Hal Kirkland is a director, writer, and Creative director working across film, advertising, experiential and emerging forms of storytelling.
He has created global campaigns with leading agencies and production companies including 180 Amsterdam, BBH New York, Wieden+Kennedy, R/GA, TBWA, Prettybird, Tool, Monks and UNIT9 for brands including Coca-Cola, Adidas, Blizzard, YouTube, Uber, Google and Vice. His work spans commercial film, music videos, interactive projects and cultural experiences, with projects exhibited internationally at institutions including the Guggenheim and MoMA.
His work has received more than 90 international honors, including Cannes Lions, Webbys, Clios, UK Music Video Awards and D&AD Pencils.
Hal collaborates with brands, agencies and production companies on creative direction, campaign development and integrated experiences. He is represented by UNIT9 for commercial film, and develops original films and experiences through Studio Farland.
SELeCTED AWARDS
Selected Press
THE DIRECTORS: HAL KIRKLAND
Little Black Book, 2024
https://lbbonline.com/news/the-directors-hal-kirkland
HAL KIRKLAND ON WORKING WITH GIANCARLO ESPOSITO, COMEDY AND DIRECTING PERFORMANCE
Little Black Book, 2024
https://lbbonline.com/news/hal-kirkland-infinity-squared
HAL KIRKLAND ON RADIOHEAD, THE GOOD OMENS CHOIR AND MUSIC AS A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
Muse by Clios, 2021
https://musebyclios.com/liner-notes/hal-kirkland-radiohead-good-omens-choir-and-music-universal-language/
SEE LED ZEPPELIN’S VOYEURISTIC, INTERACTIVE “TRAMPLED UNDER FOOT” VIDEO
Rolling Stone, 2015
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/see-led-zeppelins-voyeuristic-interactive-trampled-under-foot-video-20150331/
ONEREPUBLIC’S “KIDS” BRINGS VIRTUAL REALITY AND THE RECORD BUSINESS TOGETHER
Digital Trends, 2016
https://www.digitaltrends.com/music/onerepublic-vr-music-video-kids/
MORE RISK, MORE WONDER, MORE SOUL: THE KEY TO EXPERIENTIAL DIRECTING
Little Black Book, 2025
https://lbbonline.com/news/more-risk-more-wonder-more-soul-the-key-to-experiential-directing
LIMITATION BREEDS INNOVATION. EMBRACE IT.
Medium, 2018
https://medium.com/@halkirkland_53414/limitation-breeds-innovation-embrace-it-9539db2b5d64
Selected Awards & Recognition
Gold Entertainment Clio - Diablo Deaths - Blizzard - VCCP - 2024
GRAND PRIX - Grand One - Unlocking Merge Mansion - Reaktor - Metacore - 2024
Platinum - Muse Awards - Experiential - Live Experiences - John Wick 4 - 2024
Platinum - Muse Awards - Event - Pop-Up Event - John Wick 4 - 2024
Platinum - Muse Awards - Entertainment Event - John Wick 4 - 2024
Gold - Muse Awards - Experiential & Immersive - Launch Event - John Wick 4 - 2024
Clio Aawards - Bronze - Unlocking Merge Mansion - Reaktor - Metacore - 2024
Webby Awards - Honoree - Experiential - Unlocking Merge Mansion - Metacore - 2024
Webby Awards - Honoree - Unlocking Merge Mansion - Reaktor - Metacore - 2024
Webby Awards - Honoree - Diablo IV Launch - VCCP - Blizzard - 2024
Silver Entertainment Clio - Unlocking Merge Mansion - Reaktor - Metacore - Film - 2023
Eurobest Silver - Unlocking Merge Mansion - Reaktor - Metacore - Film - 2023
Eurobest Shortlist x 3 - Unlocking Merge Mansion - Reaktor - Metacore - Film - 2023
Epica Awards - Finalist - Unlocking Merge Mansion - Reaktor - Metacore - Film - 2023
Bronze Pencil - One Show - We Love Recruiters - WNW Music Video - 2022
Webby Award - People's Choice Award - HBO MAX - The flight attendant - 2021
Los Angeles International Screenplay Awards Summer 2021 - Finalist (top ten screenplays)
ScreenCraft Animation Competition 2021 - Semifinalist
ScreenCraft Sci-Fi & Fantasy Screenwriting Competition 2021 - Quarterfinalist
Ex Award - Ex Awards - Best Entertainment Activation - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
