David F. Sandberg

David F. Sandberg (also credited as David Fredrik Sandberg) is a Swedish director born on January 21, 1981, in Jönköping. He first gained international attention through inventive, do-it-yourself horror shorts released online under the pseudonym ponysmasher, building a loyal audience with smart scares and practical storytelling.

That momentum led to his feature breakthrough with Lights Out (2016), expanding his acclaimed 2013 short into a studio film and marking him as a major new voice in genre cinema. Sandberg quickly transitioned to large-scale franchise filmmaking, directing Annabelle: Creation (2017) and the superhero hit Shazam! (2019), later returning for Shazam! Fury of the Gods—where he also appears in small cameo roles.

Beyond directing, Sandberg has popped up on screen as himself in projects like Faith & Fear: The Conjuring Universe and BIANCA, and he has taken on playful cameos in his filmography. He is married to actress and producer Lotta Losten, a frequent collaborator in his shorts, and he co-founded the production company Mångata. His work continues to bridge intimate horror craft with blockbuster spectacle, including Until Dawn (2025).