Sweetshop Australia Signs Director Paul Nevison

Sweetshop Australia has announced the signing of director Paul Nevison to its roster. The Australia-based, Kiwi director has over 20 years of experience in film and documentaries. His work mixes real-life events with cinematic elements to create evocative retellings of true stories, often giving a voice to marginalised and disadvantaged groups.

Filmmaking has taken Paul to over 40 countries where he’s developed an intuitive style steeped in the complexities of human emotion, utilising intimate cinematic portraits to uncover truths both personal and universal.

Paul was a Gold Screen winner at Cannes Lions’ YDA in 2020 with his film 'Nitachez / I Will Dance'. Described by Film Shortage as a 'vivid visual experience with some absolutely breath-taking photography', Paul’s film 'Volta' was also awarded a YDA Gold Screen and Gold at Ciclope Africa in 2019.

Returning to the important field of campaign filmmaking as part of anti-slavery charity A21’s global push to raise public awareness of the growing practice of human trafficking and exploitation, his film 'Can You See Me? Love Story' tells a tragic, but cautionary tale on the dangers of the internet.

As winner of YDA and Sweetshop’s 2019-2020 Mentorship prize, Paul has worked on the process of translating skills and experience in the documentary world to TVCs. Sweetshop has also worked with him for the last six months making commercials, including a recent campaign with Leo Burnett Sydney.

Edward Pontifex, managing director of Sweetshop Australia, said: “Since we met Paul through the mentorship, he has been enormously proactive about working with our MDs, EPs and directors on translating his documentary experience to commercial advertising. We’ve been so impressed with his collaborative working style, how easy he is to work with and, of course, the visually beautiful films he brings to life. I’m hugely excited to see just how far he’ll go in the world of commercial advertising, as well as the long-form and branded content possibilities that our entertainment division Sweetshop & Green offers.”

Paul added: "I’m excited to be taking the next steps in my career with a company that is so committed to arresting storytelling. The impressive array of talent Sweetshop attracts speaks volumes for the culture of craft that’s at the core of everything they do. To be joining such an accomplished team of excellent humans is an exciting proposition. I’m looking forward to pushing my filmmaking with Sweetshop across different genres in both commercial and long-form projects."

Global CEO and partner of Sweetshop, Wilf Sweetland, concluded: “I’ve been blown away by Paul and his films since meeting him last year. He is a superbly talented director with a way of telling stories that genuinely moves his audience. I’m really looking forward to what we can do together in the commercial arena in Australia. I know brands and agencies are going to love working with him.”

Click here to watch Paul’s recent work.