AKE DIKHEA? 2026: Denkst du auch, was ich denk, Couseng? Receives Special Mention
The documentary short Denkst du auch, was ich denk, Couseng?, directed by Lotta Becker, received a Special Mention by the Artistic Director at the 10th edition of AKE DIKHEA? – International Festival of Romani Film in Berlin. Produced by Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, the 2025 film offers an intimate portrait of young Roma in Berlin and explores rap as a form of self-expression, friendship and community.
At the centre of the film is Rupi, a 17-year-old rapper who performs alongside his brother Tando and their cousins Nero and Elgo. Together, they form the group Jungs aus Chb (“Boys from Charlottenburg”), writing and performing tracks about love, money, everyday life and the experiences that shape their world.
Their Roma identity is an integral part of their perspective and finds its way into their lyrics alongside their shared language, humour and friendships. Moving between high-rise housing estates and their local youth centre, the young men navigate the stereotypes and prejudices directed at Roma communities while defining themselves on their own terms.
Directed by Lotta Becker, the 16-minute documentary observes its protagonists with a close attention to the rhythms of everyday life. Music becomes a space in which the young men can articulate their experiences, express frustration, imagine possibilities and create a shared sense of belonging. Their performances combine confidence and self-irony, challenging reductive assumptions about what it means to grow up Roma in contemporary Germany.
The film also makes room for the ordinary details that complicate stereotypical representations: the cousins spend time together, joke around and talk about their futures, including their aspirations beyond music. These moments reveal a community of young people whose ambitions, relationships and concerns extend far beyond the labels imposed on them.
By foregrounding the voices and perspectives of its protagonists, Denkst du auch, was ich denk, Couseng? raises broader questions about representation and cultural self-determination. Rather than presenting Roma identity as an external category, the film shows how heritage, language, friendship and artistic expression intersect in the lives of young people.
The film received its Special Mention at the tenth edition of AKE DIKHEA?, held in Berlin in September 2026. Under the festival’s motto “Breaking the Spell,” the programme challenged familiar stereotypes about Roma and Sinti communities and highlighted films offering more complex, self-defined perspectives on Romani life.
ERCF was represented on the 2026 festival jury by Timea Junghaus, alongside Sejad Ademaj, Ömer Alkin and Benjamin Menekshe.
Congratulations to Lotta Becker and the entire team behind Denkst du auch, was ich denk, Couseng? on this recognition.
Film: Denkst du auch, was ich denk, Couseng? (Couseng)
Director: Lotta Becker
Country: Germany
Year: 2025
Running time: 16 minutes
Production: Filmuniversität Babelsberg Konrad Wolf
Award: Special Mention by the Artistic Director, 10th AKE DIKHEA? International Festival of Romani Film, Berlin, 2026
More information: AKE DIKHEA? – International Festival of Romani Film
