Maximilian Speidel is a Swiss-born, Italian-German film director and writer working internationally across commercials, fiction, documentaries and music videos. Based between Berlin, Zürich and Athens, he has been directing since 2009, developing a cinematic language shaped by character-driven storytelling, understated humour and a documentary sensibility.
His first experiences with film were in front of the camera, as an actor, dancer and snowboarder. That background still informs his directing: how a body moves through a frame, how a gesture reveals character, when to cut and when to let a moment unfold. Comedy grows from that same attention. He builds humour through distinctive characters, physical performances and precise timing, with an affection for human awkwardness and the quietly absurd.
Food and beverage form a major part of his commercial work, grounded in a longstanding connection to gastronomy and Italian Mother! His films for brands including Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, ALDI, MIGROS, COOP, ALLIANZ, VALSER and Zürich Tourism combine tactile, sensorial imagery with closely observed human behaviour. Sport, travel and contemporary culture are further recurring worlds.
