Freelance Writer

& Film Director

Oliver Bernotat is a Hamburg-based freelance director and creative concept developer, working with leading national and international brands as well as NGOs. His work spans commercials, doc-style portraits, social formats, and experimental storytelling - united by a distinct visual language and a strong emotional core rather than by a single genre.

Every project carries his personal signature: strong casts at the center, authentic performances, and cinematic storytelling that balances precision and honesty. With a background in writing, producing, and directing, Oliver approaches each film from concept to execution with a clear creative vision - blending strategy and intuition to create work that feels human, engaging, and visually striking.

Before going freelance, Oliver spent several years at the renowned creative agency Jung von Matt, directing and developing campaigns for clients such as BMW, Vodafone, EDEKA, and McDonalds. His work ranges from emotional storytelling and character-driven narratives to humorous and conceptual pieces — always guided by an authentic, cinematic sensibility that transcends genre.

Most recently, his project Sea-Eye won three Silver prizes at the Young Director Award 2025 in Cannes as well as the 1.4 Award of Brilliant Filmmaking. His earlier work has also been widely recognized, earning multiple honors at Spotlightand First Steps, Gold at the Andy Award and The One Show for “Mercedes-Benz – Awake,” and the Grand Prix Media Award at DWP 2024 for “Mc Donalds x DBS - We the (in)visible.”