News + Culture

Mayo Haters wins bronze and silver at The Clio Awards and wins Best in Show at the ANDY Awards!

Variety: “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to make movies, but writer-director Lloyd Lee Choi almost became one on the path to his feature debut, ‘Lucky Lu,’ premiering May 19 at Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes.”

Congratulations to Adrijan Assoufi for the New Director of the Year nomination at the 2025 shots Awards!

Born in Vienna to an Iraqi businessman and a Serbian engineer, Adrijan Assoufi grew up with his grandfather, Gojko, who nourished his imagination and values through worldwide cultural exposure – an exposure that also led him to fluency in 6 languages.

Currently living in Canada, Adrijan’s filmmaking is recognized for its distinctive cinematic approach which seamlessly blends poetic visuals with a profound sensibility to storytelling. Defined by an emotional authenticity that captures the human condition through bold visual choices – he has a unique ability to perfectly translate the frames and dreams in his head onto film.

Prime Video have set a U.K. remake of Spanish original movie “Culpa Mia.”

“My Fault: London” will retell the story of Nick and Noah, who are played by Asha Banks (“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder”) and Matthew Broome (“The Buccaneers”).

The film, which recently wrapped in the U.K., is directed by Dani Girdwood and Charlotte Fassler based on a script by Melissa Osborne (“Change”).

Click here to view full article from Variety.

Congratulations to Nim Kyong Ran for being selected as Ad Age’s Best New Director Finalist!

division7 is named “2024 Production Company Standout” at the Ad Age A-List & Creativity Awards!

Ryan Booth, Kamila Prokop and David Richards are this year’s AICP Show Judges!

Born and raised in Stockholm, Nim’s journalist mother imbued in her a love of storytelling that drives her to this day. She explored different art forms from an early age, including six years of acting school, but it was when she discovered the role as a director that everything fell into place. Instead of having to choose between her interests, directing was something that would allow her to combine them all.

Omri’s work is driven by instinct, visceral energy, impulsive movement and heart. There is a rawness to his work, a wild spirit – which is reflected equally in his personality and empathy. He thrives on creating a heightened cinematic experience out of real life. An ability to find the magic in people, his casting process is relentless. He thrives on combining actors with street casting and unique individuals who naturally embody the role that’s called for.

British born and Brooklyn based, artist and filmmaker Quentin Jones brings the soul of a brand to life through her energetic, innovative and vibrant films. After majoring in Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, Jones pursued her Masters in Illustration at Central St Martins where she honed her eye as a storyteller across myriad mediums. Since then she’s brought her unique vision to the benefit of clients ranging from Apple to Target, and Chanel to Carolina Herrera.

Lloyd Lee Choi – Silver in Short Film
“Closing Dynasty”

Joshua Kissi – Bronze in Direction
NY Times “Questlove”

Joshua Kissi – Silver in Cinematography
DP – Patrick Golan
Chevy “Holidays w Mrs. Hayes”

Known for his raw and authentic approach to storytelling, Ryan’s background in music and cinematography deeply informs his unique style, often resulting in richly textured and emotionally resonant films. Drawing on real-life experiences and personal connections, Ryan crafts narratives that straddle the line between documentary and fiction, offering viewers a window into the intricate nuances of human relationships and the world around them.

Cannes Lion Shortlist honoring the work of Joshua Kissi, Matt Spicer and Kris Belman!

“Out of over 130 nominations, these 10 directors were chosen as the top choices by our jury of industry experts, based on scores overall and for creative excellence.”

SILVER AWARD

BRONZE AWARDS

“Ray Smiling, who spent years as a creative director at agencies including Droga5, Johannes Leonardo and Translation, has made the transition to director look easy over the past few years—developing a remarkable reel of branded and personal work that reveals a unique and fresh blend of vision and technique.”

Thank you SHOTS for acknowledging the blood, sweat, and cheers that went into the making of these films.

Congratulations Matt Spicer and Joshua Kissi!

Joshua Kissi
Best Direction (for Chevy)
+ Best Editing & Sound Design (for Chevy and NYTimes)

Matt Spicer
Best Concept (for American Red Cross)

Ad Age has spoken! Congratulations Ray Smiling and Joshua Kissi for being shortlisted for Best New Director!

