Nathan Burland IS A filmmaker AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR FROM South London AND Toronto, WITH Ghanaian heritage. HIS WORK IS rooted IN culture AND movement, SHAPED BY A SENSITIVITY TO WHAT SITS BENEATH THE SURFACE. WORKING ACROSS COMMERCIAL, MUSIC VIDEO, AND IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES, HIS APPROACH IS DRIVEN BY feeling, LED BY instinct, AND REFINED THROUGH intention. THERE'S A FOCUS ON presence, ON THE DETAILS THAT DON'T ALWAYS ANNOUNCE THEMSELVES BUT HOLD WEIGHT. MOMENTS OF tension, STILLNESS BEFORE SOMETHING SHIFTS, ENERGY THAT DOESN'T NEED TO BE FORCED TO BE UNDERSTOOD. EACH PROJECT IS built WITH CARE, KEPT honest, CONSIDERED, AND TRUE TO THE FEELING IT BEGINS WITH. NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE EXPLAINED. SOME THINGS JUST LAND. If it feels right, it usually is.

Adidas Nike Google Wireless Festival Rema Wizkid Headie One Gunna Shenseea Pa Salieu M24 Libero
— Selected Work / 2020–2025
Calm is a Weapon
Calm is a Weapon
Moses Itauma × Nike
I See Red
I See Red
Daniela Andrade
How to Grow
How to Grow
Haventree Bank
The Journey
The Journey
Spencer Badu × Hoka
Details
Details
Moses Itauma × Nike
Interwoven
Interwoven
Spencer Badu
Culture Vanguard
Culture Vanguard
Take More Photos
We Feel
We Feel
Adidas
Pay Me
Pay Me
Odumodublvck, Stormzy & Zlatan
Double the Fun
Double the Fun
Haviah Mighty
Ravage
Ravage
Rema
01 / 11
Spencer Badu Hoka Spotify Rema Wizkid Gunna Headie One Pa Salieu Shenseea Adidas Nike
— Recognition / 2025 → 2026

AWARDS.

Silver Best New Director Shots America — 2026
Nominated Best New Director AICP — 2026
Nominated Best New Director Ciclope — 2025
Silver Best Direction ADCC Canada — 2025
Nominated Best Cinematography Young Arrows — 2025
Featured Selected Work Director's Library
— The Director

ABOUT.

Nathan Burland, known as This Was Needed, is a film director and creative director born in London, raised between South London and Toronto with Ghanaian roots. His work stands as a beacon for those with similar perspectives — reminding them their voice and worth are needed.

Working across commercial, music video, and long-form, Nathan's approach blends technical precision with a deep instinct for storytelling. He's brought this to Nike, Adidas, Hoka, Stormzy, Rema, Wizkid, Shenseea, Gunna, Headie One, and more.

Graduate of The Remix Project. Represented by Kode Media (UK), Fela (North America), and Sterntag Film (Germany).

— Contact / Worldwide

CONTACT.