A woman wakes up, noticing her facial skin is peeling off. In fear, she walks up to a mirror to look. Simultaneously, in a world on the other side of the mirror, a man covered in ice and snow, wakes up. “The ice man” represents a part of her identity she has neglected. He reaches out to her through the mirror to assist her transformation. As her old skin sheds, a new identity emerges.
SKIN won the Student Academy Awards 2023, and was a contender for the 2023 Oscar shortlist for Best Live Action Short Film.
*Colorist: Walter Volpatto
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Leo Behrens is an award-winning Norwegian trans cinematographer & director, based in Los Angeles. He began his career as a cinematographer and director, after graduating from Westerdals Film & TV in 2010. In just a few years he was making notable contributions to a wide range of projects in Norway, spanning documentaries, music videos, short films, TV series, and reality TV shows. In 2023, Leo earned his cinematography degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory. Shortly after his graduation, he was selected for The ASC Vision Mentorship Program 23-24.
Leo's short film "SKIN" won the Gold Medal in the alternative/experimental category at the 2023 Student Academy Awards, where he served as the writer, director, and cinematographer. He received a mentorship through the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a Gold Alumni.
Leo’s cinematography contributions to the documentary "Evan Ever After", about Florida’s first transgendered homecoming queen, earned it the Audience Award for "Best Florida Short" and the Jury Award for “Best Short Doc” at Out On Film Atalanta in 2023. It gained recognition at notable film festivals, including Outfest, HollyShorts InsideOut Film Festival Toronto, and NewFest New York.
Leo received the 2024 Fresh Perspective in Cinematography grant for emerging cinematographers, sponsored by AbelCine, ARRI and The ASC, which he utilized on the feature film “Shadow Watchers” shot in 2024.
- Year2023
- Runtime7 minutes
- CountryUnited States
- PremiereSan Francisco
- GenreShort, Experimental, Arthouse, Narrative/Experimental
- Social Media
- DirectorLeo Behrens
- ScreenwriterLeo Behrens
- ProducerIlayda Cetinkaya
- CastLio Mehiel
- CinematographerLeo Behrens
- EditorAlejandra Armijo
- Production DesignMojo Wen
- MusicMike Forst
A woman wakes up, noticing her facial skin is peeling off. In fear, she walks up to a mirror to look. Simultaneously, in a world on the other side of the mirror, a man covered in ice and snow, wakes up. “The ice man” represents a part of her identity she has neglected. He reaches out to her through the mirror to assist her transformation. As her old skin sheds, a new identity emerges.
SKIN won the Student Academy Awards 2023, and was a contender for the 2023 Oscar shortlist for Best Live Action Short Film.
*Colorist: Walter Volpatto
-----
Leo Behrens is an award-winning Norwegian trans cinematographer & director, based in Los Angeles. He began his career as a cinematographer and director, after graduating from Westerdals Film & TV in 2010. In just a few years he was making notable contributions to a wide range of projects in Norway, spanning documentaries, music videos, short films, TV series, and reality TV shows. In 2023, Leo earned his cinematography degree from the American Film Institute Conservatory. Shortly after his graduation, he was selected for The ASC Vision Mentorship Program 23-24.
Leo's short film "SKIN" won the Gold Medal in the alternative/experimental category at the 2023 Student Academy Awards, where he served as the writer, director, and cinematographer. He received a mentorship through the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as a Gold Alumni.
Leo’s cinematography contributions to the documentary "Evan Ever After", about Florida’s first transgendered homecoming queen, earned it the Audience Award for "Best Florida Short" and the Jury Award for “Best Short Doc” at Out On Film Atalanta in 2023. It gained recognition at notable film festivals, including Outfest, HollyShorts InsideOut Film Festival Toronto, and NewFest New York.
Leo received the 2024 Fresh Perspective in Cinematography grant for emerging cinematographers, sponsored by AbelCine, ARRI and The ASC, which he utilized on the feature film “Shadow Watchers” shot in 2024.
- Year2023
- Runtime7 minutes
- CountryUnited States
- PremiereSan Francisco
- GenreShort, Experimental, Arthouse, Narrative/Experimental
- Social Media
- DirectorLeo Behrens
- ScreenwriterLeo Behrens
- ProducerIlayda Cetinkaya
- CastLio Mehiel
- CinematographerLeo Behrens
- EditorAlejandra Armijo
- Production DesignMojo Wen
- MusicMike Forst