Director Henrik Rostrup Elevates Storytelling to Bold New Heights at Farm League

Mar. 25, 2019

Fearless Scandinavian filmmaker Henrik Rostrup brings his highly visual, outdoors-driven storytelling to Farm League, the Venice Beach-based film company behind some of the most heavy-hitting commercials, documentary films and branded content being created today.

An avid mountain bike racer in his youth, Rostrup forged a filmmaking path chasing his friends downhill with a Bolex 16mm camera. On top of the world’s most breathtaking mountain peaks, he captured the boldness of professional bikers, skiers and snowboarders with an intrepid and rugged eye. His ability to get up-close with his subjects launched a directing career that took Rostrup around the globe documenting the action sports he loved, always bringing to it a hi-def cinematic sheen.

For many years Rostrup lived a nomadic life, traveling up to 250 days a year wherever the seasons and sports led him. Wherever he lands on the planet, Rostrup uses dichotomy in nature as the backdrop to shape richly textured human narratives. On a recent shoot in the Dubai desert for an Etisalat telecom commercial via Impact BBDO, Rostrup corralled horses, cars and motorcycles for a high-octane storyline, while the long-form piece for Cisco shot in his native Norway highlights the profound importance of forest conservation.

The self-taught Rostrup has helmed work for clients such as Reebok, Gore-Tex, Montblanc, Norwegian Industries and Netcom.

Crediting the great outdoors as the canvas and inspiration for his work, Rostrup noted: 

“Everything I’ve learned surrounding myself with mountain athletes and other risk-taking creative people plays a huge factor in how I see the natural world as a person and behind the camera.”

 

All the adventuring isn’t to say he works off-the-cuff. Rostrup emphasizes planning during pre-production stages, building the structure that allows him to stay polished yet spontaneous and reactive.

As he says:

“Set goals and then practice, practice, practice. It filters right into my filmmaking, enabling me to trust my instincts in the moment. I mean, rappelling down a waterfall negotiating four helicopters to shoot a scene, what more of a thrill could you ask for?”

 

Tim Lynch, Founder, Executive Producer and Managing Director, said:

“He comes from the deep trenches of the outdoor world so was an instant bond for all of us at Farm League. With our shared inspirations and his elevated filmmaking style, we couldn’t be more excited to partner with Henrik.”

 

Utilizing their creative and production firepower, Farm League’s experienced storytellers thrive in the arenas of sports, outdoors, travel, music and heart-filled American anthems. Whether creating original films, or skillfully assisting iconic brands like Patagonia, Coors, YETI, Honda, John Deere, Eddie Bauer, and Stumptown, Farm League takes this passion seriously while producing work that challenges the norm of how people consume media and branded content.