After around two years of preparation and production, the documentary "Born at the Borsigplatz – Franz Jacobi and the birth of BVB" celebrated its premiere at the Cinestar cinema of Dortmund. Among the 613 guests and producers of the movie, Franz Jacobi's relatives were also sitting next to BVB players Kevin Großkreutz and Sebastian Kehl. 

In fact, this documentary, lasting the whole evening and fully financed through donations, which is based on the life of one of the most eminent men in the history of "Ballspielverein Borussia 09 e.V. Dortmund" should have already celebrated its premiere on 19 December 2014, which was the date of the 105th anniversary of BVB, but filmmakers Jan-Henrik Gruszecki, Marc Quambusch and Gregor Schnittker decided to give up this symbolic date so that they could have sufficient time to fully finalize this ambitious project. Today, around three months later, the 613 guests gathered at the Cinestar cinema of Dortmund could realize that it was worth waiting: "Born at the Borsigplatz - Franz Jacobi and the birth of BVB" has become an impressive and emotional hour of history for all those whose heart beats for BVB. 

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In this 94-minute work, many accounts can be heard from companions of the central figure, who are still alive and contributed to the creation of Borussia Dortmund, as well as Borussia Dortmund current chairman Dr. Rheinhard Rauball, who said about his predecessor, whose death dates back to 1979: "Without him, we would not be here today." For the filmmakers, all of whom are journalists among whom there are BVB supporters, the crowd funding, which refers to a project fully financed through donations, was the last opportunity to trace the history of the creation of Borussia Dortmund by means of descriptions made by Jacobi's friends in great details and by using match clips - this documentary gives us an insight into the spectacular creation of the "Weiße Wiese", which was the first home stadium of Borussia Dortmund, and the crucial moment marked by the foundation of the club in the restaurant "Zum Wildschütz", which is located near the Borsigplatz. "Ten years later," said filmmaker Quambusch about the protagonists, some of whom are now aged, "it would have been impossible to shoot this movie". 

The success of this documentary was even greater as Gruszecki, Quanmusch and Schnittker managed to maintain the spirit of the club's genesis in such a vivid form for all times. "A wonderful cinematographic work for Borussia Dortmund and the city of Dortmund," also said BVB player Sebastian Kehl following the premiere, at which the filmmakers were awarded with standing ovations lasting several minutes. 

On top of Borussia Dortmund, 3000 fans and supporters contributed to the production costs of the movie, which has therefore become Germany's greatest crowd funding project so far. 

For further information about "Born at the Borsigplatz – Franz Jacobi and the birth of BVB", please visit http://franz-jacobi.de (pf)