Viennese brothers Jono and Benji Bergmann conquer the documentary film world

Viennese brothers Jono and Benji Bergmann are carving out a significant niche in the international documentary film scene, demonstrating how disparate personalities can forge a successful creative partnership.

Jono, the younger sibling, is described as outwardly optimistic and organized, while the elder, Benji, carries a more shadowed, melancholic, and philosophical demeanor. Despite their contrasting natures, they find their differences enhance their collaborative approach. "You have to know yourself very well and understand the other person," they stated in unison.

Jono, who initially studied theater in New York and London, was drawn to filmmaking by observing his brother's work. He admired Benji's existing documentary projects and found parallels with aspects he valued in theater, such as ephemerality and the patient process of creation. Eventually, they began developing ideas together, leading to Benji's proposal that they share directing duties as equal partners.

This collaboration has also benefited the more introverted Benji. He notes that while documentary filmmaking requires intense observation and presence, doing it as a pair, especially when there's mutual understanding and minimal need for constant communication, can be highly effective. They can support each other not just in tasks but in processing their experiences. While disagreements occur, they describe their arguments as constructive, viewing them as advantageous for their work.

Their current project, "Noga," is a five-year deep dive into the life of Israeli pop singer Noga Erez and her musical partner and life companion, Ori Rousso. Their collaboration has made them one of the most internationally popular Israeli pop acts since Ofra Haza achieved global fame in the early 1980s. Filming for "Noga" commenced in 2022, a year prior to the Hamas attack on Israel, an event that has inevitably influenced the film's trajectory, which originally intended to explore the dynamics of a duo similar to their own.