Benny Vandendriessche

Belgian director Benny Vandendriessche has worked extensively in The Netherlands, winning a Lamp among other accolades. As an outstanding film, documentary, and music video director, and an established screenwriter, he fits Hazazah Film & Photography like a glove — the soft brown leathery kind robbers in a Hollywoodian diamond heist like to wear.

As a kid, Benny read like a maniac, which left him with an insatiable hunger for wild stories. He worked as a television journalist for a time, exploring real-world topics, but the artistic constraints of TV only fueled his desire for more creative work.

Benny has directed commercials for major brands, including Pathe, Qmusic, Lidl and Ketnet, and is particularly known for his comedy work. He has strong opinions about humor in commercials, saying, “A joke is a perfect vehicle for a message. But if the joke doesn’t work, the message is lost. What makes a good joke? For me, it’s the tension between apparent opposites. It’s absurd – yet it’s also recognizable. It’s predictable – but also surprising. It’s funny – and interesting.”

He continues: “I often see commercials based on great ideas, but the setup, timing, and resolution kill it. If a joke is funny, it’s funny. A good joke doesn’t need an exclamation mark!!! You just need to be confident about the idea. Master the acting, the framing, the cutting. And then just be confident. Keep it dry and simple. Let the joke do its job.”

Benny not only loves good jokes but also projects that are open to exploration, where he can add new ideas to elevate the script. “That’s what I like the most: pushing a good idea to another level.”

Benny not only loves good jokes, but also projects that are still open for exploration. “Projects where I can add new ideas to the script. To make the joke live up to its full potential. That’s what I like the most: pushing a good idea to another level.”