Yony Leyser (born 1985) is a director and writer based inBerlin.
Yony Leyser was born inDeKalb, Illinois in 1985 to an Israeli-Iranian mother and a German Jewish father.[1]
Leyser studied at theCalifornia Institute of the Arts and at theUniversity of Kansas[2] before graduating with a B.A fromThe New School in New York City, where he majored in film and journalism, and an MFA from theAcademy of Media Arts Cologne.[2]
In 2010, Leyser relocated to Berlin.
After five years in the making, Leyser independently released his first feature film,William S. Burroughs: A Man Within, adocumentary film coveringWilliam S. Burroughs in 2010. The film features archival footage, some of which was previously unreleased, as well as interviews with Burrough's friends and colleagues. The film received was received positively, with a 88% rating onRotten Tomatoes.[3] The film was a Critic's Pick ofThe New York Times[4] and received positive reviews from theLos Angeles Times,[5] andVariety,.[6] It was an official selection at multiple international film festivals including theInternational Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam[7] andVienna International Film Festival.
In 2015, Leyser released his second feature film,Desire Will Set You Free. Rooted in the director's actual experiences, the film follows an American writer of Palestinian and Israeli descent and a Russian escort as they navigate the Berlin's underground queer scene.[8][9] The film was the centerpiece of that year'sSan Francisco Independent Film Festival.[10]
In 2017, Leyser releasedQueercore: How to Punk a Revolution, a feature-length documentary about the cultural/social movement known asqueercore. The film focuses on queercorezine culture, music, cinema, and activism. It debuted atSheffield DocFest[11] and was acquired by French networkArte[12] and by Germany'sZDF.[13] Leyser also co-wrote a book of the same name, released byPM Press in 2021.[14]
In 2022,Drag Me to the USA was released. The docuseries directed by Leyser follows three German drag queens as they embark on road trip from New Orleans to Los Angeles. It was commissioned and released byRTL+.[15]
In addition to his feature films, Leyser has written and directed a number of theater productions includingW(a)rm Holes, which was shown atMaxim Gorki Theater in Berlin.[16]
Leyser has also contributed to publications includingVice.[17]
| Year | Title | Ref. | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | William S. Burroughs: A Man Within | [18] | - |
| 2015 | Desire Will Set You Free | [19] | - |
| 2017 | Queercore: How to Punk a Revolution | [20] | - |
| 2022 | Drag Me to the USA | [21] | Docuseries |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