WINNER – SXSW 2023 Audience Award for Best Narrative Short
WINNER – 73rd Berlinale Crystal Bear for Best Short Film | Generations

Official Selection & World Premier | 73rd Berlinale
Official Selection & North American Premier | SXSW 2023

“On a school day, a precocious seven year-old girl, Queenie, hustles and schemes ways to make money on the streets of New York City.”

Made in partnership with Netflix, Gold House, and Tribeca Studios as part of the Future Gold Film Fellowship.

“Although division7 is less than five years old, it appears on Ad Age’s A-List for the third time. In 2020, it was a production company to watch. In 2022, it was a production company Standout. The company is now No. 7 on the Production Company A-List for its outstanding array of storytelling, from memorable Super Bowl spots to tear-jerking short films.”

Award winning directing duo, Aircastle, has signed with division7 for US representation. Aircastle will be looked after SMUGGLER in the UK.

The work of Aircastle has found its home in a sweet spot of comedic storytelling; marrying an elevated and refined visual aesthetic with characters and environments that are fully realized – never giving in to the absurd…but willing to take you right up to the edge. They’re a trusting pair of hands for all of their partners; in their element subverting genre conventions with finesse and restraint and capturing nuanced performances that strike that perfect comedic chord.

division7 has joined forces with Champion NY for talent representation on the East Coast! The 2021 and 2022 AdAge Production Company A-List honoree is helmed by Co-Managing Directors Kamila Prokop and David Richards, and is home to a highly curated roster of generational talent. This partnering signals an evolution for both brands!

“As far as PSAs go, this one’s a scream. The Red Cross and BBDO New York tapped Neve Campbell, hero of the “Scream” franchise, to front its hilarious blood donation ad that takes a page from the horror movie playbook. The spot shows Campbell and others in familiar scary movie scenarios, questioning why they’re about to “waste blood” getting axed and slaughtered by menacing villains. Campbell then points out that 50% of Americans love watching blood get spilled in horror flicks, but ‘what’s scary is that only 3% donate it.'”

“Same Old”, written and directed by Lloyd Lee Choi and produced by division7 and Collective Picture, has been chosen as 1 of 9 short films headed to the 75th Cannes Film Festival!

Co-written and directed by Sonejuhi Sinha for HBO Max, “The Colony” is a suspenseful and darkly humorous twisted family drama, exposing the pressures and tropes facing an immigrant family and what happens when they are dragged into a world of crime. Loosely based on the world of “Stray Dolls” a feature written and produced by Sonejuhi and Charlotte Rabate and directed by Sonejuhi), it’s a story about an unlikely criminal coming into her own and the noble aspiration of success in America turning to perversion. Nicholas Weinstock (Severance) is executive producing through his company Invention Studios.

Congratulations to Joshua Kissi for the New Director of the Year nomination at the 2022 shots Awards!

We’re VERY honored to be named amongst these respected peers in Ad Age’s Production Company A-List / Standout Production Companies of 2022! And THANK YOU Ad Age / ever since we opened our doors just three years ago, you’ve inspired us to keep working harder and to climb ever higher.

Kris Belman + Ogilvy + Hellmann’s = Super Bowl Magic

division7’s Lloyd Lee Choi has been selected for the Future Gold Film Fellowship – where three API directors tell the stories they have been dreaming of telling for and about their communities and experiences, presented as short scripted films across genres and topics.

Launch of new LinkedIn campaign that started with the “tweet heard ‘round the world” by Joshua Kissi.

CAMPAIGN: “The New York-based directing partnership of Dani Girdwood and Charlotte Fassler has worked on campaigns for Diesel, Fuji Instax, Google and Etsy. This year’s Spotify ad, which debuted during the summer, waved the flag for the platform’s broad base of fandom and favourite artists over the previous six months. Focusing on the popularity of the 30-second Harry Styles “Only You: Harry” slot is a gloriously colour-saturated slice of summer beach fun, complete with characteristically nifty camera work and sparkling, natural performances.”

