ASTRID CARLEN-HELMER was born in 1988. She grew up in a city in the south of France, where she studied both film theory and literature before leaving for Los Angeles, where she got a taste of what making movies was like.

Ever since then, she has been pursuing filmmaking both in the US and Europe. At the London Film School she focused on cinematography and also directed her graduation film, Besides That, Life is Grand. 

She strongly believes that knowing and understanding what each role is about on a film set is what makes a better filmmaker.