Lawrence Jacomelli — Director of Blood Star
Born in London, England, on 14 January 1974, Lawrence Jacomelli is an award-winning British director whose work spans high-end commercials, branded storytelling, and independent cinema.
Over the past two decades, Lawrence has directed campaigns for global brands including British Airways, IKEA, Carlsberg, Burger King, KFC, Pepsi, General Motors, Lexus, and Toyota, alongside powerful public-service films for charities and road-safety organisations. His work is recognised for its emotional precision, grounded performances, and strong visual discipline.
Lawrence’s films have received international recognition, earning awards including Cannes Lions, Eurobest, Epica, Drum, Lynx, and Brand Film Awards — establishing him as a director equally fluent in creative storytelling and rigorous production control.
From Commercial Discipline to Independent Cinema
As director of Blood Star, Lawrence Jacomelli brings a commercial filmmaker’s discipline to independent cinema, crafting a lean American road thriller that has been cited among emerging horror thrillers of 2025. The film’s desert setting, stripped-back production model, and psychological intensity position it within the modern wave of indie road movies.
Feature Film Debut: Blood Star (2025)
In 2024, Lawrence made his feature film debut with Blood Star, a desert-noir American road thriller co-written and produced with his wife and creative partner, Victoria Taylor, based on her short story Don’t Look Back.
Shot over just ten days on location in Palmdale, California, Blood Star was produced by Beast Films and Beast Los Angeles using a lean international crew and a heavily storyboarded, animation-led workflow. Every frame was meticulously planned in advance, enabling speed, consistency, and control while preserving the film’s raw, psychological intensity.
Positioned within a new wave of indie road movies and horror thrillers of 2025, Blood Star transforms the open road from a symbol of freedom into a mechanism of control, isolation, and threat.
Festival Premiere & Distribution
Blood Star premiered at the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in Switzerland, followed by its UK premiere at Grimmfest and US premiere at Cinequest. The film has been acquired by Plaion for UK release and will be distributed in the United States by Quiver this Thanksgiving, 2025.
A Director-Led, Story-First Approach
As both a commercial director and filmmaker, Lawrence operates at the intersection of cinematic storytelling and production efficiency. His work is defined by:
- Controlled, performance-led direction
- Strong visual authorship
- Rigorous pre-production planning
- A focus on tension, character, and atmosphere
This approach has made him particularly effective in contained, high-concept narratives — where story, geography, and authority collide.
IMDB LINK
WIKIPEDIA LINK
A Director Focused on What Comes Next
Blood Star marked a clear transition from commercial filmmaking into long-form narrative. Lawrence Jacomelli continues to develop and direct feature projects that combine high-concept storytelling with disciplined production models — films designed to travel internationally while remaining grounded in character, tension, and place.
With a background spanning advertising, branded storytelling, and independent cinema, Lawrence’s work sits comfortably between commercial viability and creative risk — positioning him as a filmmaker focused on sustainable, director-led feature filmmaking.