Lionel Goldstein is the pseudonym for Belgian directing team Koen Mortier and Joe Vanhoutteghem, co-founders of Czar Brussels.
In 2001, Koen and Joe decided to have Lionel follow a path that was different from the directing careers that each of them had established individually. With the absurd, near documentary style that they adopt, Lionel almost immediately won international acclaim.
In 2002, 2003 and 2005, Lionel won Gold at the Cannes Lions festival for, respectively, the Frisk and XBOX campaigns for Wieden+Kennedy London and BBH London and the Axion ’Braille’ commercial for Duval Guillaume Brussels.
In November 2003 Lionel was awarded the BAFTA for Best Director, which is the highest achievement for a commercial director Helming spots for Axe, Nike and steering the launch campaign for the Nissan Qashqai, Lionel’s reel has grown to encompass a range of comedy styles that belie an insightful focus on character, tone and setting.