Carella’s portfolio includes hero films for Mercedes-Benz, Amazon Prime Originals, and fashion icons Dior and Gucci
Award-winning LA creative studio SixTwentySix announces the signing of Gianluigi Carella, a director whose work fuses luxury-level aesthetics, pulse-racing rhythm, and VFX-informed craft. Carella’s arrival signals a bold expansion for SixTwentySix, adding a director whose talent spans high-fashion films, adrenaline-fueled sports spots, and culturally charged entertainment work.
Born and raised in Southern Italy’s Puglia region before moving to New York and studying at NYFA, Carella’s journey from self-taught VFX prodigy to internationally sought-after director has been defined by a relentless obsession with how images move, connect, and resonate emotionally. “I started by building computers and tearing apart edits just to understand how rhythm shapes feeling,” director Gianluigi Carella shares. “Now, whether it’s a luxury brand or a sports hero spot, I want the work to feel alive and something you experience as much as you watch.”
Before turning his focus entirely to directing, Carella gained recognition in the editorial world for shaping pop culture-defining moments, including Ariana Grande and 2 Chainz’s VMA-nominated “Rule The World” and Sabrina Carpenter’s viral hit “Nonsense.” His early portfolio work on high-profile campaigns for Toyota, Polestar, Dior, Hulu, and Activision sharpened his instinct for narrative pacing and visual precision, skills that now define his directing style.
Today, Carella is recognized as a director with a striking commercial and branded film portfolio spanning Gucci, Dior, Bvlgari, Fenty, Prada, Cartier, Alexander Wang, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Samsung, Riot Games, Disney Television, and Amazon Prime Video. His visually magnetic campaigns have featured Josh Allen, Katy Perry, Pierce Brosnan, and the Kardashians, cementing his reputation as a filmmaker who moves fluidly between luxury, entertainment, and pop culture.
“Gianluigi is one of those rare directors whose technical background doesn’t just inform the work, rather supercharges it,” says Jake Krask, co-founder and managing director at SixTwentySix. “He knows how to make a frame feel precise and powerful, and he understands rhythm in a way that’s almost musical. That’s what makes his work so damn captivating.”
“He moves fluidly between luxury fashion, entertainment, and tech with a confidence that makes everything feel big,” adds Austin Barbera, SixTwentySix co-founder and EP. “He can effortlessly deliver a hero spot for a global brand, then turn around and shoot something for fashion that feels like it belongs in a museum. That range is why he is perfect for our roster.”
For Carella, joining SixTwentySix is about raising the creative stakes: “I love precision, the rhythm, the details, the process of shaping every moment, but the real magic is when the energy on set feels as alive as the final cut. That’s the kind of work I want to keep making at SixTwentySix.”
Carella’s recent highlights include a Genesis campaign, a forthcoming launch for Brembo, and a Samsung project that exemplifies his refined yet high-energy approach. He also directed an Italian-market feature for Amazon Prime which was elevated from an “exclusive” to a coveted Prime Original, underscoring his ability to deliver narrative-driven commercial work with cinematic weight. He continues to be repped by The Den for editorial and Nicholas Berglund, worldwide.
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