Emma Westenberg

Emma Westenberg is a visionary storyteller and filmmaker known for her ability to transform any setting into a captivating visual narrative. With a signature style that blends whimsy and elegance, her cinematic creations invite audiences into vibrant worlds brimming with imagination. A graduate of the prestigious Gerrit Rietveld Academie and The Cooper Union School of Art in New York, Emma distinguished herself early on with her short film “The Still Life of Estelle” (2014), for which she received the honor of cum laude. This film not only showcased her talents as a writer and director but also as a producer and art director. Her accolades continued to grow with a win at the Milano Fashion Film Festival for “Blue and You” (2016), solidifying her reputation in the industry. Emma’s diverse body of work spans commercial projects for esteemed brands such as ASOS and Vogue, alongside innovative short films and music videos. Her breakthrough moment came with the viral sensation “PYNK” (2018) for Janelle Monáe, which garnered her nominations for both a Grammy and an MTV Music Video Award. That same year, she made headlines with her first Super Bowl commercial featuring Zoe Kravitz, marking the beginning of a series of high-profile collaborations with artists like Troye Sivan, Princess Nokia, and Rico Nasty, as well as directing fashion icons Kendall Jenner for Vogue and Rebel Wilson for Olly. Emma’s debut feature film, “Bleeding Love,” starring Ewan McGregor and Clara McGregor, premiered at SXSW, captivating audiences with its poignant narrative about a father's struggle with his daughter’s addiction and the complexities of family. The film has since been acquired by Vertical Entertainment for a theatrical release in the United States. Currently, Emma deftly balances a variety of projects in fashion, music, and narrative cinema. She is in the process of developing her second feature film, “Angels,” a groundbreaking queer musical and dance film described as “Romeo and Romeo.” Additionally, she is collaborating with a Mexican production house on an intriguing horror film set on a tropical island. Emma’s passion for ‘world building’—the art of crafting unique universes through visual storytelling, color, and sound—is a driving force in her work. Inspired by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, who compared his body of work to a house where each film represents a different room, Emma aspires to create a diverse range of films that reflect her multifaceted artistic vision.