HAMLET Sign Award Winning Director Yousef

May. 13, 2024

International production studio HAMLET have signed acclaimed director Yousef to their roster for representation in Belgium, France, Asia Pacific and China.

Known for his distinctive style blending comedy with VFX-centric magical surrealism and visual effects, Yousef is celebrated for his boundary-pushing music videos and commercials, hailed as "wonderfully weird."  His fascination with surrealism was influenced by directors such as Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Alfonso Cuarón. In the world of commercials and music video visionaries such as Andreas Nilsson, Nabil Elderkin, Ninian Doff, Daniels, Ian Pons Jewell, and The Sacred Egg are his inspirations. 

Yousef has created campaigns for renowned brands such as McDonald's, VISA, Old Spice, Tele2, BBC, Uber Eats, and Robinsons. 

Yousef said:

“I’m incredibly excited to join the wonderful team at HAMLET and see what magic, fun and silliness we can create together”

 

Jason Felstead, Founder & Executive Producer HAMLET added:

"With an unmatched ability to create imaginative worlds and bring captivating characters to life, Yousef brings a unique blend of artistry and storytelling to our roster. He draws inspiration from his background in animation and stop-motion and seamlessly integrates its techniques into live action, enriching every project with a touch of magic. We very much look forward to the boundless creativity and transformative storytelling he will bring to our productions as we embark on an exciting journey together."

 

Yousef’s work has been widely recognised. His “Uniquely Odd” campaign for BBC iPlayer was featured in many top trades, and his hallucinatory promo for Piero Pirupa “Braindead” won a Wood Pencil for Music Video: Concept at the 2021 D&AD Awards, as well as landing on shortlists for the 2020 Young Director’s Award and UKMVA’s. Most recently, Yousef’s spot for Old Spice “Curls Are Cool” was named a 2022 Webby Winner in Video – Experimental & Weird.

Before turning his hand to directing, Yousef created visuals for Michael Kiwanuka, Wretch 32, Dizzee Rascal, Devlin, Yizzy, Gregory Porter, and Sway.