Des Mullan

With 250 films in 35 countries in 20yrs Des Mullan is one of Ireland’s leading and most prolific international commercials directors.
Des loves to make inspiring, epic, visual films, small stories made large.
He has a deep understanding of the craft and disciplines of commercials, branded content and film from cinematography, performance, and storytelling through to all aspects of postproduction.
He thrives on collaborating with creative professionals to ensure that the vision ends up where it belongs: right there on the screen. It helps that he is a former top creative director, which means he understands all sides of the job. His reel shows that he is adept at bringing these skills to all manner of advertising.
Speedy, versatile and flexible, he is well used to achieving great shots in tricky situations to tight deadlines with a minimum of fuss.
His work has taken him around the globe filming in, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, Germany, Estonia, Poland, USA, Czech Republic, China, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Croatia, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, UAE, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Iraq (yes Iraq!) and of course Ireland.
Highlights include, worldwide launch of Strongbow Gold, international campaigns for Magners Irish Cider, the first ever advertising campaign for the European Union, and a road safety commercial for Shell in Iraq.

In addition to a career of award winning commercials he also directed the short film: ‘The Anarchic Hand Affair’ for RTE/Irish Film Board. Accepted to international film festivals worldwide including L.A. Shorts, Galway Film Fleadh, it secured top prize at the Huesca film festival in Spain. More recently Des part directed the sports documentary: ‘What we did Last Summer’ featuring Ireland’s rugby team.
Des is currently in development on several short and feature film projects.

Graduating in Visual Communications from the School of Creative Arts at DIT, Des worked initially as a graphic designer before joining Saatchi & Saatchi. He quickly progressed from junior art director to become the network’s then youngest creative director at 28, jumping between Dublin, London and Warsaw. Having written and art directed countless commercials as a creative he switched to directing full time in 1998. The proof of his abilities is on his reel.