Harry Otto Brünjes
Artistic Director
Bio
After university Harry travelled to Italy to write a play about Michelangelo ‘Terribilitá the legend of Michelangelo’, resulting in working at the Vatican as an art-historical tour-guide. Having written and directed about 20 shorts by this stage, Harry returned to Rome a year later to make his first feature film ‘La Bella Figura’, age 23. La Bella Figura took three years to complete and after traveling festivals worldwide was celebrated with a final London screening at BAFTA in 2009. His next in development is the passionate London-set romantic drama ‘Innocence Restored’.
Harry set up Deckchair previously whilst still a student, the name deriving from an infamous school-report describing Harry’s efforts as being ‘as laid back as a deckchair’, having been writing, acting and making films since childhood.
Other original feature scripts include ‘The Most Beautiful Man In The World’, an adaptation of Narcissus set in the middle-east. ‘Virgin Schoolboys’ received professional readings at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre and top script reviews. ‘The Night Hag’, a William Blake inspired horror film.
In other roles: in 2008 Harry associate produced the inaugural film arm of the HighTide festival, featuring special guests in Q&A – Michael Palin, Tom Stoppard, Ed Blum, Asif Kapadia – amongst a host of the UK’s up and coming director’s. Harry was previously an associate member of the Old Vic New Voices under Artistic Director Kevin Spacey. In 2009, Harry was a judge at the Marbella Film Festival in Spain, special guest’s including William Shatner. Harry is a member of Chris Fallon’s London Screenwriters Forum. In October 2011, Harry was writer in resident at ‘Ondarte’ in Mexico.
Harry remains a keen painter, musician and sportsman, playing jazz piano and formerly semi-professional football, winning the British Universities Cup (BUSA) with UCL and touring to Europe as captain. In 2010, Harry ran the Hawaii marathon in a charity challenge for Parkinson’s disease, finishing the the 5th fastest Brit. To encourage donations he also wrote and filmed comedy piano songs for every £250, reaching £6000.
Educated at Lancing College, UCL and City Universities (BA Hons History of Art & MA Creative Writing, plays & scripts). Theatrical training also included short programmes at RADA and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.