The Bear Media

The Bear Media is a top down, bottom up, left, right and center production company based in Austin, Texas. The Bear is the legal name (backed up by literally tens of pages of actual legal documents) of an entity comprising the talents of  directors Ben Steinbauer and Berndt Mader.

Winnebago Man, the Bear’s award-winning documentary directed by Steinbauer and shot by Mader, was theatrically released in the United States and Canada in the Summer of 2010. Michael Moore called it “one of the funniest documentaries ever made!” and Esquire Magazine proclaimed it “the best movie of Summer 2010!”

Five Time Champion, the Bear’s first narrative feature, written and directed by Mader, stars John Gries (Napoleon Dynamite), Dana Wheeler-Nicholson (Fletch, Tombstone) and Betty Buckley (Tender Mercies, Carrie, Cats). Five Time Champion premiered at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival and won the $20,000 Texas Filmmaker Award at the Dallas International Film Fest. The film is also the recipient of the prestigious Panavision New Filmmaker grant, as well as grants from Kodak and The Texas Filmmakers Production Fund. The film will be playing festivals in Europe this fall.

Berndt Mader

Berndt likes his own lack of style, and is never seen without his gold chain. He likes sardines, but not anchovies. Saturdays, but not Sundays. And he considers filmmaking a sport, not a hobby.

Five Time Champion, Mader’s first feature narrative, premiered at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival and won the $20,000 Texas Filmmaker Award at the Dallas International Film Fest. The film is also the recipient of the prestigious Panavision New Filmmaker grant, as well as grants from Kodak and The Texas Filmmakers Production Fund. The film will be playing festivals in Europe this fall.

Ben Steinbauer

Ben Steinbauer’s films have played festivals and garnered prizes around the world.

Winnebago Man, Steinbauer’s 2010 documentary feature, which won a Princess Grace Award in 2006, premiered at the South by Southwest film festival, was acquired by Kino International for a theatrical release in the United States, and by Kinosmith for a theatrical release in Canada.

Rock Farmer. Bridge Jumper. Occasional Drummer.
Coffee? But of course.