Today we’d like to introduce you to Robin Nyström.
Hi Robin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey as a storyteller began when I was a kid. I wrote my first short story at five. By age seven, I was convincing family members to subscribe to my hand-drawn comic books. When I was twelve, my friends and I would shoot weekly sketches on a camcorder and share them with our classmates every Friday. Ironically, it took me a long time to realize that storytelling wasn’t just something I loved — it was an essential part of my identity.
In my early twenties, I attended a trade school for film production in Stockholm, where I had the chance to intern for a couple of Swedish writer/directors. Eventually, I made the leap and moved to the U.S., where I juggled day jobs to cover rent while continuing to write, direct and produce independent projects.
Filmmaking can be unbelievably hard sometimes, and it’s never a solo act. Every element needs to be in sync. If a single piece falls out of place, the whole thing can easily unravel. But I keep going because of the people I work with. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to build lasting relationships with a group of passionate collaborators. Some of us have been working together for more than a decade. Without them, there’s no way I’d be the filmmaker I am today.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
On a day-to-day level, there are always challenges. It’s part of the game. Something on set doesn’t go as planned, there are technical malfunctions, scenes that don’t land the way I envisioned… And the bigger picture struggles can be even harder to deal with. Trying to make it in L.A. as an independent filmmaker means embracing uncertainty — living paycheck to paycheck, juggling day jobs, and still finding time and energy to keep the creative fires going.
For me, the dream is always about protecting the story. Nurturing it from a fragile seed into something heartfelt and alive. That’s the challenge: keeping the faith in something so intangible.
What’s helped me most is learning how to trust. That means leaning into the capabilities of my collaborators and letting their talent shape the work. It’s also about trusting the inner voice that says this story matters, and we’re the ones meant to tell it. That kind of trust allows me to keep showing up, day after day, and being hopeful that the work can resonate with an audience.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a writer-director who works primarily in comedy, sci-fi/fantasy and horror. I love blending genres and playing with tonal shifts. I’m drawn to stories that hold emotional complexity. Stories that can pivot from the absurd to the profound in the span of a moment. I also love building characters who feel larger than life — archetypal in some ways, but still deeply flawed and human. The kind of characters who linger in your mind after the credits roll.
Over the past decade, I’ve written and directed two web series and a number of short films. One of my earlier projects, “Nicolife”, was a dark comedy about a wannabe influencer who hires a cameraman to follow him around 24/7. We made it before the term ‘influencer’ really took off, but somehow it feels more relevant now than ever. It’s a satire about our collective obsession with being seen that hopefully makes us pause and ask: how much of ourselves are we willing to compromise to gain fame and notoriety?
My second web series, “Tracy Buckles”, is a fantasy-comedy about a young woman who is cursed so no one can hear her speak. She joins forces with a nameless drifter and a clumsy wizard and together they seek to break free from the evil sorcery. It’s whimsical and irreverent and a bit edgy. Thematically, it deals with our need to be heard, and how connection and trust can help us reclaim our voices.
Since then, I’ve made a handful of micro-budget shorts shot on iPhones including “Broken”, an experimental horror film about the struggle to heal from a broken heart, and “Super-Psycho-Killer-Bot from Outer Space”, a sci-fi/horror comedy about a man who becomes convinced his brother’s new girlfriend isn’t human.
Most recently, I completed two new short films, “Judged” and “Mothering”, which follow a psychologist named Dr. Fennell who uses unconventional techniques to help clients navigate grief and trauma. They are currently on the festival circuit.
If there’s something that defines my work, it might be a willingness to dwell in the space between light and dark. I’ve always been fascinated by the thin line that runs between comedy and tragedy. Life rarely fits into a single genre, and I try to bring that same complexity to my stories. There’s beauty in contrast. I think a story that can hold both humor and heartbreak ends up feeling more like the world we all live in.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
I’ve had the privilege of working with so many incredible collaborators over the years — too many to name here. But I want to take a moment to highlight three people who have shaped my work. These are individuals I’ve worked with for over a decade, and our creative relationships have only deepened with time.
First is Jason Kaiser, an extraordinary director of photography and a brilliant filmmaker in his own right. Jason has a rare ability to transform words on the page into visual poetry, using every tool at his disposal — lighting, lenses, composition and more. Our pre-production conversations are some of the most rewarding parts of the creative process. Of course we talk about the practical aspects of filmmaking, including camera movements and aspect ratios. But just as important are our lengthy discussions about philosophy and psychology and spirituality. By the time we get to set, we’ve developed a shared language that transcends the technical and allows us to take big swings, knowing we’re both grounded in a deeper understanding of the story we’re telling.
Then there’s Micke Bäck, a Swedish composer I’ve known since we were kids. Micke has a supernatural ability to take my abstract thoughts about a scene and turn them into music with universal resonance. Scoring is one of the most powerful elements of filmmaking, and it’s not always easy to articulate what a moment needs. But somehow, through our years of working together, we’ve found an effortless rhythm. One of my favorite parts of the process is when I receive a new piece of music from Micke. His score isn’t an afterthought or an add-on. It’s an integral part of the fabric of our storytelling.
And finally, Jennie Nyström, my producing partner and one of the most deeply caring humans I’ve met. Jennie is our glue, our moral compass and our lifeline. She champions the well-being of the entire cast and crew, and in doing so, sets the tone for our entire process. Her approach is holistic. She ensures that everyone has food, water and breaks. But beyond that, she brings a fierce protection of everyone’s humanity to the table. She reminds us that while making movies can be demanding, there’s never a reason to compromise someone’s dignity in the process. Her presence on set creates space for people to do their best work while feeling safe, respected and valued.
There are so many other collaborators I could go on about (including two powerhouse producers I’ve had the joy of working with recently, Jodi Norton and Trent Barboza), but I’ll restrain myself. The truth is, I’m so grateful I get to create art with these fine folks mentioned above and with all the other talented artists I’ve had the honor of collaborating alongside.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.robinnystrom.com
Image Credits
Photos from the Dances with Films Festival: James Stewart
The portrait photography: Jersey Greene, Creative Director at MyXd Media, LLC.
