In memoriam Bernhard Marsch (1962-2025)

“If all these things could tell a story—and at the same time—it would be an endless jumble of stories. I always loved that idea. If everything told a story at the same time, it would be an eternal murmur.” Bernhard Marsch speaks these words in the voice-over of his film Wohnhaft (2004), in which he portrays himself and his impressively cluttered old apartment in Cologne-Ehrenfeld shortly before he has to move out. Movie posters, a “reference library,” souvenirs, bizarre historical documents, all kinds of odds and ends that Marsch refuses to part with pile up in his “inspirational office,” as he called it. Life and work – inextricably linked. 
On June 15, 2025, the cineaste, collector, actor, film and cinema maker Bernhard Marsch died in a fatal accident in Cologne. Together with friends and companions, the Zeughauskino is dedicating a double program to him, commemorating Bernhard Marsch's many talents and passions. His tireless commitment to the Cologne Filmclub 813 e.V. will be honored, as will Marsch's own work in film and theater and his collection of analog film copies, the RAMSCH Archive, which Marsch presented at the first event in our Sammelt Filme! series in March 2024.                                                                                   Bernhard Marsch had close ties to the Zeughauskino, just as our work benefited from his passion and expertise. We would like to thank Elena Wegner, Marco Abel, Volker Gerling, Jakob Hüfner, and Felix Mende for their initiative in giving us the opportunity to say goodbye to Bernhard Marsch once again in a movie theater—surely his favorite place, alongside the lake and the outdoor pool.