Martin de Thurah is a Danish director, screenwriter and photographer known for creating beautiful and powerful moving images.
In 2007, he directed two short films: “We Who Stayed Behind” and “Young Man Falling,” the latter of which was selected for Critics’ Week at Cannes. He quickly became a much sought-after music video director, working with artists such as James Blake, David Byrne and St. Vincent, Kanye West, Feist, Fever Ray, Glasvegas, Mew, Editors, Will Young and Royksopp. He has won a number of MVAs for his videos.
In 2009, he picked up Best Director for Glasvegas’s “Flowers and Football Tops,” as well as the awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography. That same year, his video for Will Young’s “Changes” won for best pop video, and also received a D&AD award for Cinematography. In 2012, Martin picked up another MVA for Best Cinematography for Feist’s “The Bad In Each Other.”
Martin has also earned numerous awards for his commercial work. He has won Creative Circle Awards for his 2008 spot for IKEA (Best Direction) and for his 2011 spot for Thomson “Time for A Holiday” (Best Cinema Commercial). That spot was also a 2012 Official Selection for an APA Crystal, and picked up a Silver British Arrow, a British Arrows Craft Award, as well as four Bronze Kinsales for Direction, Editing, Film, Cinema, and a Silver for Best Use of Music. Martin’s 2012 “Dreams” spot for Camelot was honored with two Silver British Arrows and two British Arrows Craft Awards. It was an Official Selection for an APA Crystal, and garnered Martin a Bronze Lion for Direction as well.
In 2014, Martin was voted Commercial Director of the Year by the Directors Guild of America for his work on Hennessy "The Man Who Couldn't Slow Down" and Acura “Human Race."
