Benjamin Cantu was born in Budapest in 1978. After working as author and animator for animated films from 1998-2000, he received his degree in Animation at the Konrad Wolf School for Film and Television in Potsdam-Babelsberg. From 2003 until 2010, Cantu studied Film Directing at the German Film and Television Academy in Berlin. Cantu participated in an EFA Master Class with Allan Starski and finished a short film at the Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris. During his studies, he completed several documentary and short films in cooperation with 3sat and Arte. In 2008, Cantu received the Young Talent Award of the Axel Springer Academy for Young Journalists for "Die Welt gehort Chaim.“ "Stadt Land Fluss“ is Benjamin Cantu’s first feature film.

Benjamin Cantu:  “During my research I helped out on the farm. This was when I began to believe that I could actually create an improvised drama in which the apprentices and farm workers were a natural part of the story. I was fascinated by these people’s lives which, after all, are so very different from my own. I was surprised to learn that, although the city isn’t that far away, it really doesn’t mean anything to them. I was influenced by the way they work together and talk to each other, and so together we created the storyline for Stadt Land Fluss.“

"Showing HARVEST, my first feature film, within Russia's first LGBT film festival means a lot to me and my team. I hope to reach the Russian audience with a story about young people who are trying to live up to their feelings without facing intolerance and exclusion from society. I know, in many parts of the world, it is often not the case, but I believe that we should never give up the idea of our ideals."

Benjamin Cantu