Nico Beyer (born 15 June 1964) is a German film director and producer. He is noted for his unique visual style and wide array of different techniques and formats.
His commercial work has won him numerous, international awards, such as gold and silver Lions in Cannes, Clio Awards, Cresta International Advertising Awards, ADC, LIA, CICLOPE, D&AD, New York Festivals, Eurobest, Red Dot Awards, among many others.
Beyer is well known for his video collaborations with the Pet Shop Boys, The Verve, They Might Be Giants and Suzanne Vega, as well as for his award-winning advertising campaigns.
Early life
Beyer was born in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. He is the son of artist Ulli Beyer and the grandson of writer Anja Lundholm. After graduating from the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, Beyer worked with renown video artist Nam June Paik and Horst H. Baumann, documenting their work on video.
Career
Beyers career as a filmmaker began with creating idents for MTV Europe, which gained him international recognition. In 1991 he then moved from Düsseldorf to Paris, where he signed with international production company Partizan. His videos and first TV spots for fashion designer Thierry Mugler, Diesel, Der Spiegel, Jason Donovan, Forbes magazine ignited his international advertising career. Beyer signed with Propaganda Films in Hollywood (1993) and later Passport Films and then Compass Films and directed campaigns, such as Mercedes-Benz, Panasonic, Swatch (featuring Nina Hagen) etc... He moved from Paris to New York City. Beyer also continued his music video work and directed videos for The Shamen, U96, Swing Out Sister, Suzanne Vega, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Erasure, Cocteau Twins, Galliano and They Might Be Giants.
In 1996, Beyer moved from New York City to Berlin. He opened his own production company Mann Im Mond.
So far, Beyer was experimenting with digital post-production. His unique style was best featured in Shots magazine.
From now on, Beyer focused on pure photography, story telling and cinematic images.
As a result, Beyer shot his first short film Phantom(1998), which premiered at the Berlinale (Berlin Film Festival).
Beyer now used advertising to tell stories and to work with actors, which was most visible in his music videos for Deine Lakaien and Eartling.
He directed TV spots for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, SWR, Audi, Renault and Coca-Cola, which won him silver and gold Lions at the renown Cannes Lions Festival, as well as Gold at the New York Film Festival, Gold at the Art Directors Club of New York.
Beyer moved back to Paris (1999), where he continued his work with his new production company Chased by Cowboys and his new business partner Edward Grann. Beyer's visual style enabled him to enter into car advertising. His campaign for Infinity (2001) and collaboration with advertising agency Chiat Day, started his career in American advertising.
He joined Chased by Cowboys in Venice, California, owned by Exec. Producer Linda Ross and directed renown campaigns, such as Mercedes's launch of the E Class and the epic Super Bowl spot for the new Ford F 150 truck (2004). Beyer further directed TV spots for Lexus, Canon, Nike, BMW, Cadillac and Land Rover.
Many awards followed: Gold at the Cannes Lions Festival, Gold at the Clio Awards etc...
Beyer also started a career in Japan. His campaign for Nissan Stagea and collaboration with advertising agency Hakohodu was extremely successful.
Beyer shared his time between Paris and Los Angeles (2003 - 2008). Directing and producing for his own company Chased by Cowboys.
In 2004, Beyer directed his first TV show Gottschalk America featuring celebrity host Thomas Gottschalk. In the same year, Beyer collaborated with Michael Moore on his campaign against former US president George W. Bush. Beyer directed a spot, which shows George W. Bush as the great dictator, recreating the famous dance with the globe of Charlie Chaplin masterpiece The Great Dictator. The spot won Gold at the non-profit AD Spot Festival.
In addition, he directs TC commercials and music videos. Beyer is represented by Armoury and Element E in the European market. His recent campaigns include projects for brands like Hornbach, Audi, Lexus, Jeep, Mercedes, Sky, Smart, Axe, O2 (Telefónica) and Adidas. Between 2022 and 2024, he also directed spots for McDonald's, Qatar Airways, Star Alliance, M, AMG, and Land Rover.
Currently Beyer is focused on a 90-minute documentary feature titled Never grow up, which explores the Mod scene and its evolution over time. In 2010 he published the book Dreiknopf & Dosenbier that covers the Mod scene in Germany.
His works has earned him numerous international awards, including Lions in Cannes, Clio Awards, Cresta International Advertising Awards, ADC, LIA, Eurobest, Spotlight, Klappe, Red Dot Design Award, Stevie Award and more. Particularly for his campaigns for Hornbach and a commercial for Caritas.
