Aaron Duffy
Aaron joined 1stAveMachine in 2007, changing the landscape of the company. His first effort, (project: 40895825 title: Audi Unboxed), garnered our first Cannes Lion while his work for (project: 41441159 title: Google Speed Tests) brought seven more into the pride. In 2015, Aaron was named first out of the “30 Most Creative People in Advertising Under 30” by Business Insider. His unique abilities can be seen in his iconic Super Bowl for Google (project: 43627069 title: Parisian Love) and these three unique pieces for Rag & Bone: the short film (project: 253484689 title: Why Can't We Get Along), the experiential AI-hosted dinner (project: 334495344 title: A Last Supper), and finally the (project: 499858294 title: New York Fashion Week) runway show filmed by an AI-operated camera. Aaron’s love of optical illusions can be enjoyed in both this viral music video for (project: 99175040 title: OK Go) and this film for the release of the (project: 393837869 title: iphone x).
Asif Mian
Asif’s creativity is bold and unforgettable, from commercial work, to music videos, to sculptures, (project: 136220264 title: Castello) showcases Asif's abilities. Unbelievable to most that the magic was all in camera, we offer up the (project: 137865481 title: Castello BTS) as evidence. (project: 230200835 title: GILLETTE COPPER WIRE) is poignant for its sculptural use of design and the human form. Asif also has an uncanny ability to engage viewers with his unconventional choreography of camera, set and talent, which bring (project: 105354668 title: Moto Hint) and (project: 74233266 title: CADILLAC) to life.
Baz
Baz’s work is colorful, eclectic, and whimsical, embodying a generation raised on internet culture. His kaleidoscopic mixed media work for (project: 347631105 title: Facebook Summer) brings UGC content to life, and his imaginative music videos for (project: 88925273 title: Klo Pelgag), (project: 393821860 title: Coeur de Pirate), and (project: 208710230 title: Karim Ouellet) are prime examples of his one-of-a-kind creative spirit. His comedic side also shines in his campaign for (project: 393823884 title: Promutuel) and his hilarious and meme-flavored (project: 393822494 title: Mighty Blend). For some of Baz’s lighter fare, also be sure to check out his campaigns for (project: 506269695 title: Coors Light) and (project: 201057993 title: Adidas Tubular).
Bob Partington
Bob’s unconventional approach to invention, fine art, and engineering is apparent in everything he touches. His first project with 1stAve, (project: 41441159 title: Google Speed Tests), garnered four Cannes Lions and a few other prizes as well. He constructed a massive and fully-functioning sports field on a moving treadmill for his ambitious (project: 347602884 title: Gatorade) spot, and collaborated with Aaron Duffy, Benjamin Millepied, and legendary cinematographer Darius Khondji for Rag & Bone’s stunning film (project: 253484689 title: Why Can’t We Get Along). Bob's unique thinking has produced stunning pieces for (project: 342494201 title: Deloitte), (project: 114183913 title: Apple), and (project: 155975217 title: Samsung), powerful installations for (project: 180049632 title: Volvo), and the (project: 504665488 title: Cleo Institute), and OK Go's iconic (project: 99175040 title: The Writing's On the Wall).
Brut
Brut, the mixed-media collective founded by 1stAve director Martin Allais, is a curated group of distinguished directors whose fresh and innovative approach hijacks the imagination. Brut’s team of directors runs the gamut of animation styles. Director Novenero creates beautiful 2D illustration-style animation in (project: 506775557 title: Eatruscan) and perfects a minimalistic style in (project: 506785515 title: La Caverna). Dedo Ciego delivers a rhythmic, mixed-media approach in JMII’s music video, (project: 288040390 title: Bailar), while Honear creates surreal 3D textures for his beautiful (project: 393820660 title: Huawei) spot. Maliboo’s handcrafted graphic masterpiece (project: 288041184 title: Un I Mig) serves as the perfect music video for the Catalonian band La Laia, and BLND’s playful, aesthetic stop motion and illustration work for (project: 506641188 title: Amazon Launchpad) brings a tactile craft to the collective.
D.A.D.D.Y.
