ArtClass Signs Acclaimed Ad & Film Director Cody Stokes

ArtClass is pleased to announce an exciting addition to their team of next generation storytellers. Joining the roster of the LA and NY-based production studio is award-winning director Cody Stokes. Hailing from the Midwest, Stokes makes poignant commercials, narrative films, and documentaries that touch the heart.

As Executive Producer Geno Imbriale says, “Authenticity is the pillar of Cody’s work. He knows how to trigger emotion and connect with the viewer, a skill that runs throughout his expansive portfolio. At ArtClass, we’re looking forward to taking Cody’s artistry and production pedigree into new and unexpected avenues.”

The prolific Stokes has over a hundred commercial projects under his belt. He’s crafted ads for brands including Toyota, Nike SB, American Express, Microsoft, Yahoo, BMW, ESPN, and Dreambone. Inspired by his mother’s love of craft, and his father’s love of story (and classic 60’s films like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), Stokes was primed to impart a depth, richness, and relatability to all of his work.

In his short films, it takes Stokes only a couple of minutes to translate complex or deep emotions, be it mourning a loss, bearing loneliness, rooting for escape, or delighting in whimsy. His sense for pacing and performance results in narratives that are genuine, captivating, sometimes uplifting, and always emotive. The recipient of the Princess Grace Award for filmmaking, Stokes’ use of light and sound brilliantly punctuates scenes and transitions, especially in shorts like Paper Hallways, A Year Long Morning, and The Loneliest Place On Earth.

Stokes’ first full-length narrative, a crime drama called The Ghost Who Walks, is rounding the film festival circuit in summer 2019. It has already won six awards at the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, including Best Narrative Feature, and won the Jury Award at the 2018 US IN PROGRESS section of the Champs-Elysees Film Festival.

For Stokes, having a supportive team can make all the difference, which is why he found himself linked up with ArtClass, having previously worked with EP Geno Imbriale. "ArtClass is the kind of company that helps directors – and creators of all kinds - be the best versions of themselves. They provide a platform to explore new ideas and really hone one’s craft,” says Stokes. “I feel very privileged to be part of such a diverse group of creatives.”