About me
I’m not entirely sure who I am, but there are two things I know for certain: my name is Daniel Bilenko, and I’m a mishmash (my veins carry secular jewish, anarchic ukrainian, jurassian and bernese blood — a little sapiens, a lot neanderthal). Before I started working professionally in writing and creative projects, I was a radio and TV journalist, a summer-camp cook, a goat herder in the Alps, and a basketball player in the United States. I live in Lugano and I’m a happy father of three.
My journey
I graduated from the University of Geneva with a thesis on literary production in English in Oceania. My formative years took me across Europe, the United States, and the South Pacific — experiences that taught me that stories may change languages and accents, but not their essential needs. Everywhere, humans seek to tell their stories to understand who they are and where they stand.
I worked for many years as a journalist and author at Swiss Radio and Television, focusing on documentaries and cultural mediation, creating TV formats and producing podcasts. Over time, I learned to follow a project from concept to broadcast: editorial conception, writing, directing, production, financing, and distribution strategy. I’m interested in innovation and in creating works that have a precise form and a responsibility toward those who listen or watch.
Since 2012, I’ve been a member of the Swiss Society of Authors (SSA). I’ve contributed to the creation of networks dedicated to sound and radio art in Switzerland. Some of my work has received international awards and recognition, but what truly matters to me is when a story stays with someone.
Me in 1975, Foce di Lugano
Besso, 2022
Photo by Ely Riva
In film and television, I was part of the TiKinò collective, participating in the production of around thirty short films, as well as creating documentaries and writing for the big screen. In theatre, I work as a playwright, translator, director, and performer — different spaces, same underlying question: how do you keep a voice alive?
Over the years, I’ve also trained in educational and social fields, and recently obtained the federal ESA certificate as a hiking guide. Walking in the mountains, much like building a narrative, means choosing a path, accepting the climb, and respecting time.
I look to the future with confidence.