I’m Ehsan… the “h” is silent, so most people just call me Es’… or Cooks from the DJ days.

I’m a director, I make films, TV, commercials, music videos for the likes of BBC, Nike, Google, Coca-Cola, Porsche, Channel 4, Fortnite etc. 

I’ve picked up a bunch of awards along the way (1.4, Cannes Lions, Ciclope, Creative Circle, Kinsale Shark,), yet I’m still very much deemed a disappointment at my aunties’ chai circle.

Born and raised in North London by hard-working brown folk, my work reflects the mash-up of grassroots cultures that define “the ends.” My teens were spent manning the tills at my dads store: Edmonton Halal Butchers by day... and the turntables by night on pirate radio 90.00 RAW Mission FM. The UK garage scene inadvertendly funded Architecture school followed by Graphic Design, where I came across film-making.

To my surprise those try-hard student films got some props (Tank Magazine, Smalls Award) which lead me into shooting my first branded work... equally indulgent fashion films alongside A-list photographers. 

Between touring the Euro’ festival circuit, I was approached by JN Group to set up there video arm, where I directed branded content for clients including Burberry, YSL, River Island etc. I wrote and directed a quirky ’SPOT the difference’ film for LOUIS VUITTON x KUSAMA, but a VERTU commercial snagged me a YDA Award, opening up automotive campaigns for brands such as BMW, Mercedes, Jaguar, Lexus etc.

Visual stripes earned, childhood petrolhead obsession satisfied, I could turn my lens inwards to projects rooted in culture, inclusivity and authentic representation From NFL to Nike, Pringles to the Premier League, I explored a playful visual language where warmth, whimsy, and a lil’ slice of street swagger could act as voice piece to the voiceless without taking itself to seriously.

The agenda: opening minds onscreen, whilst opening doors off-screen via mentorship, public speaking, and charity partnerships. That ethos carries into ongoing narrative projects in development or collabs with the likes of Munya Chawawa, on a CH4 Friday night chat show pilot to Peanut Head (releasing soon). I’m inspired by colourful characters, life’s weird n’ wonderful ironies, stories that subvert the status quo and… the joy of making something meaningful through making people smile… innit! Es’-x