Swedish director Philippe Tempelman has signed with production company Epoch Films for his first career representation in the U.S.
A talented graphic designer, Tempelman began the first iteration of his commercial career on the agency side as an art director. It is not until he went back to study at one of Scandinavia’s leading creative schools, Beckmans College of Design, that he fell in love with film as a medium, rather than just a form of entertainment. With a multifaceted background in both visual communications and advertising, Tempelman kick-started his success as a commercial director in 2008—before even graduating—by winning the prestigious Young Director Award in Cannes for his work on a PSA film for Swedish non-profit Stop the Street Violence. He was picked up for representation in the UK and Sweden—at Blink and INDIO, respectively—upon receiving his degree in advertising and graphic design.
His talent has since been recognized by Young Lions Sweden and D&AD in 2009. In 2013 he was nominated for another Young Director Award in Cannes; he received two silvers and a bronze from Eurobest in 2015; and in 2016 he received a gold, bronze and finalist award at New York Festivals, gold, silver and bronze LIAs, a silver from Epica Awards, and also snagged the most Cannes Lions nominations for a Swede. The same year he was awarded best Swedish Commercial Director of the Year and Best Film of the Year at the Roy Awards.
Past clients include H&M, Volvo, Swedish Radio, Wrangler and A–Z, and artists such as Lykke Li and Say Lou Lou. He’s also a regular with agencies like Forsman & Bodenfors and Crispin Porter + Bogusky.
Tempelman said of his decision to join Epoch and make his first foray into the U.S., “It feels like the right time to dive into a new territory and I’m honored to join the ranks at a company whose work I’ve always held in high regard, and whose owners I really just like. I look forward to the opportunities that await with this new partnership.”
“I’m struggling not to use every cliché in the book,” said Mindy Goldberg, owner, Epoch Films, “but Philippe’s work is just beautiful. It’s visually driven with a blend of contemporary style and poetic cinematography; and his ability to instill even the simplest of concepts with subtle narrative is such a gift. We’ve had our eye on him for some time now and are so pleased to help showcase his talent to a larger audience here in the U.S.”
Tempelman and Epoch Films are represented on the West Coast by Dexter Randazzo, Aaron Friedland and Donn Kennedy at the Department of Sales; in the Midwest by Chris Brown Representatives; and on the East Coast by Tara Averill, John Robertson and Erin Wahed at Representation Co.
