Pauls Kesteris

Director

Pauls Kesteris is a Latvian based director. Growing up in a theatrical family—both parents were actors—he initially explored music as a punk‑rock drummer and studied philosophy and sociology before discovering his true artistic path in filmmaking in Estonia. He graduated from film school in Estonia and soon began directing commercials across Latvia and internationally, earning accolades at festivals like Baltic Communication Awards, Latvian Art Directors Club Adwards, Balticbest, and others between 2015 and 2022. His documentary short “Crossing” (2022) also earned the Latvian National Film Award for Best Short Documentary. Beyond short-form narrative, he served as executive producer at Backyard Productions in Los Angeles for the Latvian-American film “OKI – In the Middle of the Ocean” (2014), marking Latvia’s first independent US co-production. Kesteris’s commercial portfolio is extensive and acclaimed—he has directed campaigns for Netflix, Luminor, Swedbank etc. His creative versatility spans formats—from documentary to stylized commercials—highlighting his capacity to blend cinematic storytelling with brand messaging.