05/03/2026
Official Website.
Maria Ciurdea Steurer and Iosef Steurer, my Great-Granparents
A Century of Shadow and Sight
I do not create in a vacuum; I create in a lineage.
I am Leonidas Stanescu, the shortened form from Demetrio Leonidas Stanescu Motatu.
A Century of Shadow and Sight. I do not create in a vacuum; I create in a lineage.
I do not create in a vacuum; I create in a lineage. I am the genetic heir to a century of Romanian-Austrian artistry—a bloodline that traces through four generations of the Ciurdea-Steurer family. From the oil paintings of Maria Ciurdea Steurer to the patronage of Mia Steurer Motatu and Leonida Motatu, their work remains a national treasure in the Roman Art Museum.
The legacy is in the blood. The vision is in the frame.
Professional Summary
Leonidas Stanescu is a versatile, Singapore-based Romanian-Spanish artist with a prolific career spanning national television, global commercial campaigns, and award-winning independent filmmaking. Known for his commanding screen presence and range—from intense antagonists to comedic leads—he has become a fixture across all four Mediacorp channels.
Commercial & Television Highlights
Leonidas has built a reputation for high-stakes roles in major productions:
* Global Campaigns: Appeared in high-profile commercials alongside international icons, including Cristiano Ronaldo (Zuju) and Henry Golding (Chocolate Finance).
* Series Regular Roles: Best known as Lecturer Robert in Classmates (Ch5) and Rob in the top-rated series Kultus (Suria).
* The "Antagonist" Specialist: His portrayal of **Irakli** in *Crimewatch* has made him a recognizable face for intense, character-driven performances across Singapore's national networks.
Screenwriting Portfolio
Beyond acting, Leonidas is an accomplished screenwriter with a focus on stories that bridge Singaporean culture with international themes:
* *The Weight of Ash*: A critically acclaimed historical drama set in Japanese-occupied Singapore (Received "RECOMMEND" industry rating).
* *Local-ized*: A award-winning comedy inspired by the "localizing" experience in Singapore.
* *Vampeer Saga*: An ambitious dark fantasy trilogy blending Romanian history with Southeast Asian folklore.
Professional Philosophy
With a background as a dental technician, Leonidas brings a unique discipline to his craft. He is a strong advocate for mobile filmmaking and low-budget auteurism, often composing his own scores (available on Spotify) and editing his own projects. He is a multilingual talent fluent in
Romanian 🇷🇴, Spanish 🇪🇸, and English 🇬🇧.
---
LeSta Films: A New Vision in Auteur Production
LeSta Films, the independent production house founded by auteur-producer Leonidas Stanescu, is the creative engine behind "The Desk Files,"
The Auteur: "The Desk Files"
Leonidas is the creator and producer of *The Desk Files*, a neo-noir comedic skit series. Serving as writer, director, and lead actor (portraying the dual roles of Anton and Gustav), he successfully wrapped Season 1 (17 episodes) in late 2025 and Season 2 (10 episodes) in May 2026.
* Festival Success: The series is currently on the international festival circuit across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia.
* Award-Winning: A spin-off of the series, *No More "Ah"*, won **Best Comedy and Sketch** at the Vertical Shorts Festival in Los Angeles while experimenting vertical format.
Full episodes of current festival projects available for industry review upon request.
Below Leonidas showcases some of the work he participated in as actor.:
