FILMOGRAPHY

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CINEMA REEL 2024: DANIEL J. GERSTLE  |  Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Writer

Wow, after an epic journey finishing two feature war documentaries (Somali Sunrise, currently in late post-production, premiering late summer 2024; & How We Survive, currently in production / early post, premiering autumn 2024), I am back to creative media! That means I would LOVE to get back to creating entertainment, promotional media, music, and events, including not only leading my own projects, but also potentially supporting YOUR productions as writer, assistant director, creative side producer, cinematographer, or director. Currently based in Berlin, but on the move soon for projects. Danieljgerstle.com  |  IG: daniel.j.gerstle  |  djgerstle@yahoo.com

PREMIERING IN Late 2024  |  SOMALI SUNRISE (formerly titled, Live from Mogadishu)  |  Director, Producer, Co-Cinematography

[In Post-Production, New Trailer Coming in May 2024!] Documentary feature, Somalia & Kenya, 110 min, Humanitarian Bazaar Films, directed, produced, and edited by Daniel J. Gerstle. Starring Shiine Akhyaar, Felis Abdi, and Digriyow Abdi and their group, Waayaha Cusub. Also ft. Desiigner, K’naan, Alsarah, Ariana Delawari, and many more.

PREMIERING IN LATE 2024  |  HOW WE SURVIVE  |  Director, Producer

[In Production. New trailer coming in May 2024. This is a glimpse of the early research.] Documentary feature, Syria, Yemen & Ukraine, 90 min, Humanitarian Bazaar Films, directed and co-written by Daniel J. Gerstle. This video is a placeholder until we are ready to go public with the full promotional trailer. Based on Humanitarian Bazaar’s War Survivors Advisory project, the film, How We Survive, portrays civilians who risked everything to innovate lifesaving survival techniques when caught in the crossfire of war where there is no humanitarian assistance.

2024  |  EKOWMANIA & THE RHYTHMERS  |  ANANSE  |  Editor & Co-Camera

Promotional teaser for a single, 1 min, Berlin, Germany. Keeping the multimedia flow going, I had the chance to work with Ekowmania & The Rhythmers on a promotion for their new music combining global and West African styles.

2023  |  DISCO VUMBI ft. ALAI K: LIVE AT HUMBOLDT FORUM  |  Director, Producer, Cinematographer

Documentary and promotional web series, Berlin, Germany, 1 min each element of the series, Humanitarian Bazaar. Ukoo Flani hip hop veteran Alai K has created a new project called, Disco Vumbi, combining global electronic dance music with his own Kenyan Mejekende styles. Durchlüften Festival at Humboldt Forum, Berlin, Germany, in July 2023.

2023  |  DISCO VUMBI ft. ALAI K: LIVE AT YAAM  |  Director, Producer, Cinematographer

Documentary and promotional web series, Berlin, Germany, 1 min each element of the series, Humanitarian Bazaar. Ukoo Flani hip hop veteran Alai K has created a new project called, Disco Vumbi, combining global electronic dance music with his own Kenyan Mejekende styles. YAAM, Berlin, Germany, in August 2023.

2023/4  |  J MUNGOY: LOVE IS THE SOLUTION  |  Assistant Editor

Music video edit, Berlin, Germany, 5 min each element of the series, Humanitarian Bazaar. With Humanitarian Bazaar’s Front Line Music project, we have supported a wide array of artists. Mungoy has the biggest heart of them all. He directed and led the editing of this video, aiming to combine new studio time with the original live performance footage from many years ago. Will add credit for the camera guru here soon. Peace.

2023/4  |  OFEK HAIM: LIVE PERFORMANCE & MUSIC VIDEO COMING SOON   |  Co-Assistant Camera, Co-Assistant Director, Gaffer, Grip

Music video with live performance of three songs by Ofek Haim, directed by Ofek Haim, cinematography by Joseph “Lightwriter,” more details to follow soon. 15 mins, Berlin, Germany As a placeholder for the portfolio, here’s a glimpse at the incredible light singer Ofek Haim and music video cinematographer Joseph “Lightwriter” had at Mahalla Berlin for this production. Yours truly, via HB’s partner company Firedance joined to support as Co-AC, Co-AD, Gaffer, & Grip.

2022  |  UNTITLED: WE LEARNED SO MUCH ON THIS PRODUCTION  |  Assistant Director, Producer

Production Company, castm, and crew to be updated when possible, 90 min. Firedance Media, Humanitarian Bazaar’s partner production company-in-development, brought a few team to help an ally film production company on an ambitious feature film dark romantic comedy. While the film’s future is a mystery, the team had a great chance to practice skills and team work.

2021  |  TRAVEL TO WERNERSBERG, SOUTHWEST GERMANY  |  Director, Producer, Cinematographer

Short video letter home to family, 5 mins, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. While most of my media covers culture all over the world, largely how people survive tough challenges emotionally, it took a call back from family to remember who I am. And so, for the family I filmed the journey back to one of our ancestral villages. My blood is actually a mix of German, Irish, Polish, Jewish, English, and Cherokee. But with my father’s line hungry for history, I went back as an ambassador to the village of Wernersberg and town of Ahnweiler am Trifels in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.

2021  |  QUEENS AGAINST BORDERS: THE DOCUMENTARY  |  Second Cinematographer

Documentary short, directed by Rakaya Lisa, ft. Cupcake, Darvish, Setara, and many more. Berlin, Germany.

2020  |  WIZZY: LIGHT OF MY EYES  |  Bts Videographer & Photographer

Wizzy, host of Dandanah and Queer Syria, co-host of Queens Against Borders, performs in a first in a bright future of music videos.

