Phillip Van has worked as a commercial and branded narrative content director for over a decade. His projects often highlight the surreal in the everyday, combining an uncanny and dryly humorous tone with dynamic visual storytelling. He’s Vietnamese American and the first on his dad’s side to be born in the US. He grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii and Portland, Oregon and he currently lives in Los Angeles.

After attending NYU Graduate Film, Phillip was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s “25 New Faces of Independent Film,” and appeared in Shoot Magazine’s New Directors Showcase. His work has since been featured by the New York Times, Rolling Stone, MTV, Pitchfork, AdAge’s “Best Ads,” Short of the Week and Vimeo’s Staff Picks. His commercial work has won D&AD, One Show and Addy awards and his narrative short films have garnered accolades at festivals including Berlin, Sundance and Telluride. 

On the literary front, he’s one half of the writing duo Goodwin & Van. He and his writing partner Chris Goodwin penned the screenplay To The Extreme, which was featured on The Hit List, Young & Hungry List and The Black List, the annual rundown of Hollywood’s best unproduced screenplays. It’s currently in development through No Trace Camping (Room) and Ramona Films (The Disaster Artist), with Dave Franco attached to star.



SELECTED CLIENTS


Universal Studios
Logitech
XBOX
Infiniti
Chevrolet
Yves Saint Laurent
NBC
Conde Nast
Optimum
Sodastream
Expo
Tribeca Film Festival
Blue Cross Blue Sheild
Shut Skateboards
Success Academy
Oregon Lottery
Terracycle
Acadomia
Metlife



AWARDS


Advertising Awards:


D&AD Awards – Yellow Pencil Award - Web Series
One Show Entertainment - Silver Pencil – Online Branded Entertainment
One Show Interactive - Bronze Pencil
Hermes Creative Award - Gold - Video
Addy Awards National – Two Silver Awards – Brand TV
Addy Awards AAF-RDU Chapter – Five Gold Awards – Brand TV
D&AD Awards – Yellow Pencil Nomination – Director
D&AD Awards – Yellow Pencil Nomination – Copywriter
PromaxBDA Local – Gold Award – Best Sports Program Spot

Short Film Awards:


Berlin International Film Festival – Talent Campus Winner
Delta’s Fly-In Movies Award at Sundance Film Festival
Student Academy Award - Narrative Category
Gen Art Film Festival - Best Short Film
HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival – AFI Filmmaker Award – Best Short Film
Seattle International Film Festival – Golden Space Needle Award
Raindance Film Festival Special Jury Award
Florida Film Festival – Audience Award – Best International Short Film
Student Academy Award - Finalist - Experimental Category
Gen Art Film Festival - Audience Award
BAFTA/LA Award for Excellence - Honorable Mention
USA Film Festival - Special Jury Award – Best Short Film
Hatchfest – Groundbreakers Award – Best Director
Boulder International Film Festival – Best Short Film
First Run Film Festival – Best Ensemble Cast Award
Webby Award - Best Sound Design



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