Rotem Solomon is a passionate, perfectionist filmmaker specializing in beauty and luxury.
With extensive experience as a Producer, DOP, Editor, and 3D Animator – and ultimately as a Director – Rotem sees every aspect of a production clearly from the very beginning.
He loves creating fun and fresh films that glorify his subjects in an honest, confident way. With a sharp eye for detail and a strong sense of style, Rotem creates unforgettable beauty moments.

Rotem has directed over 150 campaigns for brands, agencies, and magazines around the world, including FILA, McDonald’s, Forevermark, Ray-Ban, Toyota, and Schön! Magazine, and was named Forbes 30 Under 30.

How many years have you been a judge?

1-3 years

What excited you about judging for the Telly Awards?

It’s a chance to step back and see the bigger picture of what’s happening creatively right now – not just trends, but what actually holds up over time.

What was your first job in the industry? What did it teach you?

I started working in production at a very young age and moved through almost every role – from a production assistant to director.
That gave me a full understanding of how projects actually come together, from every angle.
Today, when I approach a project, I see the bigger picture – and I carry that perspective into everything I do.

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

I’ve learned to appreciate my projects with time.
Sometimes it takes years to really see them clearly – not just the mistakes, but what actually works.

Today, I find myself more connected to my earlier work.
There was something naive about it, a bit bold – I miss that.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

Balancing creativity with real-world constraints – time, budget, and expectations – without losing the edge or the joy of creating.
You lead the project, and you have to believe in it even when things don’t go exactly as planned.

What do you look for to determine excellence in video?

Clarity.
When a piece knows exactly what it is – you feel it immediately. You can’t miss it.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

I direct commercials and produce campaigns in the beauty and lifestyle space.
I build projects from scratch – from idea to final execution. That’s the part I enjoy most, refining every detail until it feels right on screen.

What initiatives or projects are you working on now that excite you?

For the past two years, I’ve been teaching film students through a course called “How to Make Films and Stay Alive.”
It’s about everything that doesn’t get taught – how to approach a project, shape an idea, and grow as a creator.
It’s a mix of mistakes, lessons, and real experience – everything I wish I had heard when I started.

Do you have any specific practices you lean on to spark creativity?

I don’t really have a fixed process.
Most ideas come from what I see and absorb – films, music, visuals, everyday moments.

When I start a project, I focus on one clear idea and build everything around it.
If that’s strong, everything else falls into place.

What inspired you to pursue your career path?

I always knew I wanted to direct commercials.
When I was a kid, commercial breaks felt like a shared moment – a new ad would come out, and the next day everyone would be talking about it.

It was a different time – no social media, no YouTube, just a few TV channels – and commercials felt big, cinematic, and intentional.
Many were shot in unique locations around the world, and I was drawn to the aesthetics, the music, the fashion.

For me, commercials were a glimpse into a bigger world – and I knew I wanted to be the one creating that.

In your experience, what is a significant change you are seeing happen in the video, television, and/or film industry, and what insight can you share about how to navigate it?

The AI revolution is already changing the way we create – and it would be naive to think we’ll keep making films the way we used to.
Generative video will become the standard and allow almost anyone to become a filmmaker.

At the same time, people are still looking for something real – something they can actually feel.
I believe there will always be a place for human storytelling that comes from the real world.