Henning Rütten develops and produces documentaries for ARD, NDR, ZDF and ARTE. In 2023 he founded Anthero Film, where he now works as Creator and Executive Producer on original formats.
From self-financed passion projects to institutional access at the highest level — a small selection out of 109 productions.
A free-diving series following extreme athlete Anna von Boetticher through the world's most demanding waters — from Azores blue sharks to Icelandic ice caves. Created, financed and executive produced end to end; season two expanded the format internationally.
A portrait of the women preserving Zanzibar's traditional Taarab music and reinterpreting it for a new generation.
Rare access to the inner workings of the International Olympic Committee, built over years of relationship-building with sources.
Revisiting the legacy of German goalkeeper Robert Enke a decade after his death. Awarded the VDS Television Award, First Prize.
An intimate profile of one of skiing's greatest champions confronting mental health, on and off the slopes.
Long-running travel documentary strand for NDR and the ARD network — fourteen episodes across four continents.
For more than two decades, Henning Rütten has taken on greater editorial, creative and production responsibility with every project he has led — starting as a journalist at NDR's Sports Department, and progressively moving through directing, cinematography and editing into full production leadership.
In 2023 he founded Anthero Film, where he develops original documentary formats and works as Creator and Executive Producer, combining editorial judgement with entrepreneurial responsibility — including self-financing Waterwoman's second season ahead of a broadcaster commitment.
A selection of the work below, in original German titles as broadcast — from long-running strands like mareTV to one-off portraits and sports documentaries for ARD and NDR.
Open to new documentary and executive producer opportunities.