Commercial production company Institute has added Courtney Loo to its directorial roster. This marks the first representation in the advertising market for the Chinese-American filmmaker whose body of work spans varied mediums.
Loo’s short films include Slick Talk, which premiered at the 2023 SXSW Film Festival, and Post Office, which debuted at the 2021 Slamdance Film Festival and was named a Vimeo Staff Pick. Both narrative films draw on her lived experiences as a Chinese-American woman and examine themes of identity, language, and female objectification. Loo’s commercial work includes projects for Honda and Athletic Greens, and she has collaborated with talent including Kehlani, Allyson Felix, Pink Sweat$, KIRBY, 6lack, and D Smoke. Loo is also the co-founder of the music management company Thrice Cooked. Her instincts for music and sound inform the rhythm and emotional waves of the stories she writes and directs. Loo is also a 2023 Almanack Screenwriting Fellow and is working on writing her debut feature film.
“Courtney is someone whose storytelling instincts I have admired for a long time, and I’m so excited to be officially working with her,” said Tori Palmatier, managing director at Institute. “Her work is incisive and original, and she brings a refreshing perspective to the branded space.”
“I was drawn to Institute because of Tori’s creative leadership, energy and passion, and as I learned more about the company it’s clear that Lauren [Greenfield, Institute founder and director] has built something really special here,” shared Loo. “Lauren is such a visionary artist, and she and Frank [Evers, founder and producer] are such great entrepreneurs and artist advocates, not to mention they are so knowledgeable across advertising, film, television, art, and so much more. Everyone here is willing to put the time into my art and my pursuits even if they don’t fit nicely in a box, and it’s rare to find that kind of support.”