A series Maverick, a Comedy Gold-Digger, a Storyteller Commercial Visionary, a TV Pilot Helmer, and a Studio Darling, life has given multi-tasker Kat Coiro so many, many different creations.

New 📸💥  work from Joshua Kissi for Ebony Magazine! The November cover featuring renowned activist, change-maker and athlete Colin Kaepernick @kaepernick7

Endeavor Content, division7 and Film 45 have teamed to produce Unlikely Heroes, a documentary that explores the origins and global mystique of and enduring, emotional fascination with the giant panda. Addison O’Dea is directing the pic, with Endeavor Content financing the film and handling sales in conjunction with Untitled Entertainment.

Click here to read the full article from Deadline.

To get Gen Z to think differently about vaping, director Kris Belman partnered with @truthorange and Mojo Supermarket to take on the vaping industry.

Celebrating the incredible talent of Joshua Kissi and his latest shoot with the legend that is Nas for Ebony Magazine.

Directed and photographed by Joshua Kissi for The New York Times article, “Black Surfers Reclaim Their Space on The Waves”.

For the next generation of Olympians, inspiration can be found anywhere. In their new spot for Xfinity, Similar But Different teams up with 72andSunny to celebrate this electric feeling.

Sonejuhi Sinha and Joshua Kissi have both made the AICP Shortlist for Best New Director!

TITANIUM + 3 Gold + 1 Silver + 2 Bronze = Similar But Different

Congratulations Joshua Kissi, Sonejuhi Sinha + shy kids!

What would you risk for the score of a lifetime? division7’s Isaac Ravishankara directs all the narrative recreations in Netflix’s newest docuseries chronicling the biggest heists in American history.

Get in on the Heist, coming to Netflix July 14.

We’ve worn many hats over the years and now we’ve got a new one to add. We’ve conquered animation!

Congratulations to Sonejuhi Sinha and shy kids for the win for Girls Who Code at the 2021 shots Awards!

A massive congratulations to Joshua Kissi for making Adweek’s Creative 100: Visionary Directors list!

Click here to read the article.

“The actor is the voice in the chain’s new Ch’King chicken sandwich campaign that is the stuff of nightmares.”

“Ch’King Nightmare” dir. Kris Belman

Ad Age features Similar But Different’s new work for Spotify’s latest campaign.

Click here to read the article.

Presenting our spots that made The One Show shortlist!

Congratulations to Joshua Kissi on making the 2021 shortlist for the shots Awards The Americas for Best New Director!

division7 director Joshua Kissi was named one of this year’s Culture Shifters by HuffPost.

Read the feature now – click link here.

Congratulations to Similar But Different and Sonejuhi Sinha for their wins at the Clio Awards!

Congrats to Sonejuhi Sinha, Similar But Different, Lloyd Lee Choi and Kris Belman for making the Clio Awards shortlist!

Last night Similar But Different took home a Silver British Arrow in Fashion for their Diesel Spot ‘Enjoy Before Returning’. Congratulations Dani and Charlotte!

Happy International Women’s Day to our incredible directors and all the female creatives who break barriers every single day!

Adweek: “‘Missing Code’ ad aims to inspire the next generation and support Girls Who Code”

SHOTS: “Director Sonejuhi Sinha had to imagine what the digital world would be like if 25% of the code was taken out of the internet. The result is a bizarre and hypnotic film that explores how women are an essential part of the STEM ecosystem.”

SHOTS: “Joining division7 is Joshua Kissi, a Ghananian-American Filmmaker, Photographer and Creative Director based in New York City whose work celebrates the vibrance of underrepresented communities through a cultural and historical lens.”

“His triumphant films and photographs tell stories that are often unrecorded with intentionality, respect and care. His work is soulful, distinctive and emotive, representing a truly unique view on humanity and the world.  He’s worked with a diverse list of clients including Beats by Dre, Nike, Google, NYT Style Magazine, InStyle, Vogue, and the New York Times Op Docs, to name a few.”

This film tells the true story of Aboud Kaplo, a young, self-taught musician and former refugee who realised his dream of becoming a concert violinist, even after being driven from his home during the war in Syria.

