Publicis Dublin X Freefolk

With 23 years of experience in VFX and colour grading, Freefolk is perfectly placed to support the creative ambitions of Publicis Dublin. We’ve loved partnering with you on two standout projects - Virgin Media ‘Playtime’ (directed by Biceps) and ‘Unleash Your Play’ (directed by Chris Balmond). Those collaborations showcased our ability to manage high-end craft across a large suite of deliverables on a challenging schedule, without ever losing the creative edge. Whether it’s the cinematic precision of a car commercial or the vibrant energy of a retail campaign, we can provide that high-end finish which works equally on a mobile screen as it does in the cinema. Our award-winning studio is a testament to our passion for delivering exceptional work.

We provide Premium Multi-Format Delivery: We understand that the social representation of a commercial is becoming ever more vital. Through our pipeline, we deliver rapid-turnaround, high-end finishing specifically for vertical and social formats. We ensure the integrity of a hero spot is maintained across every platform, making sure your social-first campaigns look world-class.

We collaborate remotely: Distance is no barrier to the creative process. Our remote workflow allows your team and your clients to review work in real-time with the same precision as if you were in our London studio. With high-bandwidth and colour-accurate streaming, our aim is to ensure a frictionless experience throughout the post production process.

Security and peace of mind

Our TISAX security accreditation makes us a uniquely secure partner for your government-facing projects and sensitive brand data. We’re proud to be one of only three post-houses in London with this rigorous certification. While it started in the automotive world, for us, it’s the gold standard in protecting your intellectual property and confidential info, so you know your project is in safe hands.

MEET THE TEAM

Jason Watts - Creative Director

Jason started his career at The Mill becoming one of their key creative employees and winning coveted awards from D&AD and The British Arrows Craft Awards. At The Mill, he gained a wealth of knowledge and worked with directors such as Frank Budgen, Malcolm Venville, Daniel Barber and Ivan Bird on campaigns for BMW, Mercedes, Barnardos, AntiSmoking, Levis, Ford, and the banned BBC “Cliffhanger” ident and George Miller and Michael Cumming on Film and TV Series such as 'Babe' and Brass Eye.

In 2004 Jason opened his own VFX studio called Finish (now known as Freefolk), with the vision to create a smaller creative company that could maintain a presence in a project from start to finish. Within two years of opening, the studio was voted one of the Top Ten Post Houses (Campaign, 2005) and has been voted in the Top 10 UK Facilities for the last 20 years (Televisual).

Jason has also supervised a number of Longform projects for the studio and worked on shows including the BAFTA nominated 'Emerald City', Daniel Barber's 'The Keeping Room', Neil Marshall's Doomsday and the 2018 Netflix Series ' The Alienist' winning an Emmy for Best Visual Effects. More recently Freefolk have worked on Napoleon, Fast & Furious 10 and lead vender on WINX.

HARIN HIRANI - VFX SUPERVISOR

Harin Hirani is Freefolk’s award-winning Head of 3D and led the CG team for TNT/Paramount’s ‘The Alienist’, which won an Emmy for Outstanding Visual Effects (2018).

Recently he has delivered over 140 science fiction planet environment shots for Dr Who (S2 Ep 3) The Well, and a further 730 shots on 'Anansi Boys' (Amazon), 350 shots for ‘Fate: The Winx Saga’, 200 shots on Netflix’s Bafta-Nominated ‘Cursed’, and hero environments and FX shots for the critically acclaimed HBO series ‘The Third Day’ starring Jude Law. He has also overseen major advertising campaigns for Freefolk, working with a handpicked team of CG artists to build a strong department that offers a deep understanding across a broad skill set of key 3D and FX disciplines, including Houdini, animation and creature work.

Andy Copping - Head of 2D Commercials

Andy joined Freefolk in August 2007 and is our Head of 2D Commercials.

