Rainer Matsutani

Don‘t Panic Films
Creator, Producer, Director & Showrunner

Rainer Matsutani is one of Germany's most well-known genre directors. While still a film student, he made his first feature film in 1995: "Nur über meine Leiche," which secured a cult status among fans.

This was followed by the sci-fi miniseries "LEXX-The Dark Zone" for the American network SHOWTIME. Rainer Matsutani remained loyal to the genre of fantastic films with "Geisterstunde" (RTL) and "Feuerläufer - Der Fluch des Vulkans" (ProSieben). He then directed thrillers and elaborate TV action events such as "Inferno - Flammen über Berlin" (ProSieben), "Das Papstattentat" (RTL), "Faktor 8" (ProSieben), and "In einem wilden Land" (Sat1). In between, Matsutani returned to the cinema with "Gangs" and the horror film "Zimmer 205 - Traust du dich rein."

With the international sci-fi series "Spides" (2020/NBC Universal), he first took on the role of showrunner in addition to his roles as creator, producer, and director. He continues this role with his current horror series "Hameln - Die Rückkehr des Rattenfängers" (ZDFneo).