in love with the beautiful and feisty Bille, who evokes in him dreams of a quiet life on land, he is finally forced to face his future: What now Störtebeker? Guerilla or gardener? A fight with Michels, the flaming full-blooded pirate is inevitable, until the discovery of a secret wonder weapon lifts their spirits and reignites their bond - but the mighty Hanse has also stocked up on its weapons and the so the final battle nears ...

Sven Taddicken studied Film Directing at the Film Academy of Baden-Württemberg from 1996 to 2000. Already during his studies, he received national and international acclaim and awards for several of his short films, including the Short Film Award in the national competition of the Dresden Film festival for »El Cordobés« (1999). His short film »Counting Sheep« (Schäfchen zählen) was nominated for the Student Academy Award in 2000.

He made his debut feature film »Getting My Brother Laid« (Mein Bruder, der Vampir) in 2001 also during his studies and it received both the audience award at the Max Ophüls Film Festival as well as the FIPRESCI award at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

Sven Taddicken has been a member of the German Film Academy since 2004.

His second feature film »Emma's Bliss« is based on the novel of the same name by Claudia Schreiber. This film won several awards and was also a commercial success attracting almost 400,000 viewers in Germany. In 2008, the episode film »1. Mai - Helden bei der Arbeit« screened in cinemas, for which Taddicken directed one of three episodes.

Filmography:

2009: »12 Paces Without a Head« (12 Meter ohne Kopf)
2008: »1. Mai - Helden bei der Arbeit«
2008: »Braams«
2006: »Emma's Bliss« (Emmas Glück)
2002: »Einfach so bleiben« (Short Film)
2001: »Getting My Brother Laid« (Mein Bruder, der Vampir)
1999: »Counting Sheep« (Schäfchen zählen) (Short Film)
1999: »El Cordobés« (Short Film)
1998: »Whodunit« (Short Film)