Biographie
Richard Pengelley is an award-winning director and writer with a distinguished body of work spanning scripted television, comedy, short films, commercials, and branded films. Born in Spain and raised in the Midlands in the UK, Richard's early passion for photography and cinema evolved into a successful career.
Richard directed four seasons of the critically acclaimed and award-winning comedy series Crackanory, directing over 40 stories written by some of comedy's sharpest minds. The series featured an incredible ensemble cast, including Carrie Fisher (Star Wars, Emmy nominee), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, Emmy winner), Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a Funeral), Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter), Richard Ayoade (The IT Crowd), Anna Friel (Pushing Daisies), Katherine Parkinson (The IT Crowd), Harry Enfield (Harry Enfield and Chums), and David Mitchell (Peep Show).
Expanding his comedy credentials, Richard directed Wallstud, a Sam Simmons (No Activity) scripted comedy mini-series for Channel 4, and the taster episode of Murder in Successville, which went on to become a BAFTA-winning BBC3 hit. He also directed the short film The Rug for Sky Comedy, produced by Merman Films and executive produced by multi-BAFTA award winner Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe).
As a writer-director, Richard has penned a number of short films, including No Ball Games, which enjoyed an acclaimed festival run, including screenings at Clermont-Ferrand, Cannes SFC, Raindance, and Aesthetica, before securing a cinema release and distribution through Origine and becoming available on Amazon. He is also attached to the feature film Brink, which he wrote and is in development, along with several other exciting projects.
In addition to his directing and writing work, Richard has served as a Kickstarter producer for the feature film Amateur and as a funding producer for the short film Deep Clean. He also served as a script consultant on the feature film Blockhead, further expanding his involvement in the development of engaging cinematic projects.
In the commercial world, Richard has directed high-profile campaigns for global brands, including Amazon, Apple, Maserati, FIFA, EA Sports, Adidas, Pepsi, Tesco, and Carlsberg. His work has earned numerous accolades, including a Gold Drum Roses Award and a Broadcast Press Guild Award.
Richard began his career at MTV directing music documentaries, later branching into music videos where he achieved global success with Jay Sean's "Down," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and has amassed over 385 million YouTube views.
Further music video credits include Riz MC ft. Aruba Red & Plan B: All of You (2012), featuring Riz Ahmed (Rogue One, Nightcrawler) and Jodie Whittaker (Doctor Who, BAFTA nominee), further showcasing his ability to work with high-profile talent across various art forms.
With a proven track record of crafting engaging stories, collaborating with award-winning talent, and delivering internationally recognised work, Richard continues to be a sought-after director.
