“Every morning, when I open my eyes and see the thick bars across my window I cannot help but think back to that evening my downfall began.”
Jens Soering
This season, on The Truth About True Crime, host Amanda Knox explores the perplexing and sensationalized case from the docu-series Killing for Love, streaming on Sundance Now. Listen as she untangles a tale of obsessed young lovers, heinous murders, and a shocking miscarriage of justice that eerily parallels her own story.
The first time Karin Steinberger met Jens Soering in person, he had already been a prisoner for 20 years. He had spent more time incarcerated than walking free. That was in August 2006. He was talking about his great love for Elizabeth Haysom, about lies and betrayal. It was a flood of words; he spoke as if his life depended on it. And repeatedly this one phrase: I am innocent.
That was 10 years ago. Since then he wrote her nearly every day, his letters are full of rage, and sometimes of hope. And there are news with every visit: There was a parole-hearing, during which the chairman fell asleep, in front of everyone present. Like all pervious parole applications, this one was also denied. Then there was this new witness, who exonerated Soering, but no official had any interest in him. There was DNA evidence from the crime scene, but none matched that of Jens Soering. A moment of hope came when Tim Kaine, the democratic governor of Virginia, declared Jens Soering’s transfer to Germany. And it was destroyed when his republican successor, Bob McDonnell stopped the transfer on his first day in office. Jens Soering stayed prisoner number 1161655, given two life sentences for the murder on Nancy and Derek Haysom, who were stabbed to death in their home in Lynchburg, Virginia, on March 30th, 1985. The question that still lingers: Is Jens Soering guilty beyond reasonable doubt?
Three years ago Karin Steinberger asked Marcus Vetter if he would like to make a movie about this case. All those inconsistencies, procedural errors, and unanswered questions. The story seemed far from finished. At this moment Jens Soering was in prison for 27 years.
Karin and Marcus have worked together previously, on two documentaries: “Hunger“ (2009) and “The Forecaster“ (2015). And now they looked at the Haysom-killing, a story that seemed written in Hollywood. Two brilliant students meet each other at the University of Virginia, she was beautiful and bold, he was very intelligent and arrogant. They fall in love, become a couple, and then Elizabeth’s parents get killed.
At first the police have no traces, but they get closer and closer to the couple. So Elizabeth and Jens flee to Asia, Europe, and finally get caught in London for cashing bad cheques. They both confess the murder during interrogations, then revoke. Soering says, he confessed to safe her from the electric chair. Haysom says: He did it. The great love turned into a deadly betrayal.
The interview with Jens Soering by Steinberger and Vetter in the Buckingham Correctional Center is the last he is allowed to give in front of a camera. Since then: No more filming. By accident Steinberger and Vetter get the complete video footage of the processes. The gruesome double murder was a public sensation back then in the US, to be seen every day live on TV. The footage is another sensation, you can see everything: How Elizabeth Haysom wraps herself up in lies, how Jens Soering’s lawyer fails because of the special procedural rules in the state of Virgina, how Jens Soering’s with his juvenile arrogance turns everyone against him, how facts get twisted and how crucial questions never get asked.
The movie shooting has its own impact: Steinberger and Vetter get to know the FBI-agent, who had made a perpetrator profile; however its existence has been denied by officials to this very day. Together with a private investigator Steinberger and Vetter search for witnesses who, without any stated reason, have never been asked to give testimony in court. They learn that the abuse of Elizabeth Haysom by her mother is still a taboo. Nude pictures of Elizabeth taken by Nancy Haysom are to this day under seal and cannot to be found.
Jens Soering was in prison for 30 years, one month and 24 days when the movie had its world premiere on June 24th, 2016 at the Filmfest in Munich. The movie’s effects are already noticeable. What remains is one crucial question: Is Jens Soering guilty, beyond reasonable doubt?
Munich, August 8th, 2016
Filming Jens Soering’s lawyer Gail Ball and private investigator Dave Watson in the evidence room in Bedford.
Marcus Vetter (director) and Georg Zengerling (camera) at a shooting in Bedford.
Aljoscha Haupt (sound) and Georg Zengerling (camera) shooting film material in front of the Fluvanna Correctional Center for Women in Troy, Virginia, in which Elizabeth Haysom is detained.
Marcus Vetter (director), Georg Zengerling (camera) and Aljoscha Haupt (sound) shooting film material in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Georg Zengerling (camera) and Aljoscha Haupt (sound) in Bedford, Virginia.
Ricky Gardner in his office in Bedford.
Private investigator Dave Watson with Aljoscha Haupt (sound) and Georg Zengerling (camera) in Cape Charles.
Aljoscha Haupt (sound) and Georg Zengerling (camera) after filming.
Filming with Chuck Reid in Bedford.
Marcus Vetter and Karin Steinberger at a shooting with Chuck Reid in Bedford.
John and Suzanne Peniche in Lynchburg in front of their home in which Elizabeth Haysom’s parents were murdered in 1985.
Aljoscha Haupt (sound) at a filming in Bedford.
