We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lea Pfändler. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lea below.

Lea, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on so far is my latest short script, Delphy. It tells the story of an eccentric teenager who, while grieving her mother’s death, endures bullying at her new school. When she forms an unexpected bond with the popular girl, she embarks on a challenging bike journey that changes her in ways she never expected.

My journey with Delphy feels like a return to my roots. I wrote my first script at thirteen with a friend at school — a story that came straight from my heart. We scouted locations, rehearsed scenes, and even started filming with my friend’s dad’s camera. But when I had to move to another country, that dream was abruptly shattered. In the new place, I felt isolated, bullied for being different, and deeply homesick — grieving not just my old life, but feeling the pain of being involuntarily plucked from the surroundings that had cultivated my dream and purpose.

Delphy grew directly out of that experience. Writing it was a healing process for my inner child, and it carries a message I’m passionate about sharing: that being true to yourself is powerful, even when the world tries to force you to change; that being different means being unique and special; and that joy and growth are possible even through heartbreak.

In today’s world, where so many young adults struggle with self-acceptance, identity, change, and bullying, Delphy offers a message of hope — a reminder that resilience, nature, and self-expression can be lifelines through life’s toughest moments.

This story is deeply personal. As a teenager, I longed for a film like Delphy — something that could have offered me consolation, encouragement, and strength. My goal is to create that film now: a story that resonates with young people facing change and self-discovery, and that celebrates the beauty of embracing who you are.

Through uplifting narratives, I hope Delphy serves as a reminder that even amidst hardship, there is healing, empowerment, and beauty — and that being yourself is more than enough, no matter the challenges you face.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Ever since I was five years old, I knew I wanted to be an artist. As a child, I drew comics, wrote stories, and naturally gravitated toward visual storytelling — a passion that has stayed with me ever since. Today, I am a writer/director, and photographer, with a background in acting.

I’m deeply passionate about creating visual stories that evoke emotions, uplift spirits, and invite us to see the world in new ways. My goal as a filmmaker is to create films that leave viewers feeling better than when they arrived — to offer hope, positivity, and meaningful entertainment in a world that often feels overwhelming. I believe that hopeful narratives are more important than ever, and that stories filled with heart can have a real, lasting impact.

Nature plays a vital role in my work. I love highlighting the natural world as a source of healing and reconnection — something we’ve begun to lose sight of in our fast-paced, technology-driven lives. I believe we can use media to remind us of our bond with nature and inspire us to nurture it, and ourselves, once again.

At the core of everything I create is the belief that staying true to ourselves is key to a fulfilling life. Positivity, joy, and authenticity have become essential to my own happiness and success, and through my work, I hope to inspire others to follow their passions, embrace who they are, and find happiness in doing what truly lights them up. These themes are a constant thread in everything I create.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Stories have a profound impact on people. The films and stories I experienced as a child still stay with me today — some lifted me up, others left heavier marks. That’s why, as storytellers, I believe we carry a deep responsibility. Stories do something to people. They shape perspectives, stir emotions, and sometimes, they even change lives.

Through my work, I aim to tell stories rooted in courage, resilience, joy, and hope — stories that offer emotional connection and light in a world that can often feel overwhelmed by negativity and anxiety. I believe that by sharing uplifting narratives, we raise our own vibrations — and in doing so, we lift others too. That ripple effect can create real change.

My greatest hope is that the stories I tell contribute to a better future — for ourselves, for each other, and for the planet. And I believe that kind of change starts from within: through love, hope, and the joy of staying true to who we are.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

The story that reflects my resilience the most is simply that I never gave up on my path as a visual storyteller. I’ve known since I was 13 that this is what I’m meant to do. I started by drawing comics and writing scripts, and that creative spark eventually led me to pursue acting. At 19, I spent two and a half years applying to drama schools across Germany, Switzerland, and Austria — all while facing a flood of discouragement. People told me to give up, that I didn’t have the spirit for it, and that I was wasting my time.

But I knew, even then, that this was my path. So I kept going. That determination eventually took me all the way to New York City, where I studied acting under the late Bill Esper — one of the most respected acting teachers in the world. I made the dream of moving to New York a reality, built a creative life here, and ultimately returned to my roots as a filmmaker.

There were countless obstacles along the way — rejection, criticism, self-doubt, and moments where it would have been easier to walk away. But when you hold on to that deep inner knowing — that this is what you’re meant to do — things start to align. I’ve learned that persistence, self-trust, and resilience are everything. And when you stay true to yourself, the rewards are beautiful: work becomes joy, and life begins to feel like it has true purpose.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://leapfandler.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leapfandler/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leapfandler/
• Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/leapvision