I’m Kevin McKiernan, a freelance film director, writer and creative director.
With over thirty years experience in moving image, I take projects from concept to pitch, from shoot to post-production and final delivery.
I work mainly but not exclusively in corporate media, collaborating with a wide range of production companies to deliver award-winning content for their clients.
AWARDS 2020-21
Campaign/PR Week Brand Film Awards 2021, Gold: Internal Comms, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
Campaign/PR Week Brand Film Awards 2021, Gold: Best Performance, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
Cannes Media Awards 2021, Gold: Events & Conference Openers, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
Cannes Media Awards 2021, Gold: Corporate Videos, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
Cannes Media Awards 2020, Gold: Virals, “ILO - Invalid Opinions”
Cannes Media Awards 2021, Silver: Marketing Comms, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
Cannes Media Awards 2021, Silver: Social Media, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
EVCOM Film Awards 2021, GRAND PRIX: “Unilever - No Finish Line”
EVCOM Film Awards 2021, Gold: Internal Comms, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
EVCOM Film Awards 2021, Gold: Best Content, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
EVCOM Film Awards 2020, Gold: Digital Campaign, “ILO - Invalid Opinions”
EVCOM Film Awards 2020, Gold: Diversity & Inclusion, “ILO - Invalid Opinions”
EVCOM Clarion Awards 2021, Gold: Environment, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
EVCOM Clarion Awards 2020, Silver: Brand Comms, “ILO - Invalid Opinions”
EVCOM Clarion Awards 2020, Bronze: Brand Comms, “ILO - Invalid Opinions”
New York Festivals 2021, Gold: Best Performance “Unilever - No Finish Line”
New York Festivals 2020, Silver: Public Relations & Social, “ILO - Invalid Opinions””
Lovie Award 2021: People’s Lovie Award, “Unilever - No Finish Line”
Lovie Award 2021: Branded Public Service & Activism “Unilever - Social Priorities”
A bit of history
I came to directing by a convoluted route. I studied graphics originally, in my hometown of Nottingham, and then - after a stint in a Derby advertising agency where I was mainly used as a despatch rider because I had my own motorbike - I moved down to London to continue my education. It was while I was studying Advanced Typography at the LCC (I was in thrall to Neville Brody) that I started working weekends and nights as a paste-up artist/dogsbody in the studios of various agencies. That’s how I discovered AV. In the olden days before the internet, AV - Audio Visual - was a thing. It consisted of making mega slideshows set to music, and was used by all the big corporates of the time - IBM, Coca Cola, Ford, etc - for their annual conferences and product launches. The money was good, so I ended up freelancing, making these mad son et lumière shows for all the big players of the time: Caribiner, Hamilton Perry, MMA, ICM and the biggest of them all, Imagination. I eventually joined Imagination full time because, well, there was just no place like it. I still love Gary Withers and will be forever grateful for the ten years I spent as part of his gang at Imagination. We did mad stuff, big stuff, global stuff: theatre shows, exhibitions, car launches, graphics, lighting, photography, parties, roadshows, films… we pulled all-nighters, worked weekends and holidays and loved it. I managed to wangle my way into film directing at that time, cutting my teeth on 16mm, shooting all over the world, making short films about cars, energy companies, rail companies, telecoms companies, pharmaceuticals, all sorts. In 2000 I decided to go freelance again, really to prove to myself that I could direct in the big bad world and not simply in the bubble of Imagination. And I’ve been freelance ever since, making films for anyone and everyone, mainly corporates but also TV idents, commercials, charity films, documentaries and what have you. Since the pandemic lockdown I’ve worked mainly remotely and it seems to work fine, in fact (and with gratitude especially to Plastic Pictures) it’s been a busy time. That said, I do miss the travel, the locations and the buzz of a busy set. I'm always open to new ideas and possibilities, and I like coffee, so if you fancy a chat, I'm yer man.