According to the UNICEF 2020 Humanitarian Action for Children report, around the world more than 30 million children have been displaced by conflict. Nearly nine years of war in the Syrian Arab Republic have left nearly 5 million children in need and more than 2.5 million children living as refugees outside of the country

AD AGE: “Agency Standard Black and production company division7 helped retailer stand apart from the sea of emotional montages”

An enormous congratulations to Similar But Different for taking home the GOLD in the IDEA category for “Enjoy Before Returning” at the Andy Awards this year!

Congratulations to Kris Belman, Lloyd Lee Choi, and Isaac Ravishankara for being recognized for your craft and hustle.⁠

“The shop is shaping up to be a model for modern production, with a roster of talents that’s as diverse as its range of work.”

Thank you to all who made this possible. Our directors, founders, MDs, EPs, staff, crew, sales, and many more!

Stray Dolls was digitally released and was welcomed with beaming reviews from the LA Times, New York Times, Variety, and more.

The AICP Awards encompass the AICP Show, The Art & Technique of the American Commercial, the AICP Next Awards, as well as the AICP Post Awards.  All three honor marketing communications in the motion image.

Isaac Ravishankara claimed the Silver for Production: Choreography for his amazing work for VoA “The War Inside,” and Judith Veenendaal took home the Bronze in Music Video: Choreography for her video for Yseult’s “Noir,”

division7 directors had a spectacular night at the 2019 Ciclope International Festival of Craft in Berlin. A jury of around 100 top creatives, producers and directors from all over the world rewarded the best commercials, branded content, music videos,
fashion films and digital experiences in more than 30 categories. We are so honored to have our talented roster recognized for their hard work and vision.

MATT produced his first feature film, CEREMONY, and sold his first spec script, THE ADVENTURER’S HANDBOOK, co-written by Max Winkler and Jonah Hill, to Universal Pictures. In 2013, his short film, IT’S NOT YOU IT’S ME, starring Gillian Jacobs, Fran Kranz and Rob Huebel, premiered at the 2013 SXSW Film Festival and was released by JASH, a comedy network created by Michael Cera, Tim & Eric, Sarah Silverman and Reggie Watts. His first feature as director, INGRID GOES WEST, starring Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen and O’Shea Jackson Jr., premiered in competition at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. The film was also awarded the 2018 Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Just released on Hulu: DOLLFACE, an original comedy series starring Kat Dennings.

DIESEL ENCOURAGES YOU TO ENJOY WEARING ITS CLOTHES BEFORE YOU RETURN THEM.
Diesel’s fall campaign this year puts a playful spin on “wardrobing”.
​In an ad by Publicis Italy and directed by SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT, a narrator recites Diesel’s return policy in sing-songy fashion — “items must be given back with labels, in pristine condition, etc.” 
Diesel says the point is neither to condone nor condemn the behavior. It’s a bold, but somewhat controversial stance, as it could be argued that “wardrobing” encourages the disposable attitude toward fashion that climate change campaigners are urging consumers and retailers to abandon.

A man is at war with himself, battling intense internal guilt that is invisible to outsiders, but clearly consumes him. That’s the premise of a new 60-second spot for Volunteers of America from Dallas-based The Richards Group and director ISAAC RAVISHANKARA.
“The War Inside” will debut on Tuesday for World Suicide Prevention Day with a New York Time’s Square takeover, running every hour on the Nasdaq and Reuters digital screens. The spot aims to shed light on moral injury, which is described as a blow to someone’s conscience resulting from a personal act that breaks one’s own moral code.

Born and raised in the quiet suburbs of Ontario, Canada, LLOYD LEE CHOI found a magical escape with cinema early on. As he honed his craft, he discovered storytelling through creative collaboration as the soul of filmmaking and found directing to be his passion. With a number of awards including a Silver Cannes Lion for his Cornetto campaign, “40 Love” featuring Lily Allen, Lloyd has gone on to create global campaigns for Google, Chevrolet, Sony, Peloton; just to name a few. Lloyd also released his first original scripted 30-minute short film, “Before Mars”, for National Geographic which is streaming on Hulu, iTunes, and Amazon.