Leo Behrens is an award-winning Norwegian cinematographer based in Los Angeles. His short film SKIN, which he wrote, directed, and shot, won the Gold Medal at the 2023 Student Academy Awards and has screened at over 50 festivals worldwide, including AFI FEST, Newport Beach, and Oldenburg. The film earned 9 awards and 20 nominations, including Best Cinematography at the Los Angeles Cinematography Awards and Gem FEST, and was shortlisted for the 2024 Iris Prize. Following his win, Leo was selected for the Academy Gold Alumni Mentorship Program, receiving one-on-one guidance from Michael Goi, ASC, DGA.

 

As a cinematographer, his work on the documentary Evan Ever After earned top awards at Oscar-qualifying festivals, including the Audience Award at the Florida Film Festival and the Jury Award at Out On Film Atlanta. Most recently, the short film Pace, which he shot, was selected for the 2025 American Pavilion Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes International Film Festival, France.

 

Leo is a 2023 Cinematography graduate of the American Film Institute Conservatory (AFI), represented by Zero Gravity Management, and an associate member of both the Norwegian Society of Cinematographers (FNF) and the Society of Camera Operators (SOC).

 

In 2023–24, he participated in the ASC Vision Mentorship Program and was awarded the Fresh Perspective in Cinematography Grant, sponsored by AbelCine, ARRI and The ASC, which he utlized to shoot his feature debut Shadow Watchers, presented at CineGear Expo LA 2024. He also served as a jury member for Best Cinematography in a Documentary at the 2025 Gullruten Awards (Norway’s equivalent of the Emmys), as well as the Short Film category at SEEfest 2025.

 

Before attending AFI, Leo built his career as a cinematographer in Norway after graduating from Westerdals Film & TV (2010), working on major TV productions for leading networks including STRIX, Mastiff, NRK, Rubicon, and Rakett. Early in his career, his short documentary Historien om deg og meg won the prestigious Gullkalven Award, Norway’s equivalent of the Student Academy Awards.

 

Leo’s credits include Gift Ved Første Blikk (Married at First Sight), Alle Mot 1, Sykt Perfekt, Sinnasnekker’n, and Ex on the Beach. He was the DP for Torpet, a spin-off of Farmen, one of Norway’s most-watched reality competition series. He was also the cinematogrpaher on Season 2 of the acclaimed documentary series Født i Feil Kropp, whose first season won Best Documentary Series at the Gullruten Awards, Norway’s equivalent of the Emmys.

 

In addition, Leo served as Director of Photography across three seasons of Klassen, a popular Norwegian narrative series and part of a larger Scandinavian franchise with a strong young adult following.

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Leo is passionate about telling thought-provoking stories that challenge conventional perspectives. He gravitates toward drama, psychological thriller, magical realism, mystery, art house and science fiction, crafting narratives that push boundaries and engage audiences with fresh, unique perspectives.