Bio
Charlie Thorne is a director and storyteller best known for combining stunning visuals with nuanced performances from real people. His standout work lives confidently on the border between narrative and documentary, often blending actors and non actors to achieve authentic performances whilst telling honest and emotional stories on screen.
He was nominated for Best New Director at the Kinsale Shark Awards in 2016 for his standout film ‘Live for Today’ for the Alzheimer’s Society which has since been used in UK education settings to teach families about the early stages of living with Dementia.
Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength, directing memorable campaigns for Airbnb, Dettol, LinkedIn, Air China, Cancer Research UK and National Trust.
Charlie’s work for the Scottish Association for Mental Health – Going to be – saw him pick up multiple awards and industry accolades through an unflinching look at the children’s mental health epidemic, which by todays standards feels ahead of it’s time.
His most recent work for the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals tells the heartwrenching story of a young family struggling to pay vet bills during the cost of living crisis when their beloved dog Jack gets sick.
Charlie is equally confident working across a broad spectrum of human stories, highly adept at translating each story visually and maximising the emotional impact and potential to connect with audiences.
Press
Shots - Keeping people and pets together with PDSA - 2023
Little Black Book - PDSA Highlights the Support Needed for People and Pets during the Cost-Of-Living Crisis in Emotive Spot - 2023
The Drum - Auditory Dettol campaign shows how households can stay squeaky clean - 2022
Campaign - Dettol uses the power of sound to portray the natural chaos of home life - 2022
AdAge - SQUIRT, TINKLE, SPLASH! Sounds Capture the Chaos of Home Life in Dettol Cleaning Ad - 2022
Creative Salon - Dettol’s ‘Let Life Flow’ Campaign Celebrates Familiar Moments In An Unfamiliar Way - 2022
Little Black Book - HunkyDory's Charlie Thorne Pens Heartfelt Letter to National Trust Scotland - 2021
Shots - New National Trust for Scotland ad from Frame - 2021
Little Black Book - Scotland Takes Action Against Global Climate Emergency - 2021
Fabrik - Creativity from across the Fabrik community - 2018
Awards & Nominations
Rise
** HONOURABLE MENTION - Best Global Effort @ PR Week Awards 2024 **
Ramble On
** OFFICIAL SELECTION - Sheffield Adventure Film Festival 2025 **
** OFFICIAL SELECTION - BFI National Archive 2023 **
** OFFICIAL SELECTION - Sheffield DocFest 2022 **
** OFFICIAL SELECTION - Festival of the Mind 2022 **
Betty
** OFFICIAL SELECTION - BFI National Archive 2023 **
Dettol - "Let Life Flow"
** WINNER - Ad of the Day @ Campaign Magazine 2022 **
** EDITOR'S PICK @ AdAge 2022 **
National Trust for Scotland - "I Love This Place"
** GOLD - Tourism, Leisure & Sport @ The Marketing Society - Star Awards 2022 **
** SILVER - Charity @ The Marketing Society - Star Awards 2022 **
** NOMINATED - Creativity & Craft Award @ The Marketing Society - Star Awards 2022 **
Scottish Association for Mental Health - "Going To Be"
** WINNER - Best TV Campaign @ The Nods Awards 2018 **
** WINNER - Best TV/Cinema Campaign @ Scottish Creative Awards 2017 **
** HIGHLY COMMENDED - Best Commercial Over 21 Seconds @ Scottish Creative Awards 2017 **
** NOMINATED - Best Online Video/Film @ Scottish Creative Awards 2017 **
Alzheimer's Society - "Live For Today"
** NOMINATED - Best New Director @ Kinsale Shark Awards 2016 **