Leo Behrens

Leo Behrens
Born
Norway
Education
OccupationsFilmmaker, Cinematographer, Director
SpouseIlayda Cetinkaya (2026-present)
MotherVibeke Behrens
Relatives
  • Samaya Behrens (aunt)
  • Annette Behrens (aunt)
  • Brita Behrens (grandmother)
  • Lisa Adhiambo Kringstad (cousin)
Websitehttps://www.leobehrens.art/

Leo Behrens is a Norwegian filmmaker based in Los Angeles, USA.[1] He is known for his award-winning short film SKIN (2023)[2] and recent work as a cinematographer and director on projects like XY (2025)[3] and Pace (2024).[4] He started his career in Norway as a camera operator and director after graduating from Westerdals Oslo's Film and Television Production program in 2010.[5] Since then he has worked on various different projects from documentaries, music videos, TV shows, short films, to his first feature film, Shadow Watchers (2024).[5][6] In 2023, he graduated from the MFA Cinematography program at the American Film Institute Conservatory.[2] His cinematography style is highlighted for its poetic visual expression.

Early life and education

Childhood

Leo Behrens was born on August 19, 1986 in Norway, to Vibeke Behrens, a business owner and entrepreneur.[7] Growing up, Behrens engaged in a range of creative and imaginative activities including role-playing, visual arts, dancing, and music.[8]

In 2003, he purchased his first camera and began learning how to shoot and edit his own short films.[8]

On December 31, 2008, his mother, Vibeke Behrens, passed away suddenly.[9][10]

Education

Prior to pursuing post-secondary education, Behrens joined the Norwegian military.[8]

In 2008, he was accepted into Westerdals Oslo School of Arts. There, he studied Film and Television Production. Although his mother passed away at the end of his first semester at Westerdal Film & Television, he chose to continue. In the second year, before graduating in 2010, he worked on a short documentary with Emmeline Berglund titled Historien om deg og meg (2009) which won the Gullkalven award for Best Documentary (2009) and several other awards.[11][12][13]

Following his graduation, he continued working and building up his experience in the film industry for several years, before being accepted into the American Film Institute Conservatory for a Masters of Fine Arts in Cinematography.[8][14] He graduated from the program in 2023.[2]

Career

After graduating from Westerdals, Behrens started his work as a camera operator for various production companies including STRIX, Mastiff, Rubicon TV, Nordisk Film TV, and ITV Studios.[8] He continued gaining experience and working as a director and cinematographer on music videos, documentaries, shorts, TV shows, and more.[8]

His most notable project is the 35mm film SKIN (2023), for which he served as writer, director, and cinematographer. It is a short film visually and symbolically describing the act of discovering oneself.[15] The film was originally created in response to a prompt as a second-year student at the AFI Conservatory, to tell a story visually through a 35mm film without dialogue.[16] The short film stars actor Lio Mehiel and has been shown at AFI FEST, LACA Film Festival, Oldenburg International Film Festival, Inside Out Toronto Film Festival and overall more than 50 film festivals around the world.[17][6] It has been nominated for and won various awards, most notably the Student Academy Award Gold Medal in the Alternative/Experimental category.[18]

The Academy Motion Picture Art and Science provided him with guidance from American cinematographer and director, Michael Goi.[19]

After graduating AFI, he was selected for the ASC Vision Mentorship Program through which he received the 2024 Fresh Perspectives in Cinematography Grant from ARRI and ASC.[5] With this he was able to shoot his first feature film, Shadow Watchers (2024).[6]

As of early 2025, Behrens is represented by Zero Gravity Management.[20] He is also a member of the Norwegian Society of Cinematographers (Foreningen Norske Filmfotografer) along with the Society of Camera Operators (SOC).[21][15]

One of Behrens' latest projects working as a cinematographer, The Last Draft (2025) directed by Nicholas Giulak, premiered and was nominated "Best Horror Short" at FilmQuest in the fall of 2025.[22] Another film Behrens shot, Pace (2024), was selected to screen at Cannes Film Festival as a part of the American Pavillion Showcase.

