Strike Anywhere Adds Director John Larigakis
Strike Anywhere welcomes filmmaker John Larigakis to its roster of award-winning directorial talent. After a 15-year career as an agency art director and creative director, John seamlessly transitioned to directing commercials, driven by his passion for film and instinct for crafting captivating visuals and compelling scripts.
Conceptual and highly art-directed, John’s style focuses on comedic surrealism grounded in reality. By counterbalancing the outlandish and colourful setting with deadpan performances, the key to his commercials is the metaphorical twist on the core concept, ultimately yielding a compelling and funny film. His stylistic vision is often brought to life through custom props, 3D animation, physical comedy, and practical effects to craft imaginative environments and memorable characters.
As a director, John recently won a Berlin Commercial Award for his work with Extra Gum.
He’s also helmed films for brands like Starbucks, Nintendo Switch, Playland, and Sandman Hotels. Throughout his career in advertising, John has developed work that has won six Cannes Lions, 12 One Show Pencils, six D&AD Pencils, and six Clios. With years of industry experience, John excels at leading every aspect of a commercial campaign. A master of solving creative puzzles, he creates an environment on set that galvanises the entire team and elicits free-flowing performances from his actors.
“I'm a big fan of Strike Anywhere’s approach, their mix of strong advertising and film projects, and most importantly, the team,” remarks John. “They are genuinely passionate about helping directors grow and develop their careers, and I’m at a stage where I’m excited to continue crafting my skills in new areas.”
Ryan Simon, founding partner of Strike Anywhere, adds, "At Strike Anywhere, comedy is key to company growth, and we’re elevating the game by joining forces with filmmaker John Larigakis. With a proven track record spanning Cannes Lions, Clios, and back-to-back Super Bowl campaigns, we're poised to continue partnering with world-class brands and agencies committed to producing top-tier work. John brings over a decade of comedy experience, momentum as a new filmmaking voice, and a unique visual style that complements our commitment to producing work with the best creatives in the world. Together, we’re not just aiming to meet the high standards of our past - we’re setting out to exceed them.”
