While his fellow students typically raised and spent 20,000 Deutsche Mark for their final work, Emmerich managed to collect a budget of 1,200,000 DM (around US$600,000).

[citation needed] This film, shot in color with mono sound, received a rating of 12 in West Germany, and was sold to 20 countries.

It was submitted to the 34th Berlin International Film Festival[1] and received some acclaim[citation needed] for technical skill and special effects, but won no prizes.

The film follows the main protagonist, Billy Hayes, an astronaut aboard the station, as he wades through a plot of secrecy and sabotage trying to tell friend from foe in the process.

[2] After accruing 1 million Marks from sources such as Bernd Eichinger's Constantin Film, Solaris-Film, and the Academy itself, Emmerich assembled a young team, and converted an unused factory hall into a studio.