Dael Oates is an award-winning director with extensive experience in live-action, visual effects, compositing, animation, art direction, and design. He combines traditional photographic and film techniques with cutting-edge visual effects to challenge creative boundaries. His recent work includes projects for Nest, GrubHub, Southwest Airlines, Braun, Australian Airforce, Renault, Holden, Johnson’s, Target, Staples, and Sprint. Dael has won multiple awards for his commercials, videos, and design work, including the Kodak New Director award. His interactive commercial for the Australian Air Force won numerous awards, including a Cannes Lion. Dael wrote and directed his third award-winning short film, Death in Bloom, starring Robyn Nevin and Ewen Leslie, and is currently developing an animated feature. Over the past six years, his work for Montefiore Hospital has helped reshape the narrative about cancer screenings and treatment by telling patients’ stories in memorable, effective ways to inspire confidence and instill trust where there was previously skepticism and pain. This humane, empathetic approach is the backbone of Dael’s approach to directing.