The directing duo D.A.D.D.Y. (aka Mike Ahern and Enda Loughman), are absolute comedy gold, as their surreal (project: 333589756 title: National Lottery) and quirky (project: 83754975 title: Susan’s Morning Win) films can attest. More than just funny guys, Mike and Enda’s cinematic sensibilities permeate their beautiful film (project: 290743954 title: Bedtime Stories), their wild spot for the Irish Lottery (project: 138666518 title: Bigger Better Dreams), and their musical spot for TransUnion (project: 393843443 title: Getting to Know You). In fact, these renaissance men are also published authors of the serious scientific tomes 100 Facts About Sharks and 100 Facts About Pandas, both available on Amazon. Their latest effort is (project: 393843422 title: Extra Ordinary), a feature-length comedy starring Will Forte that premiered at SXSW.
Danielle Katvan
Signed to 1stAveMachine in the Summer of 2019, Danielle Katvan is an award-winning director of narrative and commercial content. A born and raised New Yorker living in Los Angeles, her directing style is defined by its heightened visual aesthetic and offbeat, comedic sensibility, exemplified in her spots for (project: 352332610 title: Venetian Las Vegas) and (project: 352332574 title: Shift.IO) – she also has a passion for socially-conscious projects, as seen in her spot for (project: 393819616 title: S&P Global). She won a 2018 Silver Clio Award for her Vogue x Free People spot (project: 352332694 title: Coat Check Stories), and was one of 32 directors included in SHOOT Magazine’s 2017 New Directors Showcase. You can get a taste of her cinematic style in her spots for (project: 504678639 title: Giant) and (project: 504677859 title: Wings Financial), and in the humanistic (project: 499851183 title: Facebook Rooms) campaign. Her short films have also received numerous accolades, including a World Premiere at the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival for (project: 354714239 title: The Foster Portfolio).
Em Cole
Em Cole is an East London-based 21st Century image maker whose work spans photography, film, animation, and interactive art. Her approach is focused on the belief that embracing new formats & tech can help us tell better stories. The combination of soft aesthetics with the tongue-in-cheek and hyperreal is always present. This approach is apparent in the miniature world of wonder she constructed for (project: 499831817 title: Mercari), her Instagram campaign (project: 471489410 title: InstaGiftGuide), her original short film (project: 471489653 title: Sloppy Seconds), and her music video for (project: 506639990 title: Carrie).
Espadaysantacruz
Born in the halls of Universidad Complutense of Madrid in 2008, the Espadaysantacruz studio is the creation of Miguel Espada, Juan Santa-Cruz and Nerea Goikoetxea. They are a band of professionals with different backgrounds in the field of creative programming, visual arts, production design, filmmaking, and cultural curation. Their ability to weave visuals, craft and technology is best showcased in their piece (project: 237601798 title: WASO) for Shiseido, (project: 330786959 title: Now What) for Qualitas Auto. The group has also collaborated with innovative fashion brand Rag & Bone to create two stunning live installations using AI technology: (project: 334495344 title: A Last Supper) and (project: 499858294 title: New York Fashion Week Fall 2019). Their spirit for innovation can be seen in their deep fake-assisted music video for (project: 506642718 title: TREMENDO LA JUVENTUD) and in their high art robotics installations for (project: 506645212 title: Zara) and (project: 506644290 title: Carolina Herrera). Espadaysantacruz's work has traversed the creative spectrum from their impactful, high-profile (project: 193744471 title: BLIND CAP) for Samsung to (project: 209285376 title: Motor Dreams) for Ford, which earned them a Cannes Gold Lion in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
Karim Zariffa
Karim's love of design and art direction breathe life into his work, as seen in his film for (project: 291136026 title: Mobalpa), the stunning moving set of (project: 506639064 title: Lenovo Yoga), his many spots for (project: 506638931 title: Target), the vibrant campaign for (project: 205959854 title: IZZE), and his trippy spot (project: 160359892 title: CHOOS-THE-MANGO) featuring Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. His series of work for (project: 152603382 title: Android Wear) pairs his impeccable design with creative camera movement, while (project: 253498157 title: Android Wear 2.0) demonstrates Karim’s understanding of in-camera magic, and his work for Karim’s work for (project: 291136064 title: Google Fi) takes his distinct look out of the studio and into the real world while adding an element of comedy.
