I remember watching back some of my very first footage and just sitting there for a second, surprised that a couple seconds of someone’s face could actually make me feel something. That’s kind of when I knew I wanted to keep doing this.
 
Along the way, that’s stayed the constant, first through experimental fashion and music videos, then years of commercial work that gave me the stability to keep going. Over ten years in the industry now, and everything I know I’ve taught myself along the way. I always wanted to tell stories about people and with meaning, the kind that make someone feel, truly feel.

This year I‘ve been selected to be part of UnionDocs’ CoLAB, developing and producing two collaborative documentary shorts alongside filmmakers from around the world, mentored by renowned filmmakers and artists. Our work will center around waste in New York, specifically Ridgewood, Queens. I hope to look closely at what gets left behind and overlooked, asking what our relationship to waste reveals about the places we live and the systems we’re part of. Due to consumption, globalization, and the sheer scale of a city like New York, it’s easy to stop seeing what surrounds us. Yet waste carries its own story, about who we are and what we value. The films look into this conversation, making a case for looking closer.

All support would go toward covering expenses for developing and producing these stories, and, of course, keeping me caffeinated along the way. #coffeeenthusiast

Bastian Innfeld is an Austria-based filmmaker, editor, and director. Inspired by living in various cities across Europe and South America, his vision is to tell stories that fall outside of what we’re used to seeing, stories from everyday life, from everyday people. His work stretches from advertising to short films and documentaries. He has produced films for clients including Sony Music, Tools for Humanity, and the Austrian Federal Economy Chamber. Through experimentation Bastian has developed a sharp eye on editing and its powerful impact on the way stories are perceived. His films have been screened at festivals in Vienna, Los Angeles, and London.

Filmography:

The Music of a Life / Short Doc / 28 min. / 2026
Emma will raus / Short film / 15 min. / 2017
Kamila / Short film / 15 min. / 2016