Known for his razor sharp casting, and dry, understated comedic performances, Ryan Ebner is an internationally award-winning writer/director who maybe loves advertising a little bit too much. He’s originally from Fargo, ND, where he got his first job in an ad agency at age 16. From there, he’s worked at a who’s who of elite creative shops, like Butler, Shine & Stern, Wieden & Kennedy, Chiat/Day, BBH, BBDO and 180, crafting ideas that stand out and get noticed.
Since making the move to directing, Ryan has kept his quirky storytelling sensibility and drive for award-winning work. His work has been lauded in every show from D&AD to The One Show to Communication Arts. His extensive years on the agency side has been crucial in his ability to attract projects from big brands like Ford, P&G, Slim Jim, Sour Patch Kids, AT&T, Verizon, Reebok, Snickers and Fox Sports. But his short film “Meanomorphosis,” which garnered him a Silver Lion at the Cannes Film Festival, cemented his evolution from 30 second TV ads to long-format branded content and put him on the map as one of today’s comedic talents to watch.
Ryan’s most recent film, The Light Side, was given an exclusive world premiere at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. It was also included in the We Are One Film Festival, which combined the best films from Tribeca, Cannes, Sundance, Venice, and TIFF and received more that 72K views in just a week on YouTube. The Light Side was his first non-branded long format piece.
As a former creative director, Ryan’s often asked to write on scripts he’s tapped to direct. This collaboration with clients and agencies is cited as one of the major reasons he gets so much repeat business. Being part of the overall team gives him a special view into the project and allows him to solve non-traditional problems agencies face in today’s ever-shifting landscape. It’s also made him a prime source for direct-to-client projects from companies like Apple, Fitbit and Activision’s Call of Duty franchise.
Some of Ryan’s biggest pet peeves are sidewalk joggers, people who eat on the subway, and the word “moist.”
Ryan’s biggest passions are music, dogs, jiu jitsu, and of, course, advertising.
Ryan Ebner lives in New York City.
