In 1998, Chris Riess and Amy Hill became the first directing team ever to be nominated for a DGA (Directors Guild of America) Award. From their first collaboration – the Gen-X doc Voices from the Bottom of the Board – to ad campaigns for Chase, Pepsi, Keybank, Partnership for a Drug-Free America, The Salvation Army, and Eharmony, Riess/Hill have shown their “prowess for capturing emotions that ring true, stir the soul and attain touching poignancy.”

Riess and Hill first met at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where both were pursuing graduate degrees in Film. They directed a music video for Elektra records in addition to other projects, before discovering that a spec commercial Riess had shot for Sundance was liked by Robert Redford. The Sundance founder paid to complete the spot, which was so well received at the Festival that, one week later, the directing team was signed by Tony Kaye. Within two years, Riess/Hill received their DGA nomination for Best Commercial Direction. 1999 brought inclusion in the Cannes New Directors Showcase. Tenures at Palomar Pictures and Anonymous Content and Gartner followed, with Riess/Hill bringing their shared and individual sensibilities to high-profile projects across the spot spectrum. They have been awarded Effies and Clios for their work and the team joined Paydirt in 2010.

They have worked with numerous celebrities and have a “storytelling pedigree that spans pathos and comedy, actors and real people. They were in Laramie Wyoming after the verdict on Matthew Shepard was handed down, to create a spot with Dennis and Judy Shepard and in the same year created spots for Lexus, Fidelity, New York Lottery, St. Jude and Ford Motor Company.

Riess and Hill are extremely proud of their public service work, and continue to pursue those endeavors wherever possible. In 2010 they created six mini-docs for Siemens, three of which were part of a triptych about Hutchinson Kansas and the first Nacelle plant in the US. The ongoing campaign entitled “Somewhere in America” has made the already busy parents of two even busier, but the duo continues to relish the opportunity to meet incredible people all over the country.

In addition to their spot work, Riess/Hill are currently developing a new documentary project and working on two books.

www.riesshill.com/