Best of Show - National Addy’s - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
Gold ADDY - National Addy’s - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
Gold ADDY - California - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
Gold ADDY - Los Angeles - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
ADWEEK EXP Awards - Experiential Activation / Entertainment - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
AICP Next Awards - Shortlist - Experiential - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
AICP Next Awards - Shortlist - Influencer - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
One Show Shortlist - Experiential & Immersive Livestream - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
One Show Shortlist - Branded Entertainment - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
ADC Awards Shortlist - Experiential Design - Innovation - HBO Max - The Flight Attendant - 2021
ADWEEK EXP Awards - XG Award - Most Experimental Campaign - Amazon Prime Video - Good Omens - 2020
ADWEEK EXP Awards - Long-Running Activation - Amazon Prime Video - Good Omens - 2020
Silver Clio - Television/Streaming: Experiential/Events - Good Omens - 2020
Silver Clio - Television/Streaming: Integrated Campaign - Good Omens - 2020
Silver Clio - Television/Streaming: Public Relations - Good Omens - 2020
Silver Clio - Television/Streaming: Integrated Campaign - Amazon Prime Video - 2020
Bronze Clio - Digital/Mobile & Social Media Technique - Amazon Prime Video - 2019
Bronze Clio - Branded Entertainment and Content - Amazon Prime Video - 2019
Bronze Clio - Television/Streaming: Video Promo - Amazon Prime Video - 2019
Webby Award - Nominee - Best Viral PR Campaign - 2020
Webby Award - Nominee - Social Media Campaign - 2020
Webby Award - Nominee - Television & Film (Series & Campaigns) - 2019
Webby Award - Honoree - Television & Film (Series & Campaigns) - 2019
Best of Show - One Show Design - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Gold Pencil - One Show Design - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Gold Cube - Art Director's Club - Online Film - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Bronze Cube - Art Director's Club - Online Film - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Bronze Cube - Berlin Art Director's Club - TV / Online film - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Titanium Finalist – Cannes - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Titanium Finalist – Cannes - Google Chrome Campaign
Gold Cannes Lion - Digitally Led Integrated Campaign - Google Chrome Campaign
Silver Cyber Lion - Cannes - Rich media banner - Google Chrome Campaign
Gold Cyber Lion - Cannes - Interactive film - Led Zeppelin Music Video
Silver Cyber Lion - Cannes - Rich media - AXE Interactive Binaural Banner
Webby Award - People's Choice Award - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Webby Award - Honoree – Celebrity - Asher Roth Website
Webby Award - Nominee- Campaign -
FWA - Site of the day
FWA - Site of the month
Tomorrow Award - Sour, Hibi No Neior, Music Video
Tomorrow Award - Celebrity / Musician Website design - Asher Roth Website
Silver London International Awards - Entertainment Film - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Gold Clio - Direction - Led Zeppelin Interactive Music Video
Silver Bullet - Young Guns - Print - Tabasco
Silver Belding Awards - Print - Heal The Bay
Silver Pencil - AWARD - Print
Yellow Pencil - D&AD - Print
Yellow Pencil - D&AD - Digital design
Silver Cube - Art Director's Club Berlin - TV / Online film -
Grand Prix - Annecy Animation Film Festival - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Videoo