2019  |  SYRIAN METAL IS WAR  |  Creative Adviser & PR

Feature documentary, Syria & Lebanon, 87 min, Matar Productions, directed, produced, filmed, and edited by Monzer Darwish. Starring Bashar Haroun, Fadi Massamiri, Adel Saflou, and Rawad Messih.

2018  |  143 BAND ft. PARADISE & DIVERSE: BARANI  |  BTS Video & Photographer

Produced behind-the-scenes outtakes and still photography for music video, Germany / Afghanistan, 5 min. Starring Paradise & Diverse.

2018  |  WORLD CONFERENCE OF SCREENWRITERS  |  Videography & Sound

Web series produced by WCS & Will Hamilton with camera and sound support by Daniel J. Gerstle, Berlin, Germany.

2017  |  HISSITT: AWARENESS & EXPECTATIONS  |  Director, Editor

Produced profile of leading thinker for a promotional campaign, UK, 5 min, Spinglass. Starring Jake Hissitt.

2017  |  WAR SURVIVORS ADVISORY: A CLOSER LOOK  |  Director, Editor, Cinematography

Promotional short, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Bosnia, 5 min, Humanitarian Bazaar Films. For more on the project and to support, see Humanitarianbazaar.org/wsa.

2014  |  WATCHERS OF THE SKY  |  Grant Writer, Post-Production Treatment Co-Writer

Co-wrote postproduction treatment, grant applications, and other support. Documentary feature, USA, 90 min, directed by Edet Belzberg.

2014  |  CHAMPION OF THE EARTH: FATIMA JIBRELL  |   Cinematography & Associate Producer

Provided video production content from remote desert region of Somalia for documentary short, UNDP & Samah Cinema, Somalia, Kenya & USA.

2014  |  HUMANITARIAN BAZAAR PORTFOLIO  |  Director, Producer, Editor, Camera. Promotional short, Bosnia, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, Afghanistan, 5 min, Humanitarian Bazaar Films.

2014  |  BOSNIA FOOTBALL: HEART ON THE FIELD  |  Field Producer. Promotional short, Bosnia, Brazil, 6 min, RPP Sao Paolo, directed by Renzo Vasquez. Featuring the Bosnian football team at the World Cup. Premiered shown to the Bosnian football team, and then on Bosnian TV.

2014  |  AFGHAN ROCK: WHITE PAGE TALKS MUSIC  |  Director, Producer, Editor, Camera.  Promotional short, Afghanistan, 5 min, Humanitarian Bazaar Films. Starring the band, White Page.

2013  |  MOGADISHU MUSIC  |  Director, Producer, Editor, Camera. Documentary short, Somalia & Kenya, 17 min, Humanitarian Bazaar Films, directed, produced, and edited by Daniel J. Gerstle. Starring Digriyow Abdi & Lihle Muhudin. Premiered on Somali Horn Cable TV and Universal TV.

2012  |  UPPANOTCH “SILENTLY FALLIN'”  |  Cameraman, Location Manager

Provided location, cast, and camera support to Zavara Mponjika’s production of Uppanotch’s music video in New York, USA.

2012  |  MUSIC TOO POWERFUL TO BAN  |  Director, Producer, Editor. Documentary short, Somalia & Kenya, 11 min, Humanitarian Bazaar Films & Freemuse, directed, produced, and edited by Daniel J. Gerstle. Starring Shiine Akhyaar & Felis Abdi. Premiered at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

2012  |  BIG IN THE STANS  |  Post-Production Adviser. Documentary series, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, 14 x 5min, a series by Ru Owen. Starring the band, White City.

2012  |  ADESO: INNOVATING AID  |  Producer, Camera. Documentary short, South Sudan, 5 min, Adeso Africa, directed by Seth Chase.

2012  |  ADESO: VANISHING LANDS  |  Director, Writer, Co-Camera. Documentary short, Somalia, 5 min, Adeso Africa. Produced by Seth Chase. Featuring Fatima Jibrell.

2012  |  ADESO: ABOUT US  |  Producer, Camera. Promotional short, Kenya & Somalia, 5 min, Adeso Africa, directed by Seth Chase.

2012  |  YULIX: RED RIPPED SHIRT  |  Director, Producer, Camera, Editor. Music video, USA, The Hive NYC, 4 min. Starring Yula Be’eri.

2012  |  SUDAN MOSAIC: TEASER  |  Director, Producer, Writer, Voice. Promotional short, USA, Sudan, 4 min, Humanitarian Bazaar / HELO Media. Featuring the music of Alsarah.

2011  |  TURN IT UP IN CENTRAL ASIA  |  Director, Producer, Editor. Promotional short, Afghanistan, USA, 5 min, Combat Comms & Humanitarian Bazaar / HELO Media. Featuring Kabul Dreams, Morcha, District Unknown, Wite Page, Brian Viglione, Shlomi Lavie, Ariana Delawari, Fereshta Ramsey, and many more.

2011  |  GATO LOCO: PSYCHO-MAMBO  |  Director, Producer, Editor. Promotional short, USA, 4 min. Starring the band, Gato Loco Coconino.

2011  |  FILMING VIOLENCE  |  Director, Producer, Camera. Documentary short, USA, 14 min, Humanitarian Bazaar / HELO Media & Oxfam International, directed, produced, and edited by Daniel J. Gerstle. Starring Seth Chase, Bryce Blondel, Ludmila Curi, Guilherme Arruda, and Lucas Gath. Premiered at the Frontline Club in London as the behind the scenes of Oxfam’s Shootingpoverty.org project and DVD.

2008  |  FAITH  |  Co-Screenwriter. Fiction feature film, USA, 90 min, Honeycutt Films, directed and co-written by Lewis Morphew. Starring Lucy Chambers and Josh Kornbluth. Daniel’s image of the wrestling monkeys is only a place holder. 🙂