German filmmakers visit New Riegel

NEW RIEGEL — Two German media professionals are scheduled to arrive in Seneca County on March 25, 2026, to begin a three-week photography and film project documenting the enduring connection between Riegel, Germany, and New Riegel, Ohio. The project is led by Tabea, a photographer completing her graduation studies in Berlin, and Jonathan, a filmmaker. The initiative focuses on the migration history of the 1830s, when families led by Anton Schindler left the German village of Riegel to establish the settlement in Ohio. OriginsThe research was sparked by a long-standing family connection. Tabea's father served as the mayor of Riegel from 2002 to 2018, during which time he shared artifacts from previous cultural exchanges with his daughter. "I first heard of the existence of New Riegel in 2016 when my dad... showed me one of the sweaters that were gifted to the town in the 90s by New Riegel residents," Tabea explained. "Later I discovered Raymond Schindler's book about his upbringing in New Riegel which really inspired me to find out more." Historical contextThe study will compare the development of the two locations over the last two centuries. While the original Riegel has grown to a population of approximately 4,000, New Riegel remains a smaller community of roughly 300 residents. "For Tabea, who grew up in Riegel, it is especially interesting to see how the daily life and the community in New Riegel developed differently over the past 200 years than it did in Riegel," the pair noted. They hope to find "traces of the village's German history," ranging from architecture and surnames to "people remembering German language or stories that they learned from their ancestors." Filming daily lifeWhile the project has deep historical roots, Jonathan intends to focus the film on the present day. He aims to capture how global and national issues manifest in a small-town setting. "I'm interested to see what are the people's current topics. How do they feel politically, on a regional, national and also international level," Jonathan said. "I don't want to make the people talk about politics, but I want to see how their daily life is influenced by the current state of the world, of the U.S.A., and of their county and village." Community involvement and logisticsThe team is self-financing the project and is seeking a local host for the duration of their stay (March 25 – April 14). They prefer staying in a local home rather than a hotel to ensure the project remains authentic. "Staying with someone local would help immensely," they stated. "In our photos and the film, we want to tell the people's stories from an inside perspective as much as possible, not from an outside one of someone who just comes, takes some pictures, and leaves again." The filmmakers are seeking participants of all ages and backgrounds. For those who may be hesitant to be on camera, the team emphasizes a focus on the "beauty in the ordinary." "Every single human being is interesting and has stories to tell that only they can tell," they said. "We want to tell authentic stories by authentic people." For those interested in hosting, the duo can be reached at contact@jodeges.com and contact.tabeajablonski@gmail.com. Exhibition plansThe completed photographs and portions of the film are scheduled to be exhibited in Berlin in June 2026. Following the graduation exhibition, the documentary will be submitted to international film festivals, with further plans for a screening in Riegel, Germany, to show the original town "how their 'cousins' are doing."