Zak is an award-winning commercials director based in London, working worldwide.
Trained in Fine Art Painting at Central Saint Martins, Zak's cinematic approach reflects his keen eye for detail.
His journey from a storyboard artist to a director has been marked by a unique blend of painterly cinematography, visual wit, and emotionally resonant performances. Zak's work has a sincere quality that leaves audiences smiling and occasionally reaching for a tissue.
Awards line Zak's path, from Cannes Lions to Kinsale Sharks, ICADS to Promax, The One Show to Eurobest Grand Prix. His critically acclaimed body of commercial work stretches across the UK, EU, and USA.
He thrives on collaboration, working seamlessly with diverse, open-minded creative partners. Zak's personal life, particularly his role as a father to two kids, influences his work, infusing it with authenticity and warmth.
Beyond the glitz of the industry, Zak is an avid ultra-runner, rock climber, and snowboarder. As co-founder of backdropjournal.com— his passion for photography and adventure takes him to captivating, off-the-beaten-track destinations.
Zak's lens has captured breath-taking snowboarding expeditions to Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Arctic Norway, and more. His documentaries 'First Day of Summer' and 'Lofoten' have earned recognition at mountain film festivals worldwide.
Represented by Ruffian USA, Merman UK, Butter Dublin, TPF Berlin. Please do get in touch regionally via these guys or reach out directly.
CLIENT LIST INCLUDES:
Commercials:
Adidas, Heineken, Nike, Toyota, Sony Playstation, British Film Institute, Nikon, Wilko, BBC, Digicel, Very, M&S, Carphone Warehouse, McDonald’s, Jameson Whiskey, Three Mobile, Entenmann’s, Woodies, Unicef, Lufthansa, Engie, Ladbrokes, HSBC, Amazon, Skoda, Boots,
TV Series:
Promotional and Titles work for hit TV Sky Atlantic series 1 and 2: Penny Dreadful. And History Channel’s epic series Viking.
COMMERCIAL AWARDS:
ICAD - Woodies ‘Larry?’ Best Direction
ICAD - Mrs Higgins 8 various awards
USA One Show Merit Award, Toyota ‘All Things'
Shark - Toyota ‘All Things'
Cannes Lion Silver - Heineken 'Legendary Faking Of'
Grand Prix Eurobest - Heineken 'Legendary Faking Of'
USA The One Show Merit - Heineken 'Legendary Faking Of'
Shark Award - ‘Three Little Words'
ICAD - Three Mobile ‘Ode to Fans'
Shark Award - ‘Ode to Fans'
LIA Silver Award - ‘Ladbrokes Climb, Shark, Parachute'
Promax World Gold Award, BBC Strictly, Graham Norton promo
USA The One Show Merit - ‘Ladbrokes Climb, Shark, Parachute'
SHORT FILM AWARDS:
‘Suspended’ - Stella Artois Best Short
‘Don’t Just Lie There’ - Best Direction Paris International Short Film Festival Official selection Palm Springs
‘The Ballad of Langley Lane’ Winner HomeSpunYard funding / Official selection Los Angeles Shorts Festival / Austin Film Festival.
DOC FILM AWARDS:
‘First Day of Summer - Edmund Hillary award - Mammoth Film Festival
Finalist at Banff, Vancouver, Pakistan, Edinburgh, Sheffield, Durango, Lyons Colorado...
Have a project in mind? Let’s work together.