Stefan Schaefer


Stefan Schaefer is an American filmmaker and entrepreneur. He works as a screenwriter and director for films that have been screened at festivals such as South by Southwest and the Berlin International Film Festival.

Biography

Early life and education

Schaefer was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was raised in Sussex during his early childhood, and later lived in both Michigan and New York. He studied theatre and political theory at Wesleyan University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. After completing his undergraduate studies, he spent a year and a half in Germany as a Fulbright scholar at Kiel University. After returning to New York City, he co-founded the production company Cicala Filmworks.
He is the maternal grandson of Carl R. Eklund, a polar explorer and ornithologist.

Career

Schaefer's films have been screened at festivals such as the Berlin International Film Festival and South by Southwest. His work has been made available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, HBO, PBS, and Sundance Channel.
With writer Chris Silber, Schaefer has co-written television films for the European networks ARD and ZDF, including two productions filmed in Hawaii.
Schaefer directed the documentary, Contested Streets, which compared the use of public space and streets in New York City with London, Paris, and Copenhagen. The film was shown at environmental film festivals and aired on Sundance TV as part of The Green series. He also directed a documentary on W.S. Merwin, Even Though the [Whole World Is Burning].

Filmography

YearTitleCredit
2009CircledrawersCo-creator/producer/actor
2012First Lady / Nicht mit mir, LieblingWriter
2013The Paradise Within / Das Paradies in unsWriter
2013To Love, Let Go / Wer liebt, lässt losWriter
2015 / BlauwasserlebenWriter
2016Surf Break HotelDirector/Writer/Producer
2016W.S. Merwin: To Plant a TreeDirector/Writer/Producer
2018I Am Because You AreDirector/Writer/Producer

Awards and nominations