DIOGO ABRANTES IS A COMEDY DIRECTOR BASED IN LONDON.
He spent over a decade as a creative at London agencies including Fallon, Havas, Karmarama, Ogilvy and MullenLowe. He knows the agency side of the industry intimately, either a useful skill or something he should seek professional help for.
But being a creative was never the plan. He studied film and paid for it with night shifts in a morgue, his first experience of a tough crowd. Advertising was just a way to get on set without serving coffees. He spent countless hours there until someone let him make an ad.
Along the way he picked up a respectable amount of metal from Cannes Lions, D&AD and The One Show, most of which he'd happily melt down to fund his own films.
For the last few years he directed as one half of Martians, a comedy duo getting intergalactic attention.
Now flying solo, Diogo makes films that are beautiful silly. Knitting Club, his short film about three sweet old ladies who take their knitting far, far too seriously, has been selected at over 40 festivals worldwide.
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
Official Selection, 40+ Oscar- and BAFTA-qualifying festivals including the North American Premiere at Fantasia— Knitting Club
Bronze Lion, Cannes Lions — Free the Kids (Persil)
Shortlist, Cannes Lions — Love for Longer (Vanish)
Featured, TV Commercials/Film, Lürzer’s Archive — Love for Longer (Vanish)
Editor’s Pick, Ad Age — Eat. Play. Love. (Ella’s Kitchen)
Ad of the Day, Campaign — Fish Whisperer (Current Account Switch Service)
Ad of the Week, Campaign — Bursting with Bite (Jordans)
Work of the Week, LBB — Fish Whisperer (Current Account Switch Service)
Pick of the Day, David Reviews — Love Your Whites for Longer (Vanish)
Shortlist, Young Director Award — Born to Create Drama
Shortlist, Young Director Award — Knitting Club
Shortlist, The One Show — The Screen
Winner. Joy of Digital Award, IAB UK — Fish Whisperer (Current Account Switch Service)
Gold, PM Society Awards — The Touchable Memory (Cure Usher Syndrome)
In Book, D&AD
Silver, Young Lions Portugal
Gold – CCP - Best Content – Knitting Club
Silver, Corporate Video/TV, ADCE — Elogios (Renascença)
Winner, Outstanding Screenplays Shorts Competition
Best Director & Best Short Film, Madeira Fantastic Film Fest — Knitting Club
Best Short Film, Curzon Ignite — Knitting Club
Best Short Film, 13Horror.com — Knitting Club
Audience Award, Azores Fringe Fest — Knitting Club
Best Young Director, Porto7 International Film Festival
Finalist, Papaya Young Directors
Top-15 Incredible Filmmakers, LA Weekly