CHARLEY STADLER — PUSHING CREATIVE BOUNDARIES
I’ve directed around 500 commercials over the course of my career—partnering with global brands like Heineken, IKEA, Microsoft, and a long list of Fortune 500 companies.
Over the past three years, SHOTS has featured 21 of my films, consistently placing my work among the industry’s most recognized. I’ve also served as a jury member for the SHOTS EMEA Awards in London (Direction), as well as for the London Casting Directors Association.
In 2024, my BRLO campaign reached over 1 billion global impressions within a week—becoming the most watched commercial in advertising history—and picked up major awards including Cannes Lions, Clio Awards, D&AD, Berlin Commercial Festival, Die Klappe, ADC, and another Gold at SHOTS EMEA.
Earlier in my career, Filestage named me one of the Top 50 Commercial Directors of All Time. Alongside advertising, I’ve developed two feature projects, with my upcoming psychological thriller Treadmill set to be produced by Solution Entertainment Group in Los Angeles—marking a return to long-form storytelling.
AWARD-WINNING IMPACT
With 300+ international awards under my belt, I’m always aiming to break new ground.
2024 awards: Cannes Silver Lion,
2 Silver Clios, Pencil D& AD Award, Gold Berlin Commercial Festival, 4 Golds Die Klappe, 5 Gold Nails ADC, Gold SHOTS EMEA`s as well 2
German Design Award in 2024, a Bronze at the EFFIE Awards. In 2025, I received another Bronze at the Spotlight Festival for my impactful social ad for Blue Ribbon, raising awareness about prostate cancer. Most recently, the two characters I created together with Patrick Höchstetter—Kitty Cat & Doggy Dog—won 3 Gold the German Brand Award 2025 in Berlin including best newcomer brand.
GERMANY`S BEST NEWCOMER BRAND 2025
Just won 3 Gold awards in Berlin at the German Brand Awards including Best newcomer brand award 2025 with 2 characters I created together with Patrick Höchstetter.
The Creative Force Behind VKB’s Viral Leap
“This is an interview with me about the role of entertainment in advertising. My ad for VKB, one of the biggest insurers in Germany, catapulted the brand to an entirely new level — in awareness, engagement, and cultural relevance. We didn’t just sell insurance — we told a story that people wanted to watch, share, and talk about.”
CREATOR: Bringing Characters to Life
In 2022, I co-created the animated duo Doggy Dog & Kitty Cat for Fox4Pets. Fast forward to 2024, and these characters took the internet by storm—going viral with 60 million views on YouTube and earning us a YouTube Award. Then, 2025 brought another milestone: we took home 3 Golds at the German Design Award. 1 for Best Newcomer Brand of the Year. From concept to global recognition, this journey has been nothing short of incredible!
Feature Film
DEAD FISH — BIG-SCREEN STORYTELLING
I co-wrote and directed the $15 million feature film Dead Fish, starring Oscar-winner Gary Oldman alongside an all-star cast, including Bobby Carlyle and Terrence Stamp. I also worked with Hollywood stars such as Sir Sean Connery, Cuba Gooding Jr., Gerry Butler, and Sharon Stone. Working with such legendary talent was an incredible experience—bringing bold storytelling, unforgettable performances, and cinematic vision to life on the big screen.
TRAFO.TV — Pushing the Boundaries of CGI
In 2024, I launched Trafo.TV, my very own CGI studio, bringing together a team of exceptional 3D artists and character animators. These artists are truly one of a kind—crafting stunning visuals and storytelling that push the limits of animation. At Trafo.TV, we don’t just create—we “transform”. Stay tuned for what’s coming next!