Adam Smith is an award-winning film, television drama, documentary, and music video director. His filmmaking journey began as a teenager, making visuals for raves and nightclubs in a creative collective called Vegetable Vision, which he co-founded.
Smith started his television directing career in 2007, directing episodes of the BBC One drama Little Dorrit, based on Charles Dickens' novel. He then went on to direct episodes of the television series Skins and the revival fifth series of Doctor Who.
In 2010, he directed the first episode of the revival fifth series of Doctor Who, 'The Eleventh Hour', and episodes four and five titled 'The Time of Angels' and 'Flesh and Stone'. For his work directing Doctor Who, he was voted best director by readers of Doctor Who Magazine.
Smith has worked closely with The Chemical Brothers since their first gig in 1994, designing the surreal and visionary video elements of their live shows. His music video for their song 'Galvanise' won the Grand Jury Prize Award for Best Music Video at Resfest 2005.
In 2012, Smith directed the critically acclaimed Chemical Brothers concert film 'Don't Think', for which he was interviewed by Rolling Stone Magazine. The film won Best Live Film at the Music Video Awards 2012. Empire Magazine gave the film 5 stars, saying, "This visceral ride captures the hands-aloft essence of live dance".
In 2015, Adam and creative partner Marcus Lyall creatively directed The Chemical Brothers' 'Born In The Echoes' world tour, which included headline sets at Glastonbury, Primavera, and Sonar Festivals. Adam and Marcus created visuals combining props, films, animation, and lighting. The tour was described by The Guardian as "an all-round aesthetic explosion and gargantuan visual show".
Adam also filled in for Ed Simons on the tour, operating music, lights, and visuals live from the stage. The show was described by The Telegraph as "simply mesmerising". FACT Magazine praised their Glastonbury Festival headline set, saying it was "the most impressive of the weekend", with Mixmag referring to it as a "must see".
Smith has also collaborated extensively with Mike Skinner of The Streets. His banned from TV video for 'Blinded by the Light' won the DMA Best Video in 2004 and was nominated for the D&AD Silver Pencil in 2005.
He has made commercials for Nike, The National Lottery, and The Children's Society. His short film 'Desire' for the Jaguar F-type launch starred Damian Lewis and Shannyn Sossamon, and premiered at Sundance London 2013.
In 2016, Adam completed his first feature, Trespass Against Us, starring Michael Fassbender, Sean Harris, and Brendan Gleeson.
He lives with the artist Martha Freud.
