Paul Hunter is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker whose illustrious career spans genres and mediums. As the co-founder of PRETTYBIRD, he started the company to support and foster pioneering storytellers and artists. Paulâs efforts and mentorship have helped launch the careers of acclaimed directors such as Melina Matsoukas, Calmatic, and the Oscar-winning duo Daniels.
Through his signature visual style and collaborative filmmaking approach, Paul has directed global campaigns for some of the worldâs biggest brands, including Nike, Sony, Adidas, Apple, Audi, Microsoft, and T-Mobile, the last of which premiered during the Super Bowl XLIX and was rated a top ad of the game.
His innovative and Emmy-nominated commercial for Nikeâs 2001 âFreestyleâ campaign, which merges basketball and hip-hop culture, is widely considered one of advertisingâs most memorable spots ever created and is showcased at the Smithsonian.
Additional accolades include a Gold Cannes Lion for his landmark Nike âStickmanâ campaign and multiple Clio Awards for his Beats by Dre campaign âHear What You Wantâ starring Colin Kaepernick. His short film disguised as a Hollywood trailer for the LA Rams titled âOn the Clockâ earned multiple wins at the Clio Sports Awards, among other distinctions throughout the 2022 awards season. He is also considered one of the most prolific and respected innovators of the music video genre, with four of his iconic music videos living in Billboardâs top 100 videos of all time.
In 2025, Apple TV+ released Season 1 of âGovernment Cheeseâ, the surreal comedy series co-created, co-directed, co-written, and executive produced by Hunter. The series made its World Premiere at the SXSW Film Festival.