Filmography
Short films
Phantom (1998) 99 (2000)
Documentaries
Düsseldorf (1991)
Web films
Die MTV - OMA (2001) Die Klitschkos (2011) Kaufhaus Des Irrsinns (2012) Harald & Franz (2014) Bosch (2015)
Music videos
"Dame" - Emile Wandelmer (1990) "Candy Oh" - Bond (1992) "Où trouver les violins" - Art Mengo (1992) "Baby Blues" - Eddy Mitchell (1992) "Cocaine" - Soul Patrol (1992) "Notgonnachange" - Swing Out Sister (1992)"Artists and Music", Billboard, June 13, 1992"Music Videos", Billboard, June 20, 1992 "Comin' On Strong" - The Shamen (1993) "Blood Makes Noise" - Suzanne Vega (1993)"Blood Makes Noise", IMVDB"Music Video", Billboard, August 8, 1992 "99.9 Fahrenheit" - Suzanne Vega (1993)"99.9 Fahrenheit", IMVDB "Nowhere" - Therapy? (1994) "Run to the Sun" - Erasure (1994)"Music Videos", Billboard, July 16, 1994 "Snail Shell" - They Might Be Giants (1994)"Music Videos", Billboard, July 30, 1994"Snail Shell", This Might be a Wiki, December 3, 1993 "Destination Eschaton" - The Shamen (1995) "This Is Music" - The Verve (1995) "Leavin'" - Tony Toni Tone (1995) "Evangeline" - The Cocteau Twins (1995)
"Love Religion" - U96 (1995) "Chain Reaction" - "Hurricane N°1" (1995) "Fire" - Die Krupps (1996) "Ease Your Mind" - Galliano (1996) "Mind Machine" - Deine Lakaien (1996) "Away" - Deine Lakaien (1997) "Echo On My Mind" - Earthling (1997) "Fly away" - "Aaron Flower" (1997) "Cry, Crazy, Crazy" - Düsenjäger (1998) "Flamboyant" - Pet Shop Boys (2004) "36 Grad" - Zweiraumwohnung (2011) "Out the Blue" - Sub Focus ft Alice Gold "One Final Song" - The Buggs (2023) "Wasted" - The Molotovs (2024)
Advertisements
DIESEL - Motor Gang FORBES MAGAZINE - Party GAPSTAR - Cadillac VITOS - Le Pull ALPIA - Schokoladenmeister - Campaign of 12 films FISKARS - Scissor CLORETTES - Gum DER SPIEGEL - the wall KARLSBERG PILSENER - the messenger RADIO NRJ - party PANASONIC - Videorecorder des Jahres TUI - Tochter APOLLINARIS - Campaign of 4 films FREUNDIN - Campaign of 4 Films JUNGHANS - Airport MERCEDES - Colours MERCEDES - Kilometer OTTO VERSAND - Red Dress SCHIESSER - Rowing SPARKASSE - Girl SWATCH - Campaign of 10 films SWISS AIR - Business Class COLGATE - Bathroom FROSTA - Campaign of 3 films HOLLYWOOD CHEWING GUM - Campaign of 3 films NECTA - Pineapple NTV - Fernsehen macht dumm - Campaign of 4 films BUNTE - Claudia Schiffer LANGNESE - Blizz AUDI - the Trip RENAULT - Megane FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG - Dahinter steckt immer ein kluger Kopf - Campaign of 3 films DEUTSCHE TELEKOM - Skype L OREAL - Expedition NIKE - Michael Stich SWR - Violence SWR - Class Room SWR - Father & Son COCA COLA - Armpits INFINITY - Campaign of 8 films NIKE - Young heroes K-SWISS - The Vibe LEXUS - Ralley MAZDA - Zoom Zoom - Campaign of 10 films MERCEDES - Production Line GERMAN RED CROSS - Coins LUCKY STRIKE - Coin FISHERMANS FRIEND - Trip NISSAN - Stagea - Campaign of 7 films"Nissan TVCF series 2002-2008", Seiichi Okura CADILLAC - Sprinkler CANNON - Printer - Campaign of 3 films GM - Winter Drive GMC - Truck of the year - Campaign of 3 films THRIFTY - the works - Campaign of 2 films DEUTSCHE POST - The Breaks ONE - Engine ASAHI - Rush BMW - Digits FORD - F 150 - Campaign of 7 films DEUTSCHE BANK - Shopping BP - Journey SUZUKI - Campaign of 5 films Hyundai - Excellence
