CULVER CITY, CA – PRETTYBIRD has officially welcomed multi-disciplinary artist Baloji to its US and UK roster of directors, further expanding the creative studio’s diverse lineup of visionary talent.
The Belgian-Congolese director, musician, poet, and songwriter brings a singular cinematic voice rooted in themes of identity, belonging, race, and culture. Baloji’s most recent work includes a surreal, symbol-laden music video for Patta x Nike, underscoring his reputation for fusing striking visuals with layered storytelling.
A polymath whose artistry spans film, music, and performance, Baloji gained international recognition with his debut feature Omen, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2023 and won the New Voice Prize. The film was also Belgium’s official submission for the Academy Awards. Complementing the project, Baloji created AUGURE: Infinite Trolling, a visually immersive album told from the perspective of the film’s characters, which earned “Best Special Visual Project” at the 2024 UK Music Video Awards.
Currently, he is in development on his second feature film and a television series with A24, signaling an ambitious new chapter in his career.
PRETTYBIRD’s Managing Director, Emily Rudge, expressed her excitement “Having followed Baloji’s career for over 6 years, now I am so excited to be representing him at PRETTYBIRD. He is a true creative force, a polymath – one of a kind! From putting his talent to music, writing or directing – he does it all and with such originality. I can’t wait to see what beautiful work we create together.”
For Baloji, joining PRETTYBIRD reflects both artistic alignment and trust. “It is a great honor to work with PRETTYBIRD after years of collaborating with Emily Rudge, whose artistic sensitivity and loyalty to her collaborators I deeply admire. It was also a true pleasure to meet the US teams and the legendary Paul Hunter. I value their straightforward, unpretentious vision, free from empty promises, a rare quality in this ever-evolving industry.”
Known for experiencing synesthesia, Baloji often translates colors, textures, and shapes into poetic visual worlds where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary. His creative approach consistently blurs the line between reality and the imagined, a quality that has defined his work across film, music, and visual art.
