Born and raised in Vienna to a family artists, I first took the stage at the age of 7.
My first major role as the German speaking narrator, “Mouse”, in the Persian play “Fräulein Schmetterling.” Together with the »Multikids« festival, we toured Vienna and throughout Austria.
Shortly after, I incorporated my passion for singing by joining the choir in the opera “Orestie” at the Wiener Konzerthaus. Finding it incredibly enjoyable, I then joined the Choir and Cast in the Kids Opera »Hilfe! Hilfe! Die Globolinks« at the "Schönbrunner Schlosstheater".
By 2002 I began to step in front of the camera. As a performer and presenter, I appeared in several features and sketches for the ORF productions of "KIDS4KIDS" and “ConfettiTV".
© by Stephanie Bunting
Upon graduating high school with focus on arts, I began expanding my expertise beyond acting to encompass both backstage and behind the camera.
At that time I worked for the current DSCHUNGEL WIEN director Corinne Eckenstein in several productions as an actress, assistant director and production manager in productions such as "BOYS DON'T CRY" and "Wenn (m)ein Herz lauter brüllen”.
My first film, in which wrote, directed, produced, edited and played the leading role, »HOW TO CARRY A PACKAGE« is tale set during the Arab Spring about the loss of loved ones and how regardless of where we find ourselves, we always carry that loss with us.
A topic near to my heart, »HOW TO CARRY A PACKAGE« was accepted in a variety of Film festivals, and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Drama at both the »International Student Film Festival Hollywood« and »Filofest« in Slovenia.
© by Rene Baumgartner
In the summer of 2015, Eric Rino and I wrote the short film »Mis’TIC« - a love letter to silent film and my father Massud Rahnama.
Having grown up watching the films of Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Laurel & Hardy as a child, I was honored to be asked to portray the lead role opposite my father in this silent film directed by Eric Rino. “Mis’TIC” has gone on to win several international awards in the years that followed.
Shortly after completing “Mis’TIC”, I moved to Los Angeles for a year to study english, media & arts while continuing to act on stage and screen in productions such as "NO WAY BACK" (a Student Emmy nominated AFI production directed by Michael Konshaug).
Upon returning to Vienna, I performed in Ali Soozandeh’s internationally award–winning film »Teheran Taboo«, a feature length film that was considered for nomination to the 2018 academy awards.
Currently, I continue to act and provide voice over throughout Europe.
© by Stephanie Bunting
Review of "CRY IT OUT" - kurier.at
Review of "Clean Girls - Dirty Sluts" - European Cultural News
Huffington Post report
Filming - report
