THE CREAM OF COMEDY DIRECTORS
SAMI ABUSAMRA - BLACK BELT IN DEADPAN
For Sami deadpan isn’t just a job, it’s a goddamn way of life. So whether he’s directing comedy legends like Caroline Quentin, comedy future-legends like Tash Demetriou, or non-comedy legends like Richard Branson, his work is built around unimpeachable performances and scripts drier than Ghandi’s flip flop.
Sami’s career started at MTV, working on shows like Gonzo with Zane Lowe and he’s gone on to make broadcast stuff for the BBC, commercial stuff for brands as diverse as Nike, Coors Light and Mitsubishi and has done so alongside agencies such as VCCP and M&C Saatchi. If Antarctica would just sort its life out Sami's short films would have been on every continent in the world. You’ve made a powerful enemy Antarctica.
BEN MALLABY - WORLD LEADER IN COMEDY ACTION
Ben doesn’t like to talk about his BAFTA nomination, so don't ask him what it is about his short film Island Queen that was so highly lauded. Ben hates it when people mention that The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw really rated the work. So please do not raise that with him. And Ben is frankly embarrassed that Zoe Ball was sycophantic enough to rave about Island Queen on her radio show. Twice. So lets all move on right?
Ben's work includes commercials for household names like Cadbury’s, the National Lottery and KLM. He's also made many other award-winning shorts which have played at places like the BFI London Film Festival, Encounters and Leeds. BAFTA.
TOM LEVINGE - FACTUAL COMEDY, JOVIAL MAN
Tom has produced and directed TV series for the BBC, Channel 4, Comedy Central, Dave, Vice and NBC. He specialises in mixing real people with comedians (comedians are people too in a way I suppose but you get the idea). Whether it's self shooting Brazilian tribespeople with Nish Kumar and Joel Dommett (shooting in a filming way) or capturing Charlotte from Geordie Shore at an Indian Princess' wedding in Rajasthan (literally capturing) he can deliver it. His short films and viral videos have been shown at festivals all over the world and viewed millions of times online. In his spare time he is a comedy improviser performing with acclaimed improv’ theatre The Free Association. Tom really bloody loves making stuff (and can put up impressive shelving units).