Leo Behrens is an award-winning Norwegian trans cinematographer and director based in Los Angeles. A graduate of Westerdals Film & TV Norway (2010), Leo gained recognition with his short documentary "Historien om deg og meg," which won the prestigious Gullkalven award. He then transitioned to working as a cinematographer on numerous big Norwegian TV productions. In 2023, Leo earned a cinematography degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory and was selected for The ASC Vision Mentorship program. Leo is an associate member of both the Norwegian Society of Cinematographers and the Society of Camera Operators in the US. 

 

Leo was the writer, director, and cinematographer of the short film “SKIN,” which won the Gold Medal at the 2023 Student Academy Awards (Student Oscars) and earned him a mentorship through the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “SKIN” also won “Best Cinematography” and “Best Directing” at the Los Angeles Cinematography Awards 2023, “Best Cinematography” at Gem FEST in 2024, and is shortlisted for the prestigious Iris Prize 2024. It was showcased at over 40 festivals, including AFI FEST, The Norwegian Short Film Festival, Out on Film Atlanta, and Oldenburg Film Festival.

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His was the cinematographer on the documentary "Evan Ever After"which won the Audience Award for "Best Florida Short" and the Jury Award for "Best Short Doc" at the Oscar Qualifying Film Festival Out On Film Atlanta in 2023 and it also won the Audience Award at Florida International Film Festival. The film gained recognition at festivals such as Outfest, HollyShorts, InsideOut Film Festival Toronto, and NewFest.

 

As an ASC Vision mentee, Leo was awarded the 2024 Fresh Perspective in Cinematography Grant, sponsored by The ASC, ARRI and AbelCine. He utilized the grant on the feature film "Shadow Watchers," shot in the spring of 2024. He also presented a clip of the movie at Cinegear LA 2024. 

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Leo has a deep love for stories that showcase unique angles and provide fresh perspectives. He enjoys exploring any subject outside of the conventional topics, and challenging audiences with thought-provoking narratives that encourage questioning current social norms. His favorite generes are drama, thriller, magical realism, mystery and science fiction. Being a transgender filmmaker, Leo is also passionate about exploring LGBTQ themes across different genres, but his creative pursuits span a wide array of storytelling genres.