Biography of Stéphane BERLA

Stephan BERLA was born in 1975 in Lyon in the street of " Les frères Lumières ", the inventors of the Cinematograph.

Since he was 10, he was caught by the passion of music creation and graphic arts, he spends all his spare time locked in his bedroom with a computer and music keyboards. It is the discovering of « Brazil », the Terry Gilliam's masterwork which revealed his vocation : directing movies.

After some stupid but creative shorts films later, Stéphane went to the ESRA, a french cinematography school. During the first year, He had the opportunity to direct his first semi-professional short movie with « Biobreak », a strange story about a student that becomes progressively mad. This short was judged as the best school short of the year by the ESRA jury. Then, during the 2nd and 3rd year, Stéphane made several films like « C : Vs les Numeros Analogos », a 3D short film rewarded by the french television company Canal+ or « Mes Aiëux », his first co-directing short … and surely his last.

In France, it is really hard to find a job as director when have only just completed school. Particularly creative, Stéphane BERLA quickly decided to work as a graphic designer. During the nights, the week-ends or the holidays, he continues to write and create shorts, music videos or small commercials and tries to create deep and creative universes without money. During this period, Stéphane shot « Monster TV », a false commercial with german expressionist style for MTV, and finally diffused in France and somes countries,« Scoub 1» then « Scoub 2 », both awarded in many international festivals such as the « Tokyo Video Film Festival », the « Cleveland International Film Festival » and in several coutries all around the world.

Later, Stephan BERLA was selected to the “ Festival de la publicité de Méribel ” then won the 1st price of the competition “Young talent” of the “ Festival International des Arts du clip ” with the hypnotic music video « Weapons Factory » wich permits him to obtain his first professionnal contracts : 3 commercials for the company « Holiday Autos »(1,2 et 3) and the music video « Supernatural » (diffused in several countries and selected in the official competition of the “Festival International des Arts du clip”).

Since this time, 2 productions companies presents the work of Stéphane BERLA, Frédéric Blamont from Bandits for commercials and Georges Hanouna from LN Productions for music videos which permitted him to shoot « Café Bouillu » the new music video for Jean-François COEN, an early client of Michel GONDRY. This cutout paper videoclip has been selected in the greatest animation festivals such as Imagina, Siggraph, Animac, Ottawa, the Festival of Annecy, Animago…

Resisting the sirens calls to make more conventional films, Stéphane BERLA persisted and shot the demoniacal music video « Let the Music » with punks puppets for the KLAM's band. Completely seduced by the universe, the Music Label decides with the artist to create a new group from the creatures invented for the music video, the Louis XVI Burger.

Then, Stéphane BERLA is directing « Neige », a music video for the french band, Dionysos. This emotional film with T. Burtons and O. Wells influences met with an exceptional reception on french TV and was presented as world premiere to the " Festival International des Arts du Clip " which permitted Stéphane to be present for the third time to this festival.