Marie Luise Lehner

* 1995, Austria

Marie Luise Lehner, born in 1995, lives in Vienna is a filmmaker, author, and punk musician.She has a bachelor in creative writing. After 10 years of studying screenplay, dramaturgy and directing she finished an MA in directing at film academy Vienna. She also has a master in fine arts from the academy of fine arts Vienna, during studies there she attended the class for Media Art, later contextual painting and finished in the Performance Department. Writes screenplays and prose. Her literary works have won numerous awards. Her short films were shown in several international Filmfestivals. For her writing she received several awards. Her novels “Fliegenpilze aus Kork” and “Im Blick” were published in 2017 and 2018 by Kremayr&Scheriau. She plays in the feminist punk band “Schapka” Her first feature Film “Wenn du Angst hast, nimmst du dein Herz in den Mund und lächelst”(If You’re Afraid, You Take Your Heart in Your Mouth and Smile), was produced by Nikolaus Geyrhalterfilm and premiered at the 2025 Berlinale. There, it won the Teddy Award as well as six other prizes at national and international film festivals.

Short films (selection) 
Nothing (2015) // Candy Cigarettes (2016) // Don’t fck with the Diva* (2017) // Geh Vau (Sexual Intercourse) (2019) // Gaps (2020) // The Zip of my pants is open. Like my hheart. (2022) // In their dreams all jellyfish are wet (2023) // If You are afraid, you put your heart in your mouth and mmile (2025) // When the Snow Begins to Melt (2025, with Emil Huppenkothen)

Awards (selection)
2025: •“If you are afraid, you take your heart in your mouth and smile” wins the Teddy Award and the CICAE Arthouse Cinema Award at the Berlinale Filmfestival; •the Thomas Pluch Screenplay Award at Diagonale Filmfestival; •the “Best Young Artist Award” at the Crossing Europe Film Festival; •The International Grand Prize and the Audience Award at the Pink Apple Queer Film Festival in Zurich. •“Best Film” at the Seoul International Queer Film Festival 
2024: •The short film “In their dreams, all jellyfish are wet” wins “Best Austrian Film” at the Linz International Short Film Festival •A Special Mention at Crossing Europe •“Best Austrian Short” at Queer Shorts Vienna (Austria) 
2022: •Talent Development Grant from the State of Upper Austria for Film •The short film “The Zip Of My Pants Is Open. Like My Heart” wins the “Golden Medusa 2022” short film award at Queertactics •The Audience Award at the dotdotdot Short Film Festival •The Audience Award at the Fish&Chips Short Film Festival in Turin