CoMPANY Films Signs Documentary Filmmaker Renan Ozturk

CoMPANY Films has added director / photographer / adventurer Renan Ozturk to its filmmaking roster. The announcement was made by executive producers Richard Goldstein and Ron Cicero. Renan is best known for his commercial shoots for Apple and Nike, as well as his ongoing work as both a photojournalist for National Geographic and on-camera director / storyteller for outdoor recreation company The North Face.

“One million Instagram followers can’t be wrong,” said Ron. “Renan’s a natural brand builder, whether its employing North Face gear while shooting one of his extreme mountaineering expeditions or directing an epic RAM anthem commercial in the harshest of conditions. His spot for West Virginia Tourism takes you into the moment like only a true adventurer could do. Renan’s work is a constant reminder of our connections to the natural world.”

For his part, Renan wanted to be represented by a production company that understood and appreciated his mindset. “To me, it’s about harnessing technology and giving voice to different cultures,” he said. “I never could have imagined that my passion for visual storytelling would find such large audiences. I told Ron straight up that I want to do more commercials, more cars, more tourism spots that help heighten appreciation for the conservation of cultures.”

Renan was born in Germany but moved to Rhode Island when he was a young boy. At first he pursued a science degree in college, then was smitten by a love for landscape painting. He moved West to Utah to pursue his landscape artwork. He started hanging out with a ragtag group of climbers, creating his artwork while taking on expeditions all over the world. His work soon caught the attention of another climber, this one a co-founder of The North Face.

Renan soon replaced canvas with camera, in the process becoming a pioneer in the use of cutting-edge technologies that allow for real-time screening of his adventures. His work gained a huge following. “It wasn’t just about the great outdoors or mountaineering,” he commented, explaining his work’s popularity. “It was all about chronicling the different cultures.”

National Geographic named Renan Adventurer of the Year for his combination of cutting-edge ascents and stunning visuals. Additionally, Renan was one of the DPs as well as one of the climbers on 'Meru' (Netflix), which chronicles the first ascent of the Shark’s Fin on the Indian Himalayas. Currently, his latest feature, 'Lost on Everest', just debuted on Disney+.