Kevin Haefelin is a Swiss writer-director working between New York and Tokyo. A Columbia University MFA graduate, his work explores contemporary issues through grounded, human stories that occasionally blur the line between reality and the poetic. He is particularly drawn to cross-cultural narratives that examine social inequities and identity.
His latest short, The Fuse, won the Short Film Showcase at the 33rd Gotham Awards and qualified for the 96th Academy Awards. Distributed by Focus Features, the film continues to reach audiences worldwide.
Haefelin’s films have screened in over 30 countries, receiving more than 60 awards, and have been presented at major cultural institutions in Japan and the United States. An alum of Torino Film Lab and the Kyoto Filmmakers Lab, and finalist of the Kyoto Film Pitching Program organized by Toei, Shochiku, and VIPO, he has been nominated for the Locarno Film Festival’s Pardi di Domani, the BAFTA Awards, and the Swiss Film Prize.