NYT Highlights the Best Films Since 2000—13 WSF Productions Make the List

Click HERE to view her reel.

Notes Washington Square Films EVP of Production, Han West, “Jihye is everything we hope for in a director: she has a breakout voice and visual sensibility that is potent, effective, and no doubt informed by her unique journey. And yet she’s approachable, compassionate, and relentlessly dedicated to her craft. We’re beyond excited to be working with her.”

Jihye’s journey into the film industry is a distinctive one. She spent the first seven years of her life on a farm in the boondocks of South Korea before making her way onto the streets of New York City. Fluent in both Korean and English, she has an innate ability to connect with diverse people and their stories, a skill she attributes to her unique and adaptive upbringing.

In middle school, Jihye broke her mom’s brain by announcing that she wouldn’t be pursuing any of the five careers that had been presumed for her: doctor, lawyer, teacher, pastor, or pastor’s wife. “Instead, I told the both of us that I was going to become a director. Neither of us knew how to actually get there.”

When she started as a production assistant, she supplemented her income with voice-over work and became the Korean voice for legacy landmarks like the Empire State Building and the Van Gogh exhibit in Amsterdam. Jihye then cut her teeth as a commercial and interactive producer working with the likes of Lady Gaga and Bud Light while directing her own self-funded stories. This parallel approach combined her proficiency in effectively leading projects and teams with her creative sensibilities and directorial voice.

Jihye brings an intimate human-centered approach to her directing. She has a fierce yet compassionate talent for distilling complex creative to intimate, approachable and emotional films. The intention that she brings to her process is rare in the industry. She adds, “I’m thrilled to make good stories with good people like Han and the team at Washington Square Films. With them, I’m confident we will level up interesting ways to tell stories, both classic and new.”

Washington Square Films has signed award-winning director Julio Palacio for commercial representation. His work has earned accolades at prestigious festivals such as Tribeca, Cleveland, Slamdance, and Atlanta. His client list includes Google, 3M, Daimler Mercedes, MasterCard, and Stanley Black & Decker, among others.

His latest short documentary, Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World, was recently acquired by Netflix for distribution on December 11, 2024, and shortlisted for the 97th Academy Awards in the Documentary Short Film category. The film also earned Best Documentary Short at the Tribeca Film Festival and other honors at the Indy Shorts International Film Festival, Slamdance, Cleveland, Cordillera, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta Film Festival; as well as nominations for the Critics Documentary Choice Awards, and Cinema Eye Honors.

Han West, EVP of Production at Washington Square Films, said of Palacio, “He has an outstanding ability to weave emotion, truth, and cinematic beauty into every frame of his work. It’s rare to find a storyteller with such a natural gift for creating powerful, raw connections with an audience.”

Palacio added, “I am honored to join the Washington Square Films family, where our visions for storytelling align on both film and commercial work. I create stories that evoke deep emotion and empathy, and I’m excited to bring that to our projects. Together, I believe we can craft cinematic work that resonates and leaves a lasting impact.”

In his work, Palacio strives to find authenticity in both visuals and performances, a principle he honed through his acting and documentary background. He believes that capturing what’s real at the moment is essential, even in fiction and commercials. Whether it’s the choice of actor, camera movement, or lighting, any element can contribute to a shoot feeling genuine. For Palacio, discovering those real, authentic moments is a hallmark of his directorial approach and makes the creative journey truly special.

Read more here!

WSF director Lana Wilson’s documentary Look Into My Eyes is now playing in theaters nationwide (with its theatrical release on Sept. 6,2024) following its world premiere at Sundance!  Hailed a New York Times “Critic’s Pick”, Look Into My Eyes is about a group of New York City psychics conducting deeply intimate readings for their clients, revealing a kaleidoscope of loneliness & connection, joy & eccentricity, and pain & healing. Check out the trailer to Look Into My Eyes here!

Read more about the film’s reception:

TIME

IndieWire

The Hollywood Reporter

Read more on IndieWire and Deadline.

WSF director Andrew Lane‘s “Chip Cam” spot for Lay’s from Slap Global (and produced by WSF) takes home several wins at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity! “Chip Cam” was awarded 3 Silver Lions, 2 Bronze Lions, and was shortlisted for 18 categories total.

Featuring David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and a live stunt in front of a packed San Siro Stadium with 75,000 fans, this spot was part of PepsiCo’s “No Lay’s, No Game” campaign.

This follows Lane’s 3 Cannes Lions wins for his “States United to Prevent Gun Violence” spot, several Lions for his Diesel “Go With the Fake” spot, and last year’s Bronze Lions for “Thierry Visits”.

We are beyond proud of this one. Congrats to all our partners and of course, Andrew!

Read more about the spot here and watch the full spot here!

Directed by WSF director Andrew Lane and produced by Washington Square Films and Girl&Bear, soccer stars David Beckham and Thierry Henry team up once again in Lane’s latest spot for PepsiCo’s “No Walkers, No Game” campaign out of VCCP. Beckham and Henry surprise some lucky fans at their front door in search of Walkers to snack on while watching the game. Watch the full spot here!

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In his directorial debut, Nnamdi Asomugha’s The Knife tells the story of Chris (Nnamdi Asomugha), who’s sole want is to carve a promising future for his beloved wife Alex (Aja Naomi King) and their two girls; a young family chasing the American Dream. One fateful night, Chris’ entire world is shaken to its core as a stranger mysteriously shows up in their humble abode. Distressed by the events of the night and the revelations seemingly at every turn, the family must also contend with the steadfast Detective Carlsen (Melissa Leo) who’s eager to solve the mystery of their intrusion. Asomugha also produced and starred in WSF’s Crown Heights (2017). The film will have its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2024. Read more and purchase tickets here. 

Director/Writer Nathan Silver’s Between the Temples tells the story of Ben (Jason Schwartzman), a young widower reeling from the sudden death of his wife, living at home with his meddling mothers who not-so-subtly push him to start dipping a toe back into the dating scene. As a cantor at the local synagogue, suddenly a sense of purpose and unexpected connection shows up in the form of Carla (Carol Kane), his septuagenarian elementary school music teacher who yearns to become a bat mitzvah. While he initially balks at the idea, Carla’s off-kilter yet refreshing takes on the world prove to be the shake-up he needs to start participating in his own life. Their work studying Torah morphs into a friendship that begins to bleed into the personal as they find surprising solace in each other’s presence. This will be the film’s New York premiere following Berlin and Sundance. WSF founder Joshua Blum served as Executive Producer. To read more and purchase tickets, click here.