Emile Rafael - Documentary

Emile is a director and artist whose passion for filmmaking and art began early in life. Growing up in Prague, he had the unique experience of stumbling onto Hollywood sets as a child—an experience that later evolved into hands-on involvement. These formative moments laid the foundation for his creative journey, eventually leading him to his current base in London, where he works full-time doing what he loves.

Originally trained as a cinematographer, Emile soon found himself drawn to directing. He has since created music videos for artists such as Katy B, X Ambassadors, Jamie N Commons, and Stubborn Heart. His background in fine art, fascination with VFX, and deep appreciation for documentary filmmaking all inform his approach, which consistently seeks a balance between bold visual storytelling and emotional depth.

Emile has collaborated regularly with Nowness and has undertaken a range of projects with I-D. His work has been featured in SHOTS, The Beak Street Bugle, The Reel, 1.4, and Little Black Book. Notably, his video “Walk This Way” for MØ won Danish Music Video of the Year at the Danish Music Awards, and his short film His Heavy Heart—a portrait of comic book legend Alan Moore—was shortlisted for the Next Director Award at D&AD.

In addition to his film work, Emile also creates music under his own name and through a project called SUPERMODEL, exploring a sound that drifts between ambient and melodic techno. His process leans toward the analogue—favoring a hands-on, tactile approach over screens. He is also a painter and has exhibited his work on several occasions, viewing all of these creative practices as interconnected and mutually enriching.