Marc Reisbig
Never one to be confined to a single technique, Marc Reisbig seamlessly combines live-action and animation in his own unique mixed-media style, as seen in his piece for DNB, (project: 290698726 title: Meet Trygve) and his piece for Facebook (project: 393815282 title: Zero Friction Future). Marc’s film for Elkjop, (project: 295213640 title: Coming Together), uses this mixed media approach to create a driving, contagious energy for the brand. Meanwhile, Marc’s Nordic sense of humor is on display in his irreverent and whimsical film for (project: 499849805 title: Norsk Tipping) and his silly stop-motion film for (project: 123255170 title: Frooti). In his beautiful spot for (project: 499831026 title: Walmart Holiday), Marc switches gears to develop a more cinematic and anthemic style.
Martin Allais
Martin Allais’ early work is rooted in hand-painted cel animation. While traditional in technique, the results are anything but, as seen in the colorful and contemporary (project: 88925274 title: Oreo Wonderfilled) and (project: 114185740 title: IBM BONES), or the richly textured and inspirational (project: 506638511 title: CTCP). Martin also takes on narrative storytelling in his animated VR piece Battlescar, which stars Rosario Dawson and was featured at the 2018 Sundance New Frontiers and 2018 Tribeca Film Festival, where the Hollywood Reporter called it one of the top ten films not to miss. In the mixed media realm, Martin tells a love story for (project: 109738289 title: Facebook Love), illustrates the real dreams of young children in (project: 393814829 title: Google Classroom), and creates a holiday message for (project: 114159806 title: Samsung Holiday Dreams), the project which won him a Bronze Lion at Cannes.
Mathery
Erika Zorzi and Matteo Sangalli comprise Mathery, a one-of-a-kind Italian directing duo bred from a background in design and photography. Currently based in Brooklyn, their work turns simple, everyday life upside down to form worlds of both breathtaking art direction, as seen in their spots for (project: 342494201 title: Deloitte), (project: 476496114 title: A101), and (project: 290718228 title: Mega Ice Cream). Their worlds also have a wonderful sense of tongue-in-cheek humor, as seen in their spots for (project: 333590017 title: Orbitz), (project: 499832584 title: Olly), and their independent short film (project: 301099413 title: OFFF).
The YOUNG GUNS-honored pair excels in creating abstract universes and their talents cross different mediums and disciplines from film to photography, as well as space and object design – to see this at play, check out some of their PHOTOGRAPHY WORK or their award-winning touring exhibition PASTELLO – DRAW ACT. Alternating between personal independent projects and directing commercial advertisements, the duo sees each scene is an opportunity to observe the world we know and transform it into one we don’t – one that’s filled with mystery, irony, and satire.
Maxime Bruneel
Maxime Bruneel's spot for (project: 266382811 title: Engie) is a celebration of the filmmaker's passions: choreography, animation, and unbridled human spirit. The same could be said for his latest pieces for (project: 350772762 title: Macy’s), (project: 506638034 title: Facebook Obsess), (project: 499831587 title: L’Oreal), (project: 208689901 title: Facebook Stories), or his live-action music video for (project: 121878742 title: Mennen). Medium-bending and mesmerizing, (project: 172595831 title: Remember the Future) is Bruneel's mixed-media mashup for Adidas Originals, featuring Kate Moss. No less transfixing or inventive is his promo for TT Diplo and Swick, (project: 118024921 title: Dat A Freak), his tongue-in-cheek mixed media anthem for (project: 499849370 title: Back Market), his shapeshifting splitscreen music video for (project: 393812660 title: Vodafone), and his propulsive found footage extravaganza for (project: 499850058 title: Gatorade).
Morgan Harary
Morgan’s passion for filmmaking began with his father’s DV camera and has developed through years of experience as an art director, winning numerous FWAs and other awards including two Cannes Lions and a One Show. His latest directorial efforts at 1stAveMachine include his beautiful and anthemic spots for (project: 504873664 title: Budweiser), (project: 499837649 title: Instagram), and (project: 499849089 title: Adobe). He also brings CG, animation and live action together into unique and visually stunning pieces for (project: 264316784 title: Oreo) and (project: 237602310 title: Dropbox). His work also encapsulates the dreamy (project: 333598784 title: Sperry Southern Seas) and the highly stylized world of (project: 253496870 title: Motorola).