Projects in development

Behrens' first feature film, Shadow Watchers (2024), is in post-production.[23]

He is also working as a director of photography on the psychological-horror thriller, Oma, which is in pre-production and set to film in Austria.[24][6]

Style and themes

Leo Behrens' cinematography is characterized by emotionally driven visual stylization, using sculpted light and atmospheric texture to reflect the characters psychology and inner state.[22] These are seen throughout his work, notably in his alternative/experimental films, from his early short, Hjertets Sang (2008),[25] to his Student Academy Award winner film, SKIN (2023), and his recent work on The Last Draft (2025).[22]

Behrens explores poetic and emotional expression through visuals.[16] He is described as working like a painter on visual productions.[22] His work explores themes of personal identity, the connection between internal identity and outward expression, and transformation.[16]

Filmography

Director

Cinematographer

  • Syringe (2026) (Short in post-production)
  • The Last Draft (2025) (Short)[22]
  • XY (2025) (Short)[3]
  • Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping - The Donner Sisters - Fan Fiction (2024) (Short)[32]
  • Pace (2024) (Short)[4]
  • Washed Up (2023) (Short)[33][34][35]
  • Possible Stranger (2023) (Music Video)[36][37]
  • SKIN (2023) (Short)[2]
  • Groomsperson (2023) (Short)[38]
  • Evan Ever After (2023) (Short)[39]
  • Tell Me Something True (2022) (Short)[40][41]
  • Next to Benevolence (2022) (Short)[27]
  • T4T (2022) (Short)[27]
  • Lær Mag (2021) (Music Video)[27]
  • Redd (2020) (Music Video)[42]
  • Klassen (2019-2020) (24 episodes, TV series)[43]
  • Ex on the Beach Norge (2020) (24 episodes, TV series)[27]
  • Torpet kjendis (2019-2020) (19 episodes, TV series)[27]
  • The Window (2019) (Short)[44]
  • Influenserne (2019) (15 episodes, TV series)[28]
  • Charterfeber - After Beach (2019) (6 episodes, TV series)[27]
  • Alle mot 1 (2019) (9 episodes, TV series)[27]
  • Torpet (2018) (1 episode, TV series)[19]
  • I'll Be There (2018) (Music Video)[27][29]
  • Gift ved første blikk (2018) (9 episodes, TV series)[27]
  • Sinnasnekker'n (2016-2018) (42 episodes, TV series)[19]
  • Født i feil kropp (2017) (4 episodes, TV series)[45]
  • Stomping Ground (2017) (Music Video)[46]
  • Sykt Perfekt (2016) (6 episodes, TV series)[27]
  • Norges Hagemester (2015) (TV series)[27]
  • Redningsskøyta (2012) (TV Series)[27]
  • Historien om deg og meg (2009) (Short)[30][11][31]
  • Luksusfellen (2013-2014) (22 episodes, TV series)[43]

Writer

  • SKIN (2023) (Short)[2]
  • Hjertets Sang (2008) (Short)[25]

Producer

  • SKIN (2023) (Short) (Executive Producer)[2]
  • Historien om deg og meg (2009) (Short)[30][11]

Cast (self)

  • Stage 5 (2025) (1 episode, TV series)[47][15]
  • Mensen (2020) (1 episode, TV mini series)[43]
  • Endelig Meg Selv (2018) (short)[48]
  • Født i feil kropp (2014) (1 episode, TV series)[45]

Awards and nominations

THE LAST DRAFT (2025)

  • FilmQuest - Nominated [49]

SKIN (2023)

