LEV PAKMAN was born and raised in New York City. He attended Fiorello H. Laguardia High School and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. During college, Lev produced and directed his first short film, SIDE EFFECTED, which was voted an “Audience Favorite” at the 2013 Palm Springs International Shortfest, earned a Vimeo Staff Pick, and played at festivals internationally. His short film, FOR THE RECORD, premiered at the 2014 Hamptons International Film Festival. His short doc, CPL. BRITTANY JACKSON’S SMILE, premiered on Vimeo Staff Picks, played at the 2019 Sarasota Film Festival, and received a write-up in The Advocate.
His feature-length screenplay MOUTHPIECE, co-written with playwright Francisca Da Silveira, was shortlisted for the 2020 Sundance Screenwriters Lab.
Lev has directed commercials for brands like GEICO, Samsung, Kraft Heinz, T-Mobile, Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs, The Glenlivet, Ajinomoto, and Captain Morgan in collaboration with globally recognized ad agencies including R/GA, BBH, Edelman Digital, 72andSunny, GUT, Wunderman+, Evoke Group, The Martin Agency, and Anomaly. He worked on ESPN’s famous Monday Night Football C’MON MAN campaign, as well as directed high-profile athletes like pro golfer Maverick McNealy in an AT&T Business short doc for Callaway Golf. His EVERYBODY STRIP campaign for Breathe Right was named “Ad of the Week” by Campaign US. His Captain Morgan SHOTFACE commercial starring Charles Melton received shoutouts from Adweek and Us Weekly. His REDEFINE CRS campaign starring Eddie Huang received Webby and Shorty Award nominations as well as attention from The New York Times, BBC, NBC News, CNN, Adweek, and Ad Age.
Lev began as a performer and, at age 13, sang one of the Three Genies in Julie Taymor’s production of The Magic Flute at The Metropolitan Opera. He has had a recurring role on RED OAKS (Amazon) and appeared in LOVE THE COOPERS (Lionsgate), THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA (NBC), and the Counting Crows music videos “Palisades Park” and “Scarecrow.”
Most recently, Lev wrote and directed the short film DEAL OF A LIFETIME, starring David Cross. The film was featured at the Lower East Side Film Festival.
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