Lorenz Merz was born 1981 in Zurich from swiss-american parents. After formation in painting and photography he studied film at University of the Arts Zurich and Universidad del Cine Buenos Aires. His graduate piece Un dia y nada (2008) won several awards, including the Pardino d’argento at the 61st Locarno IFF and the Swiss Film Prize (2009). His first feature film Cherry Pie (2013), presented at 66th Locarno IFF, Rotterdam IFF and others, won international awards including the Luna de Valencia at the 28th Valencia IFF (2014). As DoP he won several awards and two times more the Swiss Film Prize for Summer Games (2011) by Rolando Colla and for Chrieg/War (2014) by Simon Jaquemet.
In 2013, he and fellow filmmakers founded the Zurich based production company 8horses. In 2015 he was part of the international Jury at the 68th Locarno IFF (Pardi di Domani) and the Neuchatel Fantastic IFF. Lorenz Merz is member of the EFA European Film Academy, the SFA Swiss Film Academy and the SCS Swiss Cinematographer’s Society. He’s father of two son’s, lives in Paris and Zurich.