Sebastian Strasser is a German director of commercials and films.[1] Strasser has received more than 200 international advertising awards. For example: 16 Lions in Cannes, multiple Gold at the London IAA, New York Film Festival, D&AD, Eurobest European Advertising Festival, One Show, Clio Awards, Montreux, etc. He won Gold at the D&AD Awards for the best Direction in France 2010, Gold at the German Advertising Festival (DWP) for the best Direction in Germany 2011, Graffite for the best direction at the London D&AD Awards 2019, Gold for direction at London International Awards 2019, Gold for direction at Cyclope Berlin 2019, and numerous Art Directors Club (ADC) awards worldwide. Strasser was ranked 13th in the Gunn Report’s Most Awarded Directors in the World, and his spot "Kids on Steps" for Volkswagen was elected among the 20 best commercials of the 21st century by the Gunn Report in 2015.[2] His first short film, Happy End, premiered at Berlinale Filmfestival in 2005. The latest short, Apparat, finished post-production in November 2019. His drama television series Darklands, is currently in development with Warner Brothers and Ratpack Films (writers room) and is estimated to start production in 2021.

Sebastian Strasser
Sebastian Strasser in 2017
Born
OccupationDirector
Years active2000–present
Websitewww.sebastianstrasser.com

Life

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The parents and grandparents of Sebastian Strasser were stage actors. By the age of 6, the young actor was taking part in stage productions and motion pictures. He completed his Abitur at the German Goethe College in Bucharest. From 1992-1996, he studied Journalism at the, German Sport University Cologne and Cinematic Art at the Academy of Media Arts Cologne. After his study at the Academy of Media Arts, he worked at the first German broadcast station (ARD) as an author and journalist for a famous German political broadcasting show, (Zak / "Privatfernsehen" with Friedrich Küppersbusch).

In 2000, Sebastian moved into commercial directing, becoming the highest awarded director in Germany and one of the most awarded directors worldwide.

In 2005 his first short film, Happy End (with Matthias Schweighöfer and Katharina Schüttler), was shown at the Berlinale film festival.

In 2016 Sebastian and his producing partner Christiane Dressler founded ANORAK, a Berlin-based production company, that ranked Nr. 1 in the creative ranking of the best production company in all years since foundation.

In 2016 Sebastian moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he is represented by Reset Content; his agents for film and television are at UTA: United Talent Agency.

In fall 2018, his dystopian series Darklands was picked up by Warner Brothers and is currently in development (writers room). The eight-episode drama television series, for which Sebastian signs as creator, writer, director and showrunner, is being co-written by Bernd Lange and produced by Ratpack Films.

In 2019 he wrote and directed Apparat: 15 min. short film, starring Ulrich Thomsen and Ayelet Zurer, with cinematography by Rodrigo Prieto. The film is produced by Radical Media and The Mill.

Works

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Selected awards

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Year Campaign / Film Festival Awards
2020 Mercedes "Bertha Benz" ADC Europe Gold - Direction

Gold - Cinematography

Gold - Editing

Gold - Branded Content

2020 Mercedes "Bertha Benz" One Show Gold - Film

Gold - Cinema advertising

Silver - Online Films

Bronze - Cinematography

2020 Mercedes "Bertha Benz" ADC x2 Gold - Cinematography, Editing

x3 Silver - Direction, Camera, Casting

x2 Bronze - Short form, Editing - single

2019 Mercedes "Bertha Benz" Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Silver Lion - Film/TV

Silver Lion - Prod. Design

Bronze Lion - Cinematography

Bronze Lion - Casting

2019 Mercedes "Bertha Benz" D&AD Awards Graffite - Direction
2019 Mercedes "Bertha Benz" London International Awards Gold - Performance/casting

Gold - Direction

Gold - cinematography

Gold - Editing

Gold - Scripted short film

Silver - Branded content

2019 Mercedes "Bertha Benz" Epica Awards Grand Prix - Film

Gold - Film

2018 Volkswagen "Kid's Dreams" Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Silver Lion - Film/TV
2018 Volkswagen "Kid's Dreams" New York Film Festival Gold - Advertising
2018 Volkswagen "Kid's Dreams" ADC Gold - Promotional Spot

Silver - Single Spot

Silver - Point of Sale

Bronze - Online Film

ADC Award - Direction

ADC Award - Casting

2017 Nissan "Battle Tested" Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Bronze Lion - Best VR
2016 Mercedes 'Time To Look Up Again' London International Awards Gold - Direction
Gold - Cinematography
Gold - Production Design
Silver - Editing
Silver - Visual Effects
2015 Audi 'Mechanics' Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2x Silver Lion - Film/TV
2015 Audi 'Mechanics' ADC Silver - TV/Kino Einzelspot
Bronze - Director
Bronze - DoP
Bronze - Internetfilm
2014 Vodafone 'Add Power' Cristal Festival Europe Cristal & Grand Cristal
2014 Vodafone 'Add Power' Clio Gold
2014 BMW X4 X-World 'Embrace the Unknown' Eurobest Bronze
2013 Volkswagen 'People are People' ADC Silver
2012 ASOS 'Streetdance' Cannes International Advertising Festival Gold Lion - Design
Bronze Lion – Best Video
Bronze Lion – Best Soundtrack
2012 ASOS 'Streetdance' Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Gold Lion - Design
Bronze Lion – Best Video
Bronze Lion – Best Soundtrack
2012 ASOS 'Streetdance'
 Grand Prix Eurobest 2012
London International Awards Silver
2012 Hornbach 'Let there be spring' ADC Silver - Film/Craft Direction
Silver - Film/Craft Camera
Bronze - Film/Craft Editing
Bronze - Music & Sound
2011 Hornbach 'Let there be spring' VDW Germany Gold - Best Director
Gold - Best Sound Design
2011 Hornbach 'Let there be spring' London International Awards Silver - Use Of Music
2010 Citroen 'Le Chien' D&AD France Gold - Best Director
2010 Citroen 'Le Chien' Cannes International Advertising Festival Silver Lion - Film Craft
Bronze Lion - Film / Cars
2008 NSPCC 'Click' London International Awards Silver
2007 Volkswagen 'Dribbling Machine' Art Directors Club Gold
2006 Mini Cooper '30 Seconds' Art Directors Club Gold
2006 IKEA 'Freedom' Cannes International Advertising Festival Silver Lion
2006 IKEA 'Freedom' Shark Awards Gold
2005 Volkswagen 'Kids on steps' New York Film Festival Grand Prix
Gold - World Medal
2005 Volkswagen 'Windup car' New York Film Festival Silver
2005 Volkswagen 'Windup car' Mobius Gold
2005 Volkswagen 'Kids on steps' Cannes International Advertising Festival Bronze Lion
2005 Volkswagen 'Kids on steps' Golden Award of Montreux Gold
2005 Mercedes-Benz 'Watering can' Cannes International Advertising Festival Bronze Lion
2005 Volkswagen 'Kids on steps' Clio Silver
2005 Volkswagen 'Kids on steps' One Show Silver
2005 Volkswagen 'Kids on steps' London International Awards Winner
2004 Volkswagen 'Windup car' Eurobest Gold

References

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  1. ^ "Happy End" (PDF) (in German). Berlinale. Retrieved 7 March 2018.
  2. ^ "Gunn Report, 2015".
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