Severin Fiala
- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Severin Fiala is an acclaimed Austrian film director and screenwriter known for his atmospheric, psychological, and boundary-pushing contributions to contemporary horror and drama cinema. He has built a reputation for crafting deeply unsettling narratives that explore human isolation, grief, and religious zealotry. His meticulous directing style relies on slow-building tension, striking visual realism, and powerful character studies.
As a director, Fiala achieved widespread international recognition with the psychological horror film Goodnight Mommy (2014). The film became a breakout global hit, sweeping festival circuits and serving as Austria's official Academy Awards entry. He followed this success with the English-language horror drama The Lodge (2019), starring Riley Keough, and the harrowing folk horror feature The Devil's Bath (2024), which competed for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. His credits also include directing episodes of M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller series Servant (2022-2023).
Fiala is highly regarded for his tight creative partnerships, particularly his lifelong directorial collaboration with filmmaker Veronika Franz. Together, the duo has become an influential force in the modern horror genre, seamlessly transitioning between European art-house cinema and major international productions.
As a director, Fiala achieved widespread international recognition with the psychological horror film Goodnight Mommy (2014). The film became a breakout global hit, sweeping festival circuits and serving as Austria's official Academy Awards entry. He followed this success with the English-language horror drama The Lodge (2019), starring Riley Keough, and the harrowing folk horror feature The Devil's Bath (2024), which competed for the Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. His credits also include directing episodes of M. Night Shyamalan’s psychological thriller series Servant (2022-2023).
Fiala is highly regarded for his tight creative partnerships, particularly his lifelong directorial collaboration with filmmaker Veronika Franz. Together, the duo has become an influential force in the modern horror genre, seamlessly transitioning between European art-house cinema and major international productions.
