Benjamin Leichtenstern
Director & ScreenwriterBenjamin was born in Bavaria – Germany and grew up in a small town between cows and fields. Besides playing football and skateboarding, he killed boredom with creating art and finding his passion for film and storytelling.
After completing secondary school he studied design at TH Nuremberg, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Film and Animation. From 2013 – 2019 he studied scene directing at HFF Munich, during which time he directed various short films and ads that met with much approval at numerous international film festivals and awards. He also attended seminars on dramatic structure and screenplay and completed a masterclass in advertising in 2017.
Benjamin is based in Berlin and Bavaria, writing and directing fiction films, series and advertising. His work is focused on storytelling with unique characters and strong emotions. It’s based on a cinematic aesthetic, which tries to find a different perspective of life.
© photo: Lukas Nicolaus
Filmographie
SUGAR (WT)
feature film | cinema | FFF Funding Story Development
(in development)
TV movie | 2 x 88‘ | Lieblingsfilm | ARD Degeto
(in development)
MADE FOR STRENGTH – LEVI’S
spec spot | Schmidbauer Film | HFF Munich
(screenwriter, director)
LEAD
short film | 30‘ | Glitzer Film | BR | HFF Munich
(screenwriter, director)
KEEP ON PLAYING – SPOTIFY
spec spot | HFF Munich
(idea & director)
FIGHT FOR YOUR IDEAS – HFF
image spot | Glitzer Film | HFF Munich
(screenwriter, director)
A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS – HEINEKEN
spec spot | Glitzer Film | HFF Munich
(screenwriter, director)
USE YOUR BRAIN – WWF
social spot | HFF Munich
(screenwriter, director)
TILL ONE CRIES
short film | 16‘ | Glitzer Film | HFF Munich | WDR | ARTE
(screenwriter, director)
SIT! ANIMAL SHELTER MUNICH
social spot | Hadifilm | HFF Munich
(director)
ANGIEBABY
climate clip | Glitzer Film | HFF Munich
(screenwriter, director)
LOUD
short film | 11‘ | Grant Company | HFF Munich
(screenwriter, director)
BLAUE BLUME – ROMANCE AWARD
trailer | Grant Company | Sky
(screenwriter, director)
THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHTLY
Short film | 15‘ | BR | Lucky Pictures | Lieblingsfilm
(screenwriter, director)
Education
Diplom – Regie für Kino & Fernsehfilm
HFF München
Masterclass 2018 – Werbung – HFF
Bachelor of Arts – Design
TH – Nürnberg
Awards
MADE FOR STRENGTH – LEVI’S
Golden Award of Montreux 2020 – Gold Medal Winner
Spotlight 2019 – Bronze
The Young Ones, ADC 2019 – Winner
Gold, Best Cinematography
Merit, Craft in Writing
New York Festivals Advertising Awards 2019 – Winner
Third Prize Award, Best Overall production
Third Prize Award, Best Cinematography
Porsche Award 2019 – Bronze Winner
LEAD
First Steps – Nomination
German Cinematography Award – Nomination
Oaxaca Filmfest Mexico – Winner Best Narrative
Genrenale6 Berlin – Winner Best Actor
European Cinematography Award – Winner Best Student Cinematography
SHORT to the Point Bucharest – Winner Best Student
and more.
KEEP ON PLAYING
New York Festivals 2018
Silver, Best Cinematography
Special Mention Spotlight 2018
A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS
Special Mention ADC Germany 2018
TILL ONE CRIES
Premiere: 50. Hofer Filmtage – Official Selection 2016
Max Ophüls Film Festival – Official Selection 2017
Short Shorts Asia – Official Selection 2017
BFI London Film Festival – Official Selection 2017
Krakow Film Festival – Official Selection 2017
and more.
ANGIEBABY
Climate Clip Award – Filmschoolfest Munich
THE SUN IS SHINING BRIGHTLY
Prädikat „wertvoll“
Premiere: Max-Ophüls-Preis Filmfestival