MICHAEL GÄRTNER, born in Bangkok, Thailand, and raised in Vancouver, Canada. In 2014, he relocated to Germany with his family. Michael's passion for film ignited at a young age. At 16, he worked as a Set-Runner on his first film set, and at 17, he delved into the Art Department with his initial project, a pivotal moment that solidified his aspiration to become a set designer. Following his Abitur in 2020, amidst the pandemic, Michael chose to postpone his university studies and chose to take a full-time position as a video editor in Cologne. He studied architecture for three semesters before applying at ifs. Studying at ifs since 2023.