SMUGGLER

The New York Times: “The spirit of the musical ‘Buena Vista Social Club’ is evident in its opening scene. Audience members have barely settled into their seats before a group of onstage musicians strikes up the number ‘El Carretero,’ with the rest of the cast gathered around and watching. Some are leaning in from their chairs, others get up and dance on the side. The music is center stage, and we immediately understand its power as a communal experience that binds people.”

Ad Age: “SMUGGLER is coming up on its 25th anniversary in a few years. Yet only now, more than two decades in, does the production company feel like it’s truly hitting its stride.”

Shots: “The AICP announced the full roster for the Curatorial Committee for the 2025 AICP Show: The Art & Technique of the Commercial. The committee, representing a lineup of experts from a cross-section of the industry, will gather this spring under the leadership of AICP Show Chairperson Patrick Milling-Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of SMUGGLER.”

Shots: “In collaboration with TBWA\Media Arts Lab, SMUGGLER’s C Prinz directs a cinematic promo shot entirely on the iPhone 16…

DGA: “Ivan Zachariáš receives an Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials award nomination from DGA for his film “Flock” for Apple.”

Campaign: “Lucy Forbes is Campaign’s Director of the Year. Her standout work “Never Just a Period” for Libresse and “Sweet Suspicion” for Waitrose, both secured spots in Campaign’s Top 10 Film List for 2024.”

Deadline: “SMUGGLER Entertainment’s ‘Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend’ has been nominated for Outstanding Sports Program by the Producers Guild Awards.”

Deadline: “Headquartered in Miami and LA and named after the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s Argentina hometown, 525 Rosario was formed as a JV with Smuggler Entertainment (Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend and Messi Meets America), operating under the supervision of the Messi family, with Smuggler’s Tim Pastore as CEO.”

SHOOTonline: “Patrick Milling-Smith, co-founder and CEO of SMUGGLER, and James Razzall, U