Lance Hammer is an American independent filmmaker. Most known for his debut feature film Ballast (2008).

Career

His first film, Ballast, premiered in competition at the Sundance Film Festival where he won the US Dramatic Directing Award.[1] Ballast was nominated for six Independent Spirit Awards and four Gotham Independent Film Awards.[2][3] Hammer won the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director.[4]

After an 18-year long hiatus, Hammer returned with Queen at Sea (2026), which deals with dementia, and stars Juliette Binoche and Tom Courtenay. The film had its world premiere at the main competition of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival in February 2026; it was nominated for the Golden Bear, winning the Silver Bear Jury Prize and the Silver Bear for Best Supporting Performance for both Courtenay and Anna Calder-Marshall.[5][6]

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerEditor
2002Issaquena
2008Ballast
2026Queen at Sea

Other credits

YearTitleRole
1995Batman ForeverComputer graphics city designer
1997Batman & RobinDigital design associate
1998Practical MagicVisual effects art director
2001The Man Who Wasn't ThereAssistant art director

Accolades

CeremonyAwardFilmResultRef.
76th Berlin International Film FestivalSilver Bear Jury PrizeQueen at Sea[7]

References

  1. ^ "2008 Sundance Film Festival Announces Awards". 2008-01-26. Archived 2008-06-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ "'Ballast' tops Gotham indie award noms". The Hollywood Reporter. 20 October 2008. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  3. ^ Hayes, Dade (2008-10-20). "'Ballast' leads the pack at Gothams". Variety. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  4. ^ Itzkoff, Compiled by Dave (2008-12-03). "Gotham Award Winners". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  5. ^ "Queen at Sea". berlinale.de. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
  6. ^ Lodge, Guy (21 February 2026). "Berlin Film Festival: İlker Çatak's 'Yellow Letters' Wins Golden Bear for Best Film (Full List of Winners)". Variety. Retrieved 21 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Berlin International Film Festival reveals 2026 awards winners". British Cinematographer. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 23, 2026.