Benno Steinegger director, actor and artist was born in Bolzano/Bozen/Bulsan, Italy in 1980. He trained at the University of Florence, Universidade Nova in Lisbon and the CSSD in London (Master of fine Arts). He has been living in Belgium since 2015.

His work is a constant inquiry of two main notions: identity and power structures. In i (to be defined) he deconstructs his own identity trough multiple interviews of people who describe him.

In his last work The Chance to Find Yourself, he questions white power structures.

His first film Language Portraits, winner of the CinemAmore-Price (Trento Film Festival 2023) questions power structures in relation to dominant and “minority” languages.

His next project will inquire power structures between human beings and plants.

His solo, group performances and art-works have been presented at international festivals and venues such as Drodesera (IT), Beijing Fringe (CN), Vooruit (BE), Fast Forward (DE), Premieres (FR), FAR° (CH), Romaeuropa (IT), MUSEION (IT), Raum (IT), Festival Santarcangelo (IT), Nordic Fringe (SE), Festival Contemporanea (IT), ZonaK (IT), TU Nantes (FR), Staatstheater Braunschweig (DE), Kaaitheater (BE), Tarmac des Auteurs-Kinshasa (DRC), CAMPO (BE), Operaestate Festival (IT), Festival Roma Europa (IT), Trento Film Festival.

In 2008, Benno co-founded the Italian theatre collective Codice Ivan, where he acted as author, director and performer. In 2009 they won the important Premio Scenario, which has contributed in establishing the group as a part of national and international touring-, co-production- and residency-networks. In 2015 the group stopped working together and Benno continued as a solo artist.

In 2016 Benno began the creation of i (to be defined), which was co-produced by wpZimmer, Vereinigte Bühnen Bozen, Festival Transart, supported by Vooruit (now VierNulVier) and workspacebrussels.

His last project The Chance to Find Yourself (2021) was co-produced by workspacebrussels, KAAP, Garage 29, CAMPO, supported by wpZimmer, KLm/Kinkaleri, De Vlaamse Overheid & De Vlaamse Gemeenschapscommissie and sustained by WIPCOOP/MestizoArtsPlatform.

As actor and performer, Benno has worked with theatre- and visual artists such as Yan Duyvendack, Roger Bernat, Francesca Grilli, Jesse Ash, Kinkaleri, Motus, Michael Portnoy/Promt, Deflorian/Tagliarini, Kate McIntosh, Jessica Glause and Helle Siljeholm.

He worked as an actor for movies with directors such as Giacomo Battiato, Jens Jonsson, Giovanni Aloi, Roberto Faenza, Sergio Rubini and Terrence Malick.

In 2020 he has directed a production at the Staatstheater Braunschweig (DE) in collaboration with the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig (DE).