Whilst working his way up to his current position, Andy has played an intrinsic part in Freefolk’s growth and development. Combining his technical knowledge with a creative mindset, Andy has worked with a roster of award-winning directors on large scale international campaigns with multiple deliveries in all formats.

One of Andy’s key strengths is forming long-lasting relationships with both directors and clients which are built on trust.

Outside of work, Andy prides himself on compiling an encyclopaedic knowledge of everything and anything.

Laura Ricketts - Executive Producer

As Executive Producer at Freefolk, Laura works across the business with the senior leadership team to help drive the commercials division, develop strategic client partnerships, and elevate the studio’s creative profile. Recently promoted to this role in autumn 2025, Laura is adept at bridging the gap between a director’s vision and technical execution, ensuring Freefolk’s output is delivered with both creative flair and precision. She also has oversight of the commercials pipeline, working closely with the production and CGI teams to assess project needs and win high-caliber work.

With boundless energy and a deep "inside-out" knowledge of the studio, Laura has been an integral part of the Freefolk team for over seven years. She has been a key figure in the company’s evolution, from their longtime home in Soho to their brand-new studio space in Spitalfields, playing a vital role in maintaining the boutique, independent spirit the company prides itself on.

Laura has produced high-end VFX on some of Freefolk’s most technically demanding campaigns, including AIB Ireland "For The Life You’re After," as well as complex projects for McDonald’s, Now TV, and Lego, Virgin Media and Sky campaigns, working alongside acclaimed directors like Chris Balmond, Nono Ayuso, Henry Mason, and Bethan Seller to name but a few.

Testimonials

Chris Brunney, Creative Director, Publicis:

"Post-production is where the real movie magic happens, and working with Freefolk isn't just a magic show, it's a magic convention. They helped us bring to life Essity's first EMEA-wide campaign for their umbrella brands. Developing hundreds of masters and assets across multiple countries and markets, with incredible organisation, professionalism, and care.

In the middle of what could have been chaos, they brought calm, clarity, and consistently high-quality work. Always collaborative, always kind, always on top of the details, and pet-friendly. What more could you want out of a post-house? People 11/10. Snacks 11/10. Pets 100/10."

Chris Balmond, Director, Outsider:

"It was clear Freefolk were the right people to help me bring this script to life, they instantly embraced the child-like fun of the job, coming up with brilliant and inventive ideas from day one, rather than doing the usual mechanic's sharp intake of breath when I mentioned things like shooting handheld, or making the transformation moment different for each character. This collaborative approach continued on set and into the offline stage. 'No' did not seem to be a word they were too familiar with, as we continued to experiment with the transformation effects. Once in online, the 3D, animation and compositing teams overdelivered on every frame."

Sally Pritchett, Joint Head of Integrated Production, Adam & Eve DDB:

"I would highly recommend working with Freefolk. They are a brilliant talented bunch, very professional and always deliver. You are in very safe hands working with these wonderful people – excellent craft & a joy to collaborate with."

Cath Long, Executive Producer, FCB:

"Working with Freefolk is always a pleasure from start to finish. Not only do they deliver top-tier VFX, flawless, cinematic work that elevates every frame, but they also handle the nuts and bolts of production with total professionalism. From hundreds of delivery files to last minute revisions, nothing is ever a problem.

What really sets them apart, though, is how genuinely lovely they are to work with. Calm, collaborative, and always solution-focused, they bring a real sense of partnership to every project. Even under intense pressure, they keep things positive and running smoothly. A rare combination of creativity, technical skill, and great people, you really couldn’t ask for more."

Olly Calverly, Head of Film & Content, Girl & Bear - The Makers at VCCP:

"We at VCCP have worked with Freefolk on multiple campaigns over the last 20 years. Whether it's a straightforward grade and conform, or a high end vfx project with multiple deliverables, the team there have consistently delivered output of the highest quality, on budget and on time.

They are a great team - amenable, intuitive, with high creative standards and the skillset to find solutions to any vfx situation. Always a pleasure to work with!"