One of the ad industry’s most acclaimed directors, James Rouse is renowned for his unique brand of performance-led work. His brilliant casting elicits authentic, natural performances from his actors, whether comedic or dramatic. His work has received over 200 awards including three Cannes Lions Grand Prix (for Harvey Nichols’ “Sorry, I Spent it on Myself,” Red Cross’s “Hope,” and Hornbach’s “The Square Meter”), Ad of the Year at the British Arrows (for Marmite “Love It, Hate It, Just Don’t Forget It”), and he has been named Director of the Year by Campaign. Born and raised in North London, James studied at the School of Communication Arts and began his career as a copywriter and art director at agencies including Euro RSCG and DDB. He made his directing debut in 2003 with the spot “Trojan Games” for Trojan which instantly went viral and earned a Gold Lion at Cannes. His work is known for its impeccable comedic timing and authentic performances, put to use for brands including The Guardian, Oxfam, McDonald’s, Sainsbury’s, The National Lottery, Evian, and Volkswagen, among many more. His latest spots for Uber Trains, Vodafone, Marmite, Flora, and the Alzheimer’s Society have received recognition from top trades and international award shows. James also directed the 2014 feature film “Downhill,” starring Ned Dennehy, Richard Lumsden, and Jeremy Swift, which is rated 89% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. James is represented by Biscuit Filmworks in the U.S. and U.K. He lives in London.