Salomon Ligthelm is a self-taught filmmaker whose international background shapes his distinctive, visual style. As the son of traveling missionaries, his international upbringing – a childhood spent in Johannesburg, Dubai, and Sydney – opened his eyes to the world and continues to greatly influence him to this day. His textural and experimental work finds new ways of exploring visual storytelling, always with a human story at its core.
His work has garnered recognition across the globe, including inclusion in both the Saatchi & Saatchi and 1.4 New Directors Showcases, two Golds and three Silvers at the YDAs, shortlisted at Shots for “Online Commercial of the Year: Over 2 Minutes” for Audi, Music Video of the Year, Best Alternative Video and Best New Director at the UKMVA’s, and a music video shortlist at Ciclope.
These honors are all the more extraordinary for a young director who is just four years into his commercial film career. His body of work includes short films such as “Rocket Wars,” which documents the stunning aerial fireworks battle of a Greek village, as well as commercials for Ford, Puma, Adidas, Activision, Top Boy, S7, and Valvoline, and music videos for artists like Prince, The Weeknd, Daughter, Bearcubs, and Young Fathers.
Salomon currently lives in New York City with his young family.