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IMDbPro

Johan Renck

  • Director
  • Producer
  • Actor
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Johan Renck at an event for Downloading Nancy (2008)
The story follows the fate of the unhappy wife Nancy who orders the guy she meets over the Internet to kill her, but the two of them fall in love.
Play trailer1:57
Downloading Nancy (2008)
2 Videos
15 Photos
Johan Renck is one of the most respected and sought after directors of commercials and music videos today, so much so that the French magazine CB News dubbed him "the number one director of commercials and music videos in the world".

His directing career started in 1992 when he joined the production company Mekano Film and Television in Stockholm, Sweden. In 1994 he left Mekano to join forces with childhood friend director Jonas Åkerlund. They established a new production company, Renck Åkerlund Films, which immediately became one of the leaders of its kind in Sweden. During the same time he worked with his music project, Stakka Bo, with big success and a lot of his time was occupied by the music career. In 1997 he started to work as a director full time and quickly became a well-known name worldwide and in 1999 he was working with Madonna and Nike among others.

Johan has worked non-stop all over the world and continues to work with many well known brands such as; Nike, Levi's, Mercedes, Dom Perignon, and H&M and artists like Kylie Minogue, New Order, Madonna, The Libertines and The Streets to mention a few. He has achieved prestigious nominations and awards for his work, such as MTV award nominations to his music videos to Madonna and Beyoncé and two Cannes Bronze Lions for the Nike commercial "Racing Marion". In 2005 he won an award for best video in MVPA and was nominated in several categories in CAD for his music video for The Streets. In Cannes he collected a Bronze Lion for the commercial Sagem and a Silver Lion for his campaign for "Karl Lagerfeld for H&M", this film also awarded Grand Prix in Eurobest and a Gold in Epica. In 2006, again he had several MVPA nominations, this time for his videos for Madonna: Hung Up (2005) and for Robbie Williams: Tripping (2005). In The Gunn Report Johan Renck was listed as the 25th most rewarded director of commercials. In 2007 Johans short film 'Cow', for SOS Live Earth, was nominated in Eurobest and in Epica Awards where it won the Bronze price.

Johan works within a variety of different media; films, commercials, music videos, theatre productions, art and music projects and still photography. He shoots stills for magazines like Italian Vogue and brands such as Diesel just to mention a few. Johan finished his feature film Downloading Nancy (2008), starring Maria Bello, Jason Patric, Rufus Sewell, and Amy Brenneman among others. The film has its world premiere in the 2008 Sundance Festival where it also competed in the Dramatic Competition picked out of thousands of submissions.

Johan is based in Stockholm where he runs RAF. In the US and in England he is represented by high profile production company RSA/Black Dog, in France by Soixante Quinze. He is also highly respected by David Unger at ICM for feature film projects.
BornDecember 5, 1966
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 5, 1966
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Unlock contact info on IMDbPro
  • Won 2 Primetime Emmys
    • 6 wins & 8 nominations total

Photos15

Johan Renck
Johan Renck at an event for Chernobyl (2019)
Christine Lahti and Johan Renck
Stellan Skarsgård, Jane Featherstone, Jared Harris, Craig Mazin, Johan Renck, and Carolyn Strauss at an event for 2020 Golden Globe Awards (2020)
Stellan Skarsgård, Jane Featherstone, Jared Harris, Craig Mazin, Johan Renck, and Carolyn Strauss at an event for 2020 Golden Globe Awards (2020)
Stellan Skarsgård, Jared Harris, Craig Mazin, and Johan Renck at an event for IMDb at the Emmys (2016)
Stellan Skarsgård, Jared Harris, Craig Mazin, and Johan Renck at an event for IMDb at the Emmys (2016)
Stellan Skarsgård, Jane Featherstone, Jared Harris, Craig Mazin, Johan Renck, Sanne Wohlenberg, and Carolyn Strauss at an event for The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards (2019)
Johan Renck at an event for The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards (2019)
Johan Renck at an event for The 71st Primetime Emmy Awards (2019)
Amy Brenneman, Jason Patric, Rufus Sewell, Maria Bello, and Johan Renck
Jason Patric and Johan Renck at an event for Downloading Nancy (2008)

Known for

Chernobyl (2019)
Chernobyl
9.4
TV Mini Series
  • Director
Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad (2008)
Breaking Bad
9.5
TV Series
  • Director
Norman Reedus, Melissa McBride, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Lauren Cohan, and Michael James Shaw in The Walking Dead (2010)
The Walking Dead
8.1
TV Series
  • Director(directed by)
Sissy Spacek, Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz, and Kyle Chandler in Bloodline (2015)
Bloodline
7.9
TV Series
  • Director