SIEMENS - Black & White BUICK - Campaign of 3 films CHEVROLET - record player PENZOIL - dragster QUAKER STATE - Race AUTOTRADER - the mix BMW - X5 - Campaign of 4 films LAND ROVER - New Land SNICKERS - The Giant H&M - Berlin MASERATI - Grand Tourismo POKERSTARS - Boris Becker PUMA - sleep VOLKSWAGEN - Scirocco SONY - Lola HORNBACH - Hymne"Hornbach-Werbespot räumt ab", 20Min, June 21, 2010"Hornbach und Heimat gehen unter die Dichter", Horizont online, September 15, 2009"Heimat stimmt für Hornbach Die Hymne des Machens an", W&V, September 14, 2009"Klappe: Hornbach Spot "Hymne" mit drei Mal Gold und ein Mal Silber", PR Journal, March 27, 2010 MERCEDES - Tinker"Mercedes Diesel Tinker Inside", Inspiration Room, June 4, 2007 Chevrolet - Chevy runs deep - Campaign of 4 films JEEP - New York McFIT - die Klitschkos ADIDAS - Bayern NATO - Campaign of 3 films"Crossroad's director Nico Beyer completes trio of spots for NATO", Crossroads, June, 2009 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM - Football MEDIA MARKT - Kaufhaus des Irrsinns"Alles so schön bunt hier: Die erste Ogilvy-Kreation für Media-Markt", W&V, September 29, 2011 RED BULL - X Fighters SKY - Karl Lagerfeld - Campaign of 3 films CARITAS - Fliegen CARITAS - Progress"Progress", Clio Awards, 2012 CARITAS - Neighbours"Global Neighbors", Clio Awards, 2014 BUNDESLIGA - racism NIKON - London 2012 ( Olympic Games ) OSRAM / SYLVANIA - Campaign of 3 films QBE - rocket SMART - Beep Beep SPARKASSE - Mütter POSTBANK - Pigs SKY - Champions League TOYOTA - Vellfire TOYOTA - Prius ADIDAS - Alaba"Adidas: Dieckertschmidt rückt Bayern-Star Alaba ins Rampenlicht", Horizont, 11 February 2015 ASAHI - Super Dry AUSTRIAN AIRLINES - Campaign of 3 films McDONALD'S - Easy Morning"McDonald's Markenauftritt zum 60. Geburtstag", Gute Werbung, January 6, 2015 AXE - Mature WÜRTH - Market O2 - Campaign of 8 films"O2 bewirbt neue Partnerschaft mit Sky in einer großen Kampagne", New Business, January 17, 2017"O2 / iPhone", LS Productions MCDONALD'S - 60 Years RWE - Germany SCHWEIZ TOURISMUS - 150 Years"LEO BURNETT SCHWEIZ «150 JAHRE SCHWEIZER WINTERTOURISMUS»", Seiler's Werbeblog, October 21, 2014 SKODA - Line up WEB.DE - E Mail AMG - One man - one engine BOSCH - the plug JÄGERMEISTER - Campaign of 3 films MERCEDES BENZ - C Class - Campaign of 3 films"Mercedes, 'Shattered', 'One Car' & 'Small Stuff'", Moving Picture Company AUDI - Q"Thjnk Berlin inszeniert das Q in SUV", Horizont, February 15, 2016"thjnk Berlin and Audi Germany celebrate the Q in the Q models.", Thjnk, February 15, 2016"Mercedes – One Car", The Aerial Edge BMW GROUP - The next 100 years GOODYEAR - Juventus Turin ADIDAS - Bayern München"Real-Star Özil läuft zu Adidas über", W&V, July 11, 2013 HORNBACH- Heldenkranz"Client Award Shortlist: Der "Heldenkranz" von Hornbach", W&V, April 24, 2017 RENAULT - Megane II MIGROS BANK - Slow motion SUZUKI - Ignis
Television
RTL RAGAZZI (1993) GOTTSCHALK AMERICA, 10 Episodes (2003 / 2004) SALUT HELMUT, pilot (2007)
Awards 2024 : GERMAN STEVIE AWARDS. Gold, Kommunikations- oder PR Kampagne/ PR-Programm des Jahres-Umwelt" 2024 : GERMAN STEVIE AWARDS. Gold, Projekt des Jahres im Bereich Natur & biologische Vielfalt" 2017 : Art Directors Club. Bronze for film "Heldenkranz" (category: TV) 2017 : CICLOPE FESTIVAL. Winner for film "Heldenkranz" (category: Writing) 2017 : ANNUAL MULTI MEDIA AWARDS. Gold for film "Heldenkranz" (category: TV / Film) 2017 : SPOTLIGHT AWARD. Silver for film "Heldenkranz" (category: Digital Campaign) 2017 : DIE KLAPPE. Bronze for film "Heldenkranz" (category: TV) 2017 : AME Awards. Gold for film "Heldenkranz" (category: media film) 2017 : AME Awards. Silver for film "Heldenkranz" (category: social media)