DOCUMENTARY | 50:00

The documentary film, “Every Line Becomes A Circle” celebrates the extraordinary life of 93- year-old post-war German artist, Inge Besgen who began to pursue her dream of becoming an artist at age 50 against the conventions of her time. In our documentary we explore how Inge broke from the typical conventions that prevailed and were expected of women in the 1950s in West Germany. In the 70’s she went alone to Italy and Corsica in search of herself and her artistic skills, unheard of in a time when a husband or father had to sign a woman’s work contract in order for them to take a job. Women didn’t just leave and go to find themselves by themselves. For her, this spiritual journey was an awakening and realization that she WAS the artist she dreamed of being. She decided to apply to art schools in Germany to get formal training as a painter. This was in the early 1980s and all the art schools she applied to in Germany rejected her as too old as a 50-year-old woman. Yet, this didn’t stop her. In true Inge form, she set her sights on and applied to one of the best art schools in Europe, the Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam and was accepted! She graduated at age 54, top of her class! The film is intended to illuminate her inner journey, using private and artistic archival footage by Ed van der Elsken, interviews from current day and showing a lot of her artwork and the area she grew up in and lives today. One of Inge’s philosophies is that there is a common thread that runs through one’s life. In German, this is referred to as a ‘”red thread.” This is why we chose a red line that sews and connects the chapters of her life together. Furthermore, we wanted to honor Inge’s first job as a seamstress for men’s clothing in a male-dominated profession and her fascination for haptic materials, structures and textures. It is about recognizing her artistic potential and her decision to become an artist and to live outside of the confines of what was expected of her. Now the “lines” of her life have come full circle and through her story we see how Every Line Becomes A Circle.

Director Biography - Lynnette Luis, Christopher Leete, Ottilie Maters

Lynnette Luis - Bio

Lynnette was born in Santa Barbara and grew up in the small creative community of Ojai, California. She studied film studies at the University of Santa Barbara (UCSB). Lynnette found her way into the film industry in 1994 through an internship with producer Gayle Ann Hurd (“Terminator”, “The Abyss” and “The Walking Dead”) at Paramount Studios. She has also worked as an Assistant Editor for post-production house MWP Editorial, freelanced for Walt Disney Studios and Buena Vista Television, and was the Post-Production Coordinator at FM Rocks for the music video, “Hypnotize” by Notorious BIG and directed by Paul Hunter. In 2000 she emigrated to Germany, learned the German language and worked in Cologne at Mediantis in 2001/2002 as an Editor and Editorial Assistant for one of the first daily online gaming web series. After Mediantis, she worked further as an Editor and Production Assistant, and in 2006 at the Koelner Filmhaus she completed a training as an Assistant Director and Script/Continuity Person. She worked as an Assistant Director and Script/Continuity Person for many years on various German TV and film productions. "Every Line Becomes A Circle" is Lynnette's debut film.

Christopher Leete - Bio

Chris is a director born in Denmark, raised in the UK, and now living in Berlin, crafting personal, emotionally resonant narratives that challenge conventions, fueled by his passion for character depth and self-discovery. His roots in the skating subculture and experience as an editor shape his authentic storytelling. With a keen eye for aesthetics, he creates impactful documentary films. Driven by themes of freedom and inclusivity, he collaborates with brands like The Speed Project, Oakley, Adobe, and Salomon to provoke thought. He strives to push boundaries and connect deeply with audiences.

Ottilie Maters – Bio

Ottilie is a fiercely independent filmmaker and photographer, based between Amsterdam and Berlin. Born in 1988, Ottilie forged their own creative path outside of traditional systems, developing a distinctive voice rooted in visual poetry, radical vulnerability, and cultural subversion.

Shaped by Berlin’s raw underground club & art scene and Amsterdam’s spirit of openness, Ottilie’s work weaves together text, sound, and cinematic imagery to explore themes of identity, resilience, and chosen family. From deeply personal documentaries to global campaigns like Nike’s HOME series, their lens centers subcultures, taboo subjects, and the overlooked beauty of those existing at society’s margins.

Ottilie is also known for their intimate portraits of Brooklyn’s legendary House of Yes performers, capturing the ecstatic spirit of queer performance and self-invention. Their ongoing photographic and filmic exploration of the Ballroom scene has been exhibited at institutions like Kunsthal Rotterdam and Amsterdam Museum.

Through storytelling, Ottilie creates spaces for healing, resistance, and transformation: “I show my own vulnerability so others might dare to meet the unknown.”