Ines Johnson-Spain

Ines Johnson-Spain is an independent East-German/Togolese filmmaker based in Berlin.
She studied Sciences of Religions at Free University Berlin and was a guest student for Fine Arts, Painting and Film History at University of Arts Berlin.

She worked for many years as a scenic painter and in various positions of the art departments of national and international film-productions.(e.g. Peter Greenaway, Anders Thomas Jensen, Lana Wachowsky and Andrej Swjaginzew).

Since 2003 she writes and realizes films, with a focus on documentary form.

Her work centers on intimate portraits that explore the notion of self and affiliation in a complex way. More recently she directed the film „L‘Esprit de Madjid“, about a young gay man from Togo who is a follower of Voudou and relates to himself through his spirits.

The autobiographical film „Becoming Black“ is her first feature length film.

Her works have been screened at prestigious national and international film festivals and exhibitions and has been awarded with grants like the Villa Aurora Artist-Residency in Los Angeles in 2023.

She teaches Scenic painting at Film University Babelsberg and is a member of different film-jurys. She pursues teaching assignments on autobiographical film at various national and international universities.

  • films

    The House is on Fire... it's good that it burns
    2023 in development
    documentary

    Becoming Black, 91 min
    2019
    documentary
    Germany/Togo/Benin
    Avoir et Être, short, 2 min
    2017
    documentary short
    Togo/Benin
    L’Esprit de Madjid, 55 min
    2009
    documentary
    Togo
    La Petite Difference, 45 min
    2005
    documentaryco-op. Jochen Heilek
    Le PingPong d‘Amour, 9x25 min
    2003-2006
    series
    Germany/France/Lanzerote
    collective project TeamPingPong
  • filmography Scenic Painting

    serieSense8
    2017
    Wachowskis
    Oberon Film GmbH

    TitleGenre Director / Production
    Babylon Berlin
    2018
    movie series Tykwer, von Borries, Handloegten
    X FILME Creative Pool GmbH
    Counterpart 2
    2018
    series diverse
    Einundvierzigste Babelsberg
    Endzeit
    2017
    movieCarolina Hellsgård
    Grown Up Films
    Counterpart
    2017
    seriesdiverse
    Anonymus Content
    Jim Knopf
    2016
    movieDennis Gansel
    Rat Pack Filmproduktion
    4Blocks
    2016
    seriesMarvin Kren
    Wiedemann und Berg
    Wolfsburg unlimited
    2016
    exhibition Julian Rosefeld
    Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg
    Berlin Station
    2016
    seriesdiverse
    Paramount Television
    Tschick
    2015
    movieFathi Akin
    Lagofilm
    Homeland
    2015
    seriesdiverse
    Fox 21
    Salomé
    2015
    operaFestspielhaus Baden-Baden
    Alone in Berlin
    2015
    movieVincent Perez
    X-Filme Creative Pool
    Er ist wieder da
    2014
    movieDavid Wnendt
    Mythos Filmproduktion
    Race
    2014
    movieStephen Hopkins
    Forecast Pictures
    Point Break
    2014
    movieEricson Core
    Alcon Entertaintment
    Men and Chicken
    2014
    movieAnders Thomas Jensen
    M&M Productions
    Dessau Dancers >br> 2013movieJan Martin
    Scherf_Boogiefilm
    Monumentsmen
    2013
    movieGeorge Clooney
    Zweiundzwandzigste Babelberg
    Feuchtgebiete
    2012
    movieDavid Wnendt
    Rommelfilm e.K.
    Das Adlon-Eine Familiensaga
    2012
    movie seriesUli Edel
    MOOVIE GmbH
    Die Abenteuer des Huck Finn
    2011
    movieHermine Huntgeburth
    Die drei Musketiere (3D)
    2010
    moviePaul W.S. Anderson
    Constantin Film
    Halt auf freier Strecke
    2010
    movieAndreas Dresen
    Rommelfilm e.K.
    Yoko
    2010
    movieFranziska Buch
    blue eyes Fiction GmbH & Co. KG
    Die Päpstin
    2008
    movieSönke Wortmann
    Constantin Film
    Die Verbannung
    2007
    movieAndrej Swjaginzew
    Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
    2007
    movieUli Edel
    Constantin Film
    Wolke 9
    2007
    movieAndreas Dresen
    DOKfilm Fernsehproduktion
    Elementarteilchen
    2005
    movieOskar Roehler
    MOOVIE GmbH
    Das Leben der Anderen
    2004
    movievon Donnersmarck
    Wiedemann & Berg Film
    Sommer vorm Balkon
    2004
    movieAndreas Dresen
    Rommelfilm e.K.
    Herr Lehmann
    2002
    movie Leander Haußmann
    Boje Buck Produktion
    Solino
    2001
    movieFatih Akin
    Wüste Film GmbH
    Resident Evil
    2001
    moviePaul W.S. Anderson
    Constantin Film
    Was nützt die Liebe in Gedanken
    2002
    movieA. von Borries
    X-Filme Creative Pool
    Fateless
    Roman eines Schicksalslosen
    2004
    movieLajos Koltai
    EuroArts GmbH
    In weiter Ferne, so nah
    1992
    movieWim Wenders
    Road Movies Filmproduktion
    Set Design
    The Tulse Luper Suitcases
    2004
    TV moviePeter Greenaway
    set design assistent
    Le Ping Pong d'Amour
    2003-2007
    experimental seriesset design
    The Shadow Of The Spiderwomen/Hau 1
    2003
    theatre playDarius James
    set design