Her films consistently garner rave reviews and top ratings. While still in Germany Marianne Schaefer Trench worked as a teacher, a painter, a video artist and a fashion stylist before becoming a full fledged film director. In 1984 she produced, wrote and directed the 35-mm theatrical release, “Tears in Florence”. This feature film, which was presented at the Berlin Film Festival and was the surprise hit at the 1985 Max Ophüls Prize competition, got national and international distribution and was shown at the Museum of Modern Art and other prestigious venues.