Nico Beyer

Nico Beyer (born 15 June 1964) is a German film director and producer. He is noted for his unique visual style and wide array of different techniques and formats.

His commercial work has won him numerous, international awards, such as gold and silver Lions in Cannes, Clio Awards, Cresta Awards, ADC, LIA, CICLOPS, D&AD, New York Television Festival, Eurobest, Red Dot awards, etc...

Beyer is well known for his video collaborations with The Pet Shop Boys, The Verve, They Might Be Giants and Suzanne Vega, as well as for his award-winning advertising campaigns.

Early life

Beyer was born in Wilhelmshaven. He is the son of artist Ulli Beyer and the grandson of writer Anja Lundholm. After graduating from the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Beyer worked with renown video artist Nam June Paik and Horst H. Baumann, documenting their work on video.

Career

Beyers career as a filmmaker began with creating idents for MTV Europe, which gained him international recognition. He then (1991) moved from Düsseldorf to Paris, where he signed with international production company Partizan. His videos and first TV spots for fashion designer Thierry Mugler, Diesel, Der Spiegel, Jason Donovan, Forbes Magazine ignited his international advertising career. Beyer signed with Propaganda Films in Hollywood (1993) and directed campaigns, such as Mercedes-Benz, Panasonic, Swatch (featuring Nina Hagen) etc... He moved from Paris to New York City. Beyer also continued his music video work and directed videos for The Shamen, U96, Swing Out Sister, Suzanne Vega, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Erasure, Cocteau Twins, Galliano and They Might Be Giants.

In 1996, Beyer moved from New York City to Berlin. He opened his own production company Mann Im Mond.

So far, Beyer was experimenting with digital post production. His unique style was best featured in Shots magazine.

From now on, Beyer focused on pure photography, story telling and cinematic images.

As a result, Beyer shot his first short film Phantom (1998), which premiered at the Berlinale (Berlin Film Festival).

Beyer now used advertising to tell stories and to work with actors, which was most visible in his music videos for Deine Lakaien and Eartling.

He directed TV spots for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, SWR, Audi, Renault and Coca-Cola, which won him silver and gold Lions at the renown Cannes Lions Festival, as well as Gold at the New York Film Festival, Gold at the Art Directors Club of New York.

Beyer moved back to Paris (1999), where he continued his work with his new production company Chased by Cowboys and his new business partner Edward Grann. Beyer's visual style enabled him to enter into car advertising. His campaign for Infinity (2001) and collaboration with advertising agency Chiat Day, started his career in American advertising.

He opened Chased by Cowboys in Venice, California, whelmed by Exec. Producer Linda Ross and directed renown campaigns, such as Mercedes's launch of the E Class and the epic Superbowl spot for the new Ford F 150 truck (2004). Beyer further directed TV spots for Lexus, Canon, Nike, BMW, Cadillac and Land Rover.

Many awards followed : Gold at the Cannes Lions Festival, Gold at the Clio Festival etc...

Beyer also started a career in Japan. His campaign for Nissan Stagea and collaboration with advertising agency Hakohodu was extremely successful.

Beyer shared his time between Paris and Los Angeles (2003 - 2008). Directing and producing for his own company Chased by Cowboys.

In 2004, Beyer directed his first TV Show Gottschalk America,^[1] featuring celebrity host Thomas Gottschalk. In the same year, Beyer collaborated with Michael Moore on his campaign against former US president George W. Bush. Beyer directed a spot, which shows George W. Bush as the great dictator, recreating the famous dance with the globe of Charlie Chaplin masterpiece The Great Dictator. The spot won Gold at the non profit AD Spot Festival.

In 2008, Beyer moved to Lucerne in Switzerland, where he lives and works until today.

Beyer is now working on his first movie script. He also directs TV spots and music videos (he is represented by White Label in the US market and Black Label for the European market). He recently shot campaigns for Hornbach, Audi, Lexus, Jeep, Mercedes, Sky, Smart, Axe, O2 (Telefonica) and Adidas.

His campaign for Hornbach and his spot for Caritas won Beyer numerous, international awards, such as Lions in Cannes, Clio Awards, Cresta Awards, ADC, LIA, Eurobest, Spotlight, Klappe etc...

Filmography

Short Films

• Phantom (1998)
• 99 (2000)

Documentaries

• Düsseldorf (1991)

Web Films

• Die MTV - OMA (2001)
• Die Klitschkos (2011)
• Kaufhaus Des Irrsinns (2012)
• Harald & Franz (2014)
• Bosch (2015)

Music Videos

Advertisements

Television

• RTL RAGAZZI" (1993)
• GOTTSCHALK AMERICA, 10 Episodes" (2003 / 2004)
• SALUT HELMUT, pilot" (2007)

References