Roman Rütten
Roman loves to not let himself be defined by one genre. Coming from a graphic design background, his films are defined by beautiful cinematography and aesthetic precision, as seen in his celebratory lifestyle films for (project: 423275581 title: Oppo) and (project: 347192002 title: Youtube Music) and the gritty conceptual storytelling in his short film (project: 208553224 title: Reminiscence). His love for cinematic visuals carries over into his macro photography and technical liquid work in (project: 423792790 title: Vertuo) for Nespresso, (project: 423290111 title: Barista) for Jacobs Coffee, and (project: 393808675 title: AC Hotels) for Marriott. He also thrives when he can merge all of his skill sets and let the imagination and the idea take the lead with the help of CGI or mixed media films for (project: 87025290 title: Vision Express), (project: 393848118 title: Garmin), and the acclaimed (project: 108810132 title: Sonos) campaign, a collaboration with Tomi Dieguez.
Ron Brodie
Ron Brodie is a broad cultural enthusiast inspired by his Jamaican-American heritage and expansive world travels. His portfolio is made up of a diverse line of commercials, music videos, and branded content. He's had the pleasure of directing projects for a wide variety of brands, including (project: 471486073 title: Spotify), (project: 506636471 title: Instagram), (project: 506635669 title: Chime), and (project: 471593777 title: Airwalk). He's also produced promos for MTV, BET, HBO, and the Emmy Award-winning (project: 471489388 title: Robbin' Season) of FX's Atlanta. As a filmmaker, Ron's 35mm short film (project: 471488867 title: Jumpman) debuted on Booooooom, and his contributions on the music video for Bob Marley's (project: 471593143 title: No Woman No Cry) have been widely recognized. Ron looks forward to enhancing his career by directing and producing underrepresented stories that are often missed by mainstream media.
Sophie Gateau
Sophie Gateau’s training in architecture, graphic design, and film direction have given her a special perspective on visual space, art direction, and design. Since her transition to directing from the fashion industry, clients ranging from (project: 506771855 title: TED), (project: 506772239 title: Moen), and (project: 290991205 title: Dunkin' Donuts) have sought out her innovative visual approach and charming tone. Innovation is key to Sophie's aesthetic, which is apparent in her work for (project: 290992832 title: Adidas), while her short film (project: 290992507 title: Suiveur) offers a fascinating character study alongside her trademark charm.
Tim Brown
Bringing the dynamic energy of his music video background into the commercial world, Tim Brown’s work for (project: 506768818 title: Izze), (project: 306003394 title: Huawei), (project: 506635047 title: Oppo), and (project: 333590321 title: Patron) are great showcases of his seamless and elegant style, while his campaigns for (project: 234012558 title: Bose) and (project: 393808444 title: Jaguar) showcase his passion for design. His keen eye for beautiful documentary-style cinematography also shines through in his work for (project: 347192002 title: Youtube Music) and his film (project: 262403337 title: The Labour Train), an op-doc featured in the New York Times and supported by the Pulitzer Center.
Tomi Dieguez
With a diverse skill set, Tomi has brought inspirational stories to life with his beautiful spot for (project: 476511499 title: King Arthur), conquered in-camera live action projects for (project: 253497093 title: Uber), and incorporated incredible CG in (project: 221294282 title: Toyota CH+R). You can see his knack for kinetic visual storytelling in his visually inventive spots with (project: 253527701 title: Atma) and (project: 506634625 title: Quaker). Tomi also created an Annie Award-nominated animated kids series (project: 333625388 title: Little Big Awesome) which premiered on Amazon in May of 2018.
Tucker Bliss
Sought after for his effortless ability to tell brand stories while engaging audiences in a humanistic way, Tucker has showcased the emotion and humor in everyday life for clients such as (project:432255261 title:Bacardi), (project: 290998593 title: Bumble), (project: 499831900 title: Vogue), and (project: 333582002 title: Academy Sports). His diverse body of work ranges from globe-trotting humanitarian documentaries like (project: 317540241 title: Google: Crisis Response) and celebrity pieces like (project: 499833189 title: Gatorade Bolt 24), to bright and kinetic character-driven spots like (project: 347601285 title: Google Pay Camping) and (project: 499831741 title: Classico). At every turn, he creates honest and playful worlds that are inspired by real experiences.