Director’s Statement
I’ve always believed that the most memorable stories aren’t defined by plot, they’re defined by the empathy we share with the characters and their choices. I'm drawn to moments of quiet tension. A decision that changes everything. A conversation left unfinished. A look across a room that says more than dialogue ever could.
Whether I'm directing a commercial, a narrative film, or a documentary, I'm interested in the moments that reveal people for who they really are, and believe the strongest films are born from trust, curiosity, and a shared commitment to telling stories that matter. I strive to create an uplifting work environment in which all cast and crew can perform at their very best.
Bio
Ben Clyde is a filmmaker whose work lives at the intersection of narrative cinema and commercial storytelling.
Over the past two decades, he has directed short films, documentaries, national advertising campaigns, and branded content for some of the world's leading companies and organizations. Regardless of format, his approach remains the same: every project deserves the care, craft, and emotional honesty of a well-told film.
His film If I Could Tell You, co-written and directed with his brother, received Best Pilot at the HollyShorts Film Festival, while his documentary series Nurses for Africa aired throughout the US and Canada. His commercial work has taken him across industries, from automotive and casual dining to finance and technology, always with a focus on authentic human stories and characters. He has won multiple Telly and Webby Awards for Directing, and a Cuna Diamond Award for his work with Detroit agency, SMZ.
Ben enjoys collaborating with actors and creative teams to discover performances that feel lived-in rather than performed. His work often explores themes of resilience, identity, family, leadership, and the defining moments that shape who we become.
Agencies: TBWA/Chiat/Day, BBDO, Ogilvy, Elevation Advertising, 9th Wonder, The Martin Agency, Love Advertising, Heavenspot, SMZ, Elevator, Quigley Simpson, Altered LA, Tenet, The Equinox Group, Social Control, Murphy O’Brien, Resonator, Acquired Taste, Rust and Rebel, Measure Creative Group.
Brands: Nissan, FanDuel, Dole, Virginia 529, Audi, Xbox, GMC, Pampers, Verizon, REAP, Community Choice Credit Union, Miller’s Ale House, Centerpoint Energy, Toyota, Oaktree Capital Management, Harbor Freight, The Weather Channel, Gogo Squeez, Virginia Credit Union, Lantronix, Adobe, Chase, Peace Corps, Free Credit Score, Coinstar, Adidas, Hunter Vision, Blio, TEDx, Sun America, UCLA Children’s Hospital, Symantec, Brookfield Asset Management, Mattel and more.
Awards: Suncoast Emmy: Executive Producer and Editor (Nadiya Ukraine), Best TV Pilot at HollyShorts Film Festival: Director and Writer (If I Could Tell You), Telly Award: Director (Tame the Tuition Monster Campaign), CUNA Diamond Award: Director and Executive Producer (Don’t Lose Your Shirt Campaign), Telly Award: Director and Executive Producer (Awkward Conversations Campaign), Webby Award: Director (Try It Now Campaign), Best Short at Dances with Films Festival: Producer (Set Me Free)
