Orlando von Einsiedel is an award-winning British director best known for his work in documentary film. Born in London, England in 1979, Orlando’s parents were both artists and encouraged his creativity. Growing up, Orlando was an avid reader and had a keen interest in stories, leading him to study literature at the University of Durham.
After graduating, Orlando pursued a career in documentary filmmaking. He made his directorial debut in 2004 with the short film ‘The Children We Lost’, which premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival. The film earned him a British Independent Film Award for Best Short.
Over the next few years, Orlando continued to hone his skills as a documentary director, directing films such as ‘The Recruiting Officer’ and ‘The Last Man’. In 2010, he wrote and directed his first feature-length documentary ‘Virunga’, which follows the struggles of a team of rangers in the Congo as they fight to protect the last remaining mountain gorillas. The film was critically acclaimed, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary as well as winning a Peabody Award.
In the following years, Orlando continued to make a name for himself in the documentary world. He directed the Emmy-winning and BAFTA-nominated ‘The White Helmets’, which followed the volunteers of the Syrian Civil Defence during the Syrian Civil War. He also wrote and directed ‘Everest’, which follows a group of sherpas as they attempt to summit the world’s highest peak.
In 2018, Orlando wrote and directed ‘The Edge of Democracy’, which explores the history of democracy in Brazil. The film was widely praised and won numerous awards, including the Grand Jury Prize at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.
Orlando is an incredibly talented filmmaker who has made an impact on the documentary world. He has earned acclaim for his work on some of the most acclaimed films of the past decade, and is sure to continue to make an impact in the years to come.