Grand Prix - Japan Media Arts Festival - 'Entertainment' - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Grand Prix - YouTube Video Awards Japan 'Music' - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Grand Prix - Portable Film Festival - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
TDC Award - Tokyo Type Directors Club - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Best IndieMusic Video - UK Music Video Awards - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Best Music Video - Annecy Animation Festival - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Best Music Video - Print in Motion - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Best Music Video - Born Shorts Film Festival - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Best music Video - Uner Hort Musikfilm festival Hamburg - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Official Selection - L.A. Film fest - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Official selection - Milan Film Festival - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Official Selection - Ann Arbor Film Festival - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Grand Prix Creative Heads, Cannes France - Sour, Hibi No Neiro - Music Video
Finalist D&AD - Print ad - Tabasco
Silver - ADMA Awards – DM - NRMA
JUDGING
Webby Awards - Executive Judge - 2026
Webby Awards - Executive Judge - 2025
Webby Awards - Executive Judge - 2024
Webby Awards - Executive Judge - 2023
Webby Awards - Executive Judge - 2022
Japan Media Arts Festival - Jury - 2018
Japan Media Arts Festival - Jury - 2017
UK Music Video Awards - Jury - 2014
AICP Awards - Jury Member - 2013
AICP Awards - Jury Member - 2012
AICP Awards - Jury Member - 2011
AICP Awards - Jury Member - 2010
Speaking
SXSW - Ambitious Thing - Official Speaker
FANTASIA - Film Panel
BIFAN - Bucheon International Fantastic Fest - Film Panel
SKIFF - Film Panel
LA MUSIC VIDEO FESTIVAL - Los Angeles - Panel
MEDIAMORFOSIS TRANSMEDIA FESTIVAL 2017 - Sau Paolo - Keynote Speaker
MEDIAMORFOSIS TRANSMEDIA FESTIVAL 2017 - Buenos Aires - Keynote Speaker
UNIVERSIDAD AUSTRAL 2017 - Buenos Aires - Keynote Speaker
MEDIAMORFOSIS TRANSMEDIA FESTIVAL 2017 - Montevideo - Keynote Speaker
EL SOL FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY - Bilbao - Keynote Speaker
DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS - Los Angeles 2016 - Keynote Speaker
TRIBECA FILM VR POP UP - New York 2016 - Panel
ADVERTISING WEEK - NEW YORK 2016 - Film Panel
FASHION INSTITUTE OF NEW YORK 2014 - Speaker
MUSEUM NEXT 2013 - Amsterdam - Keynote Speaker
CREATIVE WEEK NEW YORK 2013 - Just Did It - Workshop
CREATIVE WEEK NEW YORK 2013 - Just Did It - Workshop
INSPIRATION FEST 2013 - 'Disruptive communications' - Panel Speaker
VIMEO FILM FEST, U.S.A. - Speaker
L.A. FILM FEST, U.S.A. - Keynote Speaker
CREATIVE HEADS, Cannes France Speaker
MEDIA ARTS FESTIVAL, Japan - Speaker
MIAMI AD SCHOOL Amsterdam, New York - Lecturer
AWARD SCHOOL, Australia - lecturer and tutor
NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY, Australia - Workshop & Speaker
WAGGA WAGGA UNIVERSITY, Australia - lecturer and tutor
Exhibitions
2016 - Tribeca Film VR Pop Up - New York
2015 - PAPER CUTS EXHIBITION - Stadt Museum, Aarau, Switzerland
2014 - PAPER CUTS EXHIBITION - Pick me Up Festival, Somerset House - London
2014 - PAPER CUTS EXHIBITION - De Waag, Amsterdam
2013 STOCKED - Contemporary Art of the Shopping Aisle - SMOCA - Arizona
2013 SPECTACLE - The Music Video - Museum of the Moving Image - New York
2013 SPECTACLE - The Music Video - Såo Paulo
2013 SPECTACLE - The Music Video - Melbourne
2013 CREATIVE WEEK NEW YORK - Soho, New York
2012 MoMA UNADULTERATED – MoMA, New York
2012 ARTOBOTS – Guggenheim, New York
2011 BODEGA BOUTIQUE, Fusion Arts Gallery, LES New York