Yony Leyser, a writer and director hailing from Chicago and based in Berlin since 2010, is a versatile storyteller whose intimate, real, and colorful work spans documentary, commercial, theater, TV, film, and branded content. With an MFA in Film, Leyser brings a unique perspective to storytelling, exploring diverse topics and perspectives, particularly those related to culture, artists and the LGBTQIA+ Community.

Leyser has directed and produced feature films, documentaries, docuseries, and miniseries that have received worldwide acclaim and recognition at various international festivals such as IDFA, BFI London IFF, Hot Docs, Viennale, Slamdance, Seattle IFF and on platforms including ZDF, ARTE, RTL+, and Netflix.

With a passion for creating engaging and authentic narratives, Leyser’s work often challenges stereotypes and norms, reflecting real lived experiences and communities. Projects have ranged from a portrait of the American author William S. Burroughs to exploring Berlin’s vibrant nightlife to documenting a drag wrestling collective.

Leyser’s award-winning feature films include William S. Burroughs: A Man Within (2010), Desire Will Set You Free (2015) and Queercore: How To Punk A Revolution (2017). In 2019, the Maxim Gorki Theatre premiered Leyser’s first theater piece W(A)RM HOLES. In 2020, Leyser co-wrote the book Queercore: How To Punk A Revolution out on PM Press. In 2022, Leyser directed the three-part docuseries Drag Me to the USA for RTL+. In 2023 Leyser released two short films The Fourth Generation, and Chokehole: Drag Wresters do Deutschland, in addition to directing the 90 minute branded documentary miniseries Can’t Stop Won’t Stop Changing The Game for NYX Professional Makeup x Vice.

From a young age, Leyser gave a voice and platform to those marginalised by society. Leyser directs in both  English and German.  

Yony Leyser has a B.A in Film and Journalism from NYC’s Eugene Lang College at the New School University and a MFA (Diplom II) in Media Arts from KHM (Academy of Media Arts Cologne) with honours (1,1).

Leyser is a member of the European Film Academy and the Deutsche Filmakademie and has worked with some of the world’s most prestigious art and music icons, from punk princess Nina Hagen to the king-of-filth John Waters as well as Sonic Youth, Gus Van Sant, Blixa Bargeld, Peter Weller, Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Amiri Baraka, and Peaches. Leyser was the inspiration for the character of Yony in Israel Cárdenas & Laura Amelia Guzmán’s film Holy Beasts starring Geraldine Chaplin and Udo Kier, and the character Yoni in Ingrid Veninger’s I am a Good Person / I am a Bad Person.

Leyser’s productions have received critical acclaim from international publications including The Guardian, The New York Times, Der Spiegel, NME, Wall Street Journal, Vice, The LA Times, tagesspiegel  and dozens more.