Joe Paul Kienast, born in 1982, studied philosophy and sociology at the University of Bremen as well as film and English at the University of California, LA. From 2009 to 2013 Joe worked at the drama department at the University of Music and Theatre “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” Leipzig. During his doctoral studies, he further studied dramaturgy. Since then Joe worked in film, television, theatre, and advertisement. He currently works as director, story developer, and story liner. The short film THE COUCH makes Joe’s official debut as director.