Marleen Valien

Marleen Valien is a Berlin-based director and writer whose short films, commercials and music videos are marked by lush, sensual visuals and rich colour palettes, combined with a playful approach that belies a deeper approach to storytelling.

Her commercial work includes campaigns for Pinterest and German publishing house Reclam; and her stop-motion spec commercials for Oatly won two golds at the Young Directors Award and were honored at the Spotlight Festival and the Shiny Awards. She has also directed music video promos for Milky Chance and Midnight Tracks, the latter of which won her a silver YDA and a UKMVA nomination.

Her short films include the award-winning Hot Dog, Not the 80s, and A Small Cut, lavishly shot explorations of sexuality and coming of age, which at premiered at festivals including Sundance, Tribeca and Clermont-Ferrand. Not the 80s was also recently recognized with a Bronze for Best Short Film at the Ciclope Craft Awards.

Before studying directing at the Baden-Württemberg Film Academy, Marleen studied visual communication at the University of the Arts in Berlin, where her classes included art with professor and artist Ai Weiwei.

Her latest work, the mockumentary with feminist arts group Who Needs Feminism Today?, questions why so many billionaires “are flying into space in rockets shaped like male genitalia” and seeks to restore gender equality to the cosmos. The film was shortlisted for three Cannes Lions, including the Glass Lion for Change. It was also featured on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

She is currently writing her first feature film.