Today we’d like to introduce you to Gustaf Baavhammar.
Hi Gustaf, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in the Swedish countryside, far from Hollywood and far from the idea of producing films. My childhood was shaped by creativity. I spent countless hours making videos, producing music and editing gaming content, which eventually led to my first real production project. When I was 14, I became a producer and editor for a Call of Duty gaming team with over 200,000 subscribers on YouTube. That was my first experience creating something that reached a significant audience.
At the same time, I had a strong drive toward business. I studied finance at Warwick, completed my master’s at London Business School and eventually joined Goldman Sachs as an investment banker in the Technology, Media and Telecom M&A group in London. During my studies, I founded MergerSight, a global student-led financial media platform with over 100 team members at top universities such as Harvard, Wharton and Oxford. After investment banking, I went on to invest in tech startups at Chiltern Street Capital in Dubai and later spent time in San Francisco building a creator economy startup.
During that period, I also began making trips to Los Angeles, where I reconnected with my creative interests. The more time I spent in LA, the more I felt pulled back into storytelling and film. That eventually led me to found Baavhammar Films.
I am currently developing my first feature film, a financial action thriller inspired by themes I have encountered in my life, such as the intensity of Wall Street, the psychology of ambition and the military-style action that originally sparked my imagination while editing Call of Duty footage as a teenager.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it has not been a smooth road, but it makes sense now. The biggest challenge has been figuring out what truly stimulates my entire mind and going through a lot of trial and error along the way. Different parts of me were pulled in different directions. One part was always thinking about stories and characters. Another part was thinking through music. Another part was focused on numbers, performance and strategy. And another part was drawn to working with people and building something larger than myself.
I enjoy all of these skill sets, but it took time to understand how they fit together. Eventually I realized that shaping the vision for a film and bringing together the right team and financing is the one role that allows me to combine everything I care about. I could not have started this project without the experiences I had before, and that is what makes the journey feel fulfilling now.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a film producer and creative founder focused on developing high-concept stories that explore the intersection of finance, action and power. My work blends my background in finance with the creative instincts I developed from an early age through filmmaking, music production and digital storytelling.
I specialize in world-building and shaping the overall vision for a project. I enjoy creating characters, themes and story architecture, but I also enjoy the strategic side of producing, such as assembling the right team, defining the creative direction and guiding a film from early concept toward a finished product. My perspective comes from having lived in both creative and analytical environments, which allows me to approach storytelling with a mix of emotion, structure and precision.
What I am most proud of is finding a way to bring all my interests together into a single path. I spent many years in finance and entrepreneurship, and for a long time I felt like my creative side and analytical side were competing with each other. Producing films has allowed me to combine both.
What sets me apart is the combination of worlds I draw from. I understand the high-pressure environments of finance, I understand how to build something from zero as a founder, and I have been creating content since I was a teenager. This combination helps me tell grounded, character-driven stories set against ambitious settings. I enjoy creating films that carry scale and intensity, but that are also emotionally honest and human.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I love most about Los Angeles is the freedom to pursue your inner aspirations. Nothing feels too unconventional here, which creates an environment where it is easier to follow your true interests. The weather certainly helps as well.
What I like the least is the instability. People often move in and out of your life quickly, and the pace of the city can feel transient. You have to invest in building your own world, your friendships, your routines and your sense of home. But once you create that foundation, Los Angeles becomes an incredible place to live and grow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://baavhammar.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baavhammar/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gustafbaavhammar/
Image Credits
John Anthony Sutton