  • Student Academy Award Gold Medal in Alternative/Experimental (2023) - Winner[50][51]
  • Los Angeles Cinematography Awards: Best Short, Best Picture of the Month, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay, Best Producer, Best Production Design, Best Editing (2023) - Winner[1]
  • GemFest Awards: Best Cinematography (Short), Best Editing (Short) (2024) - Winner[52]
  • TINFF Award for Best Short (2024) - Winner[53]
  • AFI FEST Grand Jury Award (2023) - Nominated[12]

Evan Ever After (2023)

  • Florida Film Festival Audience Award for Best Florida Short (2023) - Winner[6]
  • Out on Film Film Festival: Jury Award for Best Documentary Short, Audience Award for Best Documentary Short (2023) - Winner[54]
  • Stamped Film Festival Jury Award for Best Documentary Short (2023) - Winner[55]

Groomsperson (2023)

  • Los Angeles Cinematography Award for Best Drama (2023) - Winner[56]

Født i feil kropp (2014, 2017)

  • Gullruten (Golden Screen) Norway Best Documentary (2015) - Winner[57]
  • Gullruten (Golden Screen) Norway Best Participant Award (2017) - Nominated[12]

Historien om deg og meg (2009)

  • Gullkalven award for Best Documentary (2009) - Winner[11]
  • Skeive Filmer Blikk's Audience Award for Best Short Film (2009) - Winner[13][31]
  • Oslo Fusion Film Festival Norway Audience Award (2009) - Winner[12]
  • The Norwegian Documentary Festival Award for Best Documentary (2009) - Nominated[12]