The film crew and Jens Soering’s lawyer Gail Ball in Virginia.
Private investigator Dave Watson in Washington DC.
Mike Gentile (second camera) and Georg Zengerling (camera) in New York City.
| 22. Filmfest Turkey | Germany | March 4, 9.00 pm | more |
| March 6, 9.15 pm | |||
| RiverRun IFF | USA | March 31, 12.30 pm * | more |
| April 1, 7.00 pm * | |||
| DOC aviv | Israel | May 12, 6.00 pm * | more |
| May 14, 6.00 pm * | |||
| DOCS against GRAVITY | Poland | May 12-26 *** | more |
| DOC EDGE | New Zealand | May 18, 8.00 pm * | more |
| May 20, 1.45 pm * | |||
| May 27, 8.30 pm * | |||
| May 28, 8.45 pm * | |||
| DOCS Barcelona | Spain | May 20, 10.00 pm * | more |
| May 25, 07.30 pm * | |||
| 57 KFF Krakow Film Festival | Poland | May 28 – June 4 *** | more |
| Documentarist | Turkey | June 17-26 | more |
| Durban IFF | Southafrika | July 13-23 | more |
| Kota Kinabalu IFF | Malaysia | July 22-29 | more |
* With Q & A with director Marcus Vetter and/or co-director Karin Steinberger
*** Screening dates will be announced soon
More international festivals screenings will be announced soon.
“The Promise” wins the “Öngören Award” for Democracy and Human Rights at the 22nd Filmfest Turkey in Nuremberg
On Saturday March, 11 2017, the documentary feature film “The Promise”, by filmmaker Marcus Vetter and journalist Karin Steinberger, was awarded the “Öngören Award for Democracy and Human Rights” at the 22nd Filmfest Turkey Germany in Nuremberg .
On November 5th the documentary “The Promise” had its US-premiere on the Virignia Film Festival. This is a very special location, because in Charlottesville 1984 Elizabeth Haysom and Jens Soering met the first time, right here, at the University of Virginia, where the movie will be shown as the festival’s centerpiece. Screenings at the 39th Denver Film Festival and at DOC NYC have followed. Additionally, “The Promise” was chosen for the Masters Program at the International Documentary Festival in Amsterdam (IDFA). The IDFA Masters Program presented a selection of new movies from “renowned documentary directors”.
| Filmfest Munich* | Germany | Jun 23 – Jul 2 | more |
| DMZ DOCS* | South Korea | Sep 22 – 29 | more |
| Reykjavik IFF | Island | Sep 28 – Oct 10 | more |
| DOCSDF* | Mexico | Oct 13 – 22 | more |
| Virginia Film Festival* | USA | Nov 3 – 6 | more |
| Denver Film Festival* | USA | Nov 8 – 11 | more |
| DOC NYC* | USA | Nov 13 | more |
| IDFA Amsterdam* | Neatherlands | Nov 16 – 27 | more |
| DOCS Barcelona Valparadiso |
Chile | 25 – 30 Nov | more |
* With Q&A with filmmaker Karin Steinberger and/or Director Marcus Vetter
Downtown Mall : The Paramount Theater – Discussion with director Karin Steinberger and subjects Gail Marshall, Chuck Reid, and Steve Rosenfield, moderated by Sandy Hausman (NPR).
The Virginia Film Festival is proud to present the North American Premiere of The Promise, a gripping documentary about one of Virginia’s most notorious crimes and the many questions that still surround the case 30 years later. Echoing the hit Netfilx series Making a Murderer and the NPR sensation Serial, The Promise looks back at the gruesome 1985 double murder of Nancy and Derek Haysom in bucolic Bedford County, Virginia, and the man who continues to proclaim his innocence after three decades of incarceration. German national Jens Soering and his girlfriend Elizabeth Haysom, both honor students at the University of Virginia, were convicted of the crimes in 1990 and German filmmakers Karin Steinberger and Marcus Vetter present a fascinating look back at a complicated and troubling true crime story that has returned to the headlines in the last month, thanks to a defense team claim of newly-discovered DNA evidence that could impact the case.
On Saturday, November 5, “The Promise” celebrated its US premiere with 1040 seats sold out premiere at the Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville. After the film Jens Soering spoke in a radio interview to the enthusiastic and touched audience and apologized publicly to the University of Virginia – a very moving and emotional moment. Afterwards, a panel discussion took place with director Karin Steinberger and the protagonist Steven Rosenfield, Gail Marshall and Chuck Reid. The event was moderated by the reporter Sandy Hausman.
VPRO offers a special “Extra Screening” at IDFA, a special Q&A where the creators give an insight into the production of the film and share some outtakes. The discussion is moderated by Nick Fraser.
Friday, November 18. 2016, 3 pm at EYE Cinema 1
The Promise was selected for the Master Program at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam. The IDFA Masters section presents a selection of the latest films from “prestigious documentary films”.
