Baloji Signs with PRETTYBIRD for US and UK Representation
Fresh off his work with Patta x Nike, PRETTYBIRD has welcomed the multi-hyphenate creative Baloji to its growing roster of directors in the US and UK. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and raised in Belgium, Baloji is an artist in motion who brings an inspired vision and striking cinematic poetry to the nest. Baloji is currently in development on his second feature film, as well as a TV series with A24.
A director, poet, rapper, singer, and songwriter, Baloji embodies varying artistic expressions to tell stories about belonging, identity, race, and culture. His debut feature film, Omen, premiered in 2023 at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the New Voice Prize. It was also selected as the Belgian Academy Award submission, generating buzz within the industry. To accompany the Omen soundtrack, Baloji created AUGURE: Infinite Trolling, a visually stunning album from the perspective of the movie's characters. The piece won ‘Best Special Visual Project’ at the 2024 UKMVAs.
Emily Rudge, managing director said, “Having followed Baloji’s career for over six years, now I am so excited to be representing him at PRETTYBIRD. He is a true creative force, a polymath - one of a kind! From putting his talent to music, writing or directing - he does it all and with such originality. I can’t wait to see what beautiful work we create together.”
Baloji said, “It is a great honour to work with PRETTYBIRD after years of collaborating with Emily Rudge, whose artistic sensitivity and loyalty to her collaborators I deeply admire. It was also a true pleasure to meet the US teams and the legendary Paul Hunter. I value their straightforward, unpretentious vision, free from empty promises, a rare quality in this ever-evolving industry.”
Baloji has always experienced synesthesia, which enables him to express himself through vivid colours, shapes, and textures. In his creative imagination, things seem ordinary but soon turn magical, blurring the boundaries between the real and the imaginary. He is represented by Loveboat in Europe, excluding the UK.
