Ian Gabriel

Ian Gabriel is one of South Africa’s most prolific commercial directors working both locally and internationally in Europe, North America, Asia and Africa.

Ian’s background in drama can be traced to his years as Producer at Dorkay House, Johannesburg’s famous multi-racial theatre venue in the ’70’s and ’80’s where he worked with many of South Africa’s jazz and theatre greats, including – Kippie Moeketsi, Zakes Mokae, Cyril Magubane and Janet Suzman as well as the then younger generation of performers that included Sipho Mabuse, Thule Malgas, Victor Ntoni, John Khani and Julian Bahula.

His music videos with 80’s pop enfant terrible, Malcolm MacLaren, received a unique double silver and bronze award at the New York Film and Television Festival, putting unexpected music and dance images of Soweto, at the height of apartheid repression, on video charts around the world.
He has received accolades for his television advertising work at festivals in San Sebastian, Venice, Cannes, New York, London, Milan, South Africa and Hong Kong. His combination of storytelling and performance with his distinctive visual style is a defining quality of his work.