References

  1. ^ a b "DECEMBER 2023 Winners | Los Angeles Cinematography AWARDS". 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "AFI Conservatory Film SKIN Wins Gold Medal at Student Academy Awards". American Film Institute. 2025-10-01. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  3. ^ a b XY (Short 2025) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-10-07 – via www.imdb.com.
  4. ^ a b Jackson, Destiny (2024-10-08). "Filmmaker Beck Williams Talks Highlighting The Trans Experience Through Personal Narrative in 'Pace' Short Film". Deadline. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  5. ^ a b c AbelCine (January 9, 2024). "2024 Fresh Perspectives in Cinematography Grant Recipients Announced". AbelCine. Retrieved October 7, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Oma". Film Independent. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  7. ^ "Åndelig kunnskap til alle!". Min krystallkule. 2025-10-07. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "Meet Leo Behrens - Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide". Archived from the original on 2022-08-13. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  9. ^ "Lille Arkana - Om oss". lillearkana.no. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  10. ^ "Vibeke Behrens | Minneside". Minnesider (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  11. ^ a b c d e Redaksjonen (June 8, 2009). "Kalven er slaktet". Kreativt Forum (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2025-10-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ a b c d e "Awards". Leo Behrens. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  13. ^ a b "Modig videodagbok". www.blikk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2010-03-20. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  14. ^ "Watch American Film Institute Movies". AFI. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  15. ^ a b c Muniz, Lauren (2025-08-13). "NFMLA Hosts InFocus: LGBTQ+Cinema Program". www.moviemaker.com. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  16. ^ a b c NFMLA (2025-07-18). NFMLA Stage 5 Filmmaker Interview | Leo Behrens. Retrieved 2025-11-04 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Skin (2023) | MUBI. Retrieved 2025-10-07 – via mubi.com.
  18. ^ Thompson, Jazz Tangcay,Sophia Scorziello,McKinley Franklin,Jaden (2023-09-15). "Student Academy Award Winners Announced by Film Academy – Film News in Brief". Variety. Retrieved 2025-10-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ a b c "About". Leo Behrens. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  20. ^ "Leo Behrens". Zero Gravity BTL. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  21. ^ "Leo Behrens - Foreningen Norske Filmfotografer". filmfotografer.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  22. ^ a b c d e "Nicholas Guilak's "The Last Draft" at FilmQuest 2025". League of Filmmakers. 2025-10-23. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  23. ^ "Shadow Watchers". Leo Behrens. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  24. ^ "H O M E | Oma Feature Film". Oma Movie. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  25. ^ a b c "Annie Dahr Nygaard". Annie Dahr Nygaard. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  26. ^ Skin (2023) | MUBI. Retrieved 2025-10-07 – via mubi.com.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Leo Behrens - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  28. ^ a b Influenserne (TV Series 2019– ) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-11-11 – via www.imdb.com.
  29. ^ a b "I'll Be There". Leo Behrens. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  30. ^ a b c "Gode grunner til å være lesbisk". www.blikk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2008-10-24. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  31. ^ a b c "Årets beste skeive filmer". www.blikk.no (in Norwegian Bokmål). 2009-10-01. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  32. ^ Hunger Games: Sunrise on The Reaping - The Donner Sisters - Fan Fiction (Short 2024) - Full cast & crew - IMDb. Retrieved 2025-10-07 – via www.imdb.com.
  33. ^ "AFI FEST 2024 PRESENTED BY CANVA ANNOUNCES FULL FESTIVAL LINEUP". American Film Institute. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  34. ^ "Watch American Film Institute Movies". AFI. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  35. ^ "AFI Fest 2024 Presented by Canva Announces Full Festival Lineup". Celluloid Junkie. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  36. ^ "Team". SYRINGE. Retrieved 2025-10-07.
  37. ^ Samfire - Possible Stranger (Official Music Video). Retrieved 2025-10-07 – via vimeo.com.
  38. ^ Groomsperson, 2023-05-06, retrieved 2025-11-03
  39. ^ "Olympia graduate featured in new film". West Orange Times & Observer. 2023-04-30. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  40. ^ Bold Journey (January 19, 2024). "Meet Lara Marks". Bold Journey.
  41. ^ "TELL ME SOMETHING TRUE". TALISHA ELGER. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  42. ^ Annette Behrens (2020-09-30). Annette Behrens - Redd (Official Music Video). Retrieved 2025-11-11 – via YouTube.
  43. ^ a b c "– Dei andre gutane har jo ikkje mensen". NRK P3 (in Norwegian). 2020-10-09. Retrieved 2025-11-04.
  44. ^ "Twitchyfilms - Our Projects". www.twitchyfilms.com. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  45. ^ a b Hoff, Johanne Koivunen (2015-08-16). "Emma (14) ble «Født i feil kropp» - og valgte å gjøre noe med det. Slik har hun det i dag". Dagbladet (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  46. ^ Imitating Aeroplanes (2017-10-03). Imitating Aeroplanes - Stomping Ground. Retrieved 2025-11-11 – via YouTube.
  47. ^ "June 2025", Stage 5, 2025-06-13, retrieved 2025-11-03
  48. ^ Lisa Kringstad (2018-01-18). Endelig Meg Selv - Dokumentar. Retrieved 2025-11-11 – via YouTube.
  49. ^ "2025 AWARD WINNERS – FilmQuest". Retrieved 2026-01-26.
  50. ^ "ACADEMY REVEALS 2023 STUDENT ACADEMY AWARD® WINNERS". press.oscars.org. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  51. ^ Piña, Christy (2023-09-16). "Film Academy Announces Student Academy Award Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  52. ^ Storied North (March 12, 2024). "Winners Announced for 19th Annual International GEMFest!". Storied North. Retrieved November 11, 2025.
  53. ^ "TINFF2024 Winners". tinff. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  54. ^ Film, Out on (2023-10-06). "Out On Film Announces Jury and Audience Award Winners". Rough Draft Atlanta. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  55. ^ "Evan Ever After". Radha Mehta. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  56. ^ "OCTOBER 2023 Winners | Los Angeles Cinematography AWARDS". 2023-12-18. Retrieved 2025-11-11.
  57. ^ Kristiansen, Marianne (2015-05-09). "Dette er Gullruten-vinnerne". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2025-11-11.
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