Felix – Dare to dream

Artist, beatnik, rebel, hippie, world traveller, tattoo pioneer, and devoted family man. Felix, Dare to Dream is much more than a film about tattooing. It is the remarkable story of Felix Leu, a free spirit who dedicated his life to art, adventure, and independence.

The son of artist Eva Aeppli and an assistant to Jean Tinguely, Felix grew up in the vibrant Parisian art scene of the 1960s. He later followed the path of the Beat Generation, travelling from New York and London to Ibiza and India. Together with the love of his life, Loretta, he chose a nomadic existence far removed from convention. Raising four children along the way, they built a life in which freedom, creativity, and time mattered more than possessions.

When Felix discovered tattooing in the late 1970s, he found a new artistic language. What began as a way to finance their travels evolved into a groundbreaking career and the creation of the legendary Leu Family Iron, a name that continues to command worldwide respect within the tattoo community.
Guided by Loretta’s warm and personal narration, the film unfolds as an extraordinary family chronicle about love, art, raising children outside the mainstream, and the courage to follow your own path. An inspiring portrait of a man who never stopped dreaming and a tribute to everyone who refuses to be defined by convention.

In collaboration with ST. CATHARINA Tattoo Shop (Antwerp) and with special thanks to tattoo artist Matias Canteros.