Freelance Director

Alan Friel is a commercials director with a fine art and photography background, bringing a painterly eye and cinematic warmth to his work. Known for his “polished realism,” he crafts visually rich, emotionally authentic campaigns that focus on small, intimate moments - whether it’s children discovering the joy of food, families sharing quiet connections, or animals adding humor and charm. His portfolio spans major brands such as Morrison’s, ASDA, Iceland, Organix, Bakers, PDSA, Purina, and Secret Escapes, for whom he created ads that feel both relatable and elevated.

Friel’s approach is character-driven, balancing humor and poignancy to make every product resonate with deeper meaning. His commercial sensibility is deeply connected to his narrative work in award-winning short films like Cake and Sophie at the Races, showcasing his ability to move seamlessly between advertising and storytelling with a signature voice that leaves a lasting impression.

His debut feature Woken, which stars Maxine Peake (Black Mirror) & Erin Kellyman (Star Wars Solo, 28 Years Later), was well received at film festivals and had it’s cinematic release in Italy and the USA before being available to stream on Apple+.

For commercials please contact Alan directly on alanfriel@gmail.com or mattbrown@darkenergyfilms.com

For all things drama please contact matthew@dencharnold.com or sarnott@zerogravitymanagement.com