Wednesday, November 16. – 8.15 pm | Tuschinski 3*
Friday, November 18. – 3 pm | EYE Cinema 1*
Saturday, November 19. – 9.30 pm | Brakke Grund Expozaal*
Thursday, November 24. – 3.15 pm | Mut 09
Friday, November 25. – 1:45 pm | Tuschinski 2
The directors Marcus Vetter and Karin Steinberger together with the producers Louise Rosen and Ulf Meyer present the film with Q&A after the screening.
| Friday | 06/24/2016 | 05.00 pm | ARRI KINO |
| Sunday | 06/26/2016 | 11.30 am | ARRI KINO |
| Thursday | 06/30/2016 | 07.30 pm | City 3 |
| Friday | 07/01/2016 | 10.00 am | Gloria Palast |
Love, Hate, Betrayal: This year’s line up of films from New German Cinema run the gamut between affection and violence. They encompass everything from a love story, to a true crime documentary, a pitch black comedy and a road movie and include works from young directors as well as new works from well known names.
“Filmfest München is one of the most important platforms for innovative German films”, says festival director Diana IIjine. It shows the best that German cinema has to offer. Sixteen films and three documentaries will have their world premier as part of the line up of the section New German Cinema.
The Documentary “The Promise” shows just how close love and crime are sometimes intertwined. It tells the story of the brutal double murder of husband and wife Nancy and Derek Haysom in 1985. Convicted of the crime was Jens Soering, the German boyfriend of the couple’s daughter Elisabeth. Imogen Poots and Daniel Brühl narrate.
Karin Steinberger, Marcus Vetter and their team spent over three years researching this case, which achieved world-wide notoriety. They uncovered new evidence, including a profile og the FBI which has been never presented in court. A controversial doc about a great love and perhaps a great injustice, and an American legal system spun out of control.
Co-Director Karin Steinberger presents “The Promise” with extended Q&A.
Friday, March 31. 2017 – 12.30 pm
Saturday, April 1. 2017 – 07.00 pm
Co-Director Karin Steinberger and producer Louise Rosen present “The Promise” with Q&A at IFC Center.
Saturday, Nov 13. 2016 – 8.45 pm
Co-Director Karin Steinberger presents “The Promise” with extended Q&A at the UA Pavillion.
Tuesday, Nov 8. 2016 – 6 pm
Wednesday, Nov 9. 2016 – 3.45 pm
Friday, Nov 11. 2016 – 1.45 pm
Our goal is to create a platform for the independent production of documentaries and fiction films. We are interested in using our unique backgrounds and styles to create feature length films that are high quality and tell stories that people throughout the world can relate to. We strive to do this by focusing on creating material that is powerful, edgy, provocative, contemporary and must be seen because of its political or social relevance. Our vision is to create a network of filmmakers and commissioning editors around the globe who believe, like we do, that films do make a difference. Our aim is to create a student filmmaking program for young people who would otherwise not have a chance to be educated in this field.
For more information please contact: info(at)filmperspektive.de
Editorial: Karin Steinberger
karin.steinberger(at)sueddeutsche.de | +49 (0)89.21 83 86 17
World Sales: Louise Rosen
louise(at)louiserosenltd.com | +1 617.899 66 29
Sales Germany: Farbfilm Berlin
info(at)farbfilm-verleih.de | +49 (0)30.29 77 29 44
| A production of | Filmperspektive |
| Original title | The Promise |
| A film by | Marcus Vetter and Karin Steinberger |
| In co-production with | SWR, ARTE, BR, DR, BBC, SVT, VPRO |
| Directed and edited by | Marcus Vetter |
| Co-Director | Karin Steinberger |
| Year of Production | 2016 |
| Producers | Marcus Vetter |
| Louise Rosen | |
| Ulf Meyer | |
| Consulting Producer | Peter Broderick |
| Director of Photography | Georg Zengerling |
| Co-Editors | Michele Gentile |
| Patrick Wilfert | |
| Bonus materials | Andrea Stettmer |
| Christoph von Stieglitz | |
| Original Music | Jens Huerkamp |
| Sound | Aljoscha Haupt |
| Sound Design | Markus Limberger |
| Sound Mix | Jonathan Schorr |
| Line Producer | Annette Burchard |
| Color Correction | Fabiana Cardalda |
| Legal Advisor | Albert Kitzler |
| Commissioning Editors | Gudrun Hanke el Ghomri, SWR |
| Catherine Le Goff, ARTE Petra Felber, BR Mette Hoffmann Meyer, DR Nick Fraser, BBC Kate Townsend, BBC Axel Arnö, SVT |
|
| Nathalie Windhorst, VPRO | |
| Founded by | MFG and DFFF |
| Distributor, Germany | Farbfilm, Berlin |
| World Sales | Louise Rosen Ltd. |
| North American Distribution Representatives | Louise Rosen/Louise Rosen Ltd. Peter Broderick/Paradigm Consulting |
BRD 2016 / Shooting: April 2014 – June 2015
Format: HD/35mm / Shooting Format: HD
Sound Format: Dolby Digital/ 1:1.85