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Director

  • Spaceman
    • Director
    • Post-production
    • 2023
  • The Day of the Triffids
    • Director
    • Pre-production
    • TV Series
  • ABBA: Thank You for the Music, an All-Star Tribute
    • Director
    • TV Special
    • 2021
  • Marion Cotillard in Chanel N°5: Dancing on the Moon (2020)
    Chanel N°5: Dancing on the Moon
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2020
  • Bulgari: Never Too Much (2020)
    Bulgari: Never Too Much
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2020
  • Chernobyl (2019)
    Chernobyl
    • Director
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2019
  • Emily Ratajkowski in Paco Rabanne: Pure XS for Her (2018)
    Paco Rabanne: Pure XS for Her
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2018
  • A Magical Holiday (2017)
    A Magical Holiday
    • Director
    • Short
    • 2017
  • Shut Eye (2016)
    Shut Eye
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2016
  • Lily-Rose Depp in Chanel No. 5 L'eau: 'You Know Me and You Don't' (2016)
    Chanel No. 5 L'eau: 'You Know Me and You Don't'
    • Director
    • TV Short
    • 2016
  • David Bowie in David Bowie: Lazarus (2016)
    David Bowie: Lazarus
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 2016
  • David Bowie in David Bowie: Blackstar (2015)
    David Bowie: Blackstar
    • Director
    • Music Video
    • 2015
  • John Hurt, Samantha Morton, Goran Bogdan, and Tahar Rahim in The Last Panthers (2015)
    The Last Panthers
    • Director
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2015
  • Sissy Spacek, Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz, and Kyle Chandler in Bloodline (2015)
    Bloodline
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Halt and Catch Fire (2014)
    Halt and Catch Fire
    • Director
    • TV Series
    • 2014
  • The Fat and the Angry (2014)
    The Fat and the Angry
    • Director
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2014
  • David Gandy in Marks and Spencer: Believe in Magic and Sparkle (2013)
    Marks and Spencer: Believe in Magic and Sparkle
    • Director
    • Video
    • 2013

Producer

  • Spaceman
    • executive producer
    • Post-production
    • 2023
  • Dune: The Sisterhood
    • executive producer
    • In Production
    • TV Series
  • The Day of the Triffids
    • executive producer
    • Pre-production
    • TV Series
  • ABBA Voyage (2022)
    ABBA Voyage
    • executive producer
    • Music Video
    • 2022
  • ABBA: Thank You for the Music, an All-Star Tribute
    • producer
    • TV Special
    • 2021
  • Chernobyl (2019)
    Chernobyl
    • co-executive producer
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2019
  • John Hurt, Samantha Morton, Goran Bogdan, and Tahar Rahim in The Last Panthers (2015)
    The Last Panthers
    • executive producer
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2015

Actor

  • Sissy Spacek, Linda Cardellini, Norbert Leo Butz, and Kyle Chandler in Bloodline (2015)
    Bloodline
    • Swedish Brother #2
    • TV Series
    • 2017
  • Melissa George in Agent Provocateur: Control Yourself (2013)
    Agent Provocateur: Control Yourself
    • Designer (uncredited)
    • Music Video
    • 2013
  • Stakka Bo: Love of a Woman (2001)
    Stakka Bo: Love of a Woman
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 2001
  • Stakka Bo: Killer (2001)
    Stakka Bo: Killer
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 2001
  • Stakka Bo: Mute (2001)
    Stakka Bo: Mute
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 2001
  • Stakka Bo: Softroom (1996)
    Stakka Bo: Softroom
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 1996
  • Stakka Bo & Nåid & Tityo & Fleshquartet: We Vie (1996)
    Stakka Bo & Nåid & Tityo & Fleshquartet: We Vie
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 1996
  • Stakka Bo: Great Blondino (1995)
    Stakka Bo: Great Blondino
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 1995
  • Stakka Bo: On Your Knees (1994)
    Stakka Bo: On Your Knees
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 1994
  • Stakka Bo: Down the Drain (1993)
    Stakka Bo: Down the Drain
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 1993
  • Stakka Bo: Living It Up (1993)
    Stakka Bo: Living It Up
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 1993
  • Stakka Bo: Here We Go (1993)
    Stakka Bo: Here We Go
    • Johan Renck (as Stakka Bo)
    • Music Video
    • 1993
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos2

Downloading Nancy
Trailer 1:57
Downloading Nancy
"Chernobyl" Cast and Crew Celebrate Their Emmys Victories
Video 2:59
"Chernobyl" Cast and Crew Celebrate Their Emmys Victories

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Stakka Bo
  • Height
    • 6′ 2¾″ (1.90 m)
  • Born
    • December 5, 1966
    • Sweden
  • Children
      Jack Renck
  • Parents
      Marina Kylberg
  • Other works
    Commercial "Horse" for Levi's Type 1 Jeans (director)

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    Has a music band named Stakka Bo.
  • Quotes
    I've become more and more inclined in my work to discover what sort of emotions I like to portray. And I think my favourite emotion is melancholy and some sort of bittersweet darkness, which I think is a very Swedish thing actually. I totally think there is a Scandinavian melancholy. I don't think you can say exactly why, I suppose it is about light or weather conditions or something like that. Melancholy is a great feeling and if you feel a little bit it's very easy to dial it up by putting on a piece of music or whatever it is you do. You'll find Swedes -- maybe not as much as the Finns -- thriving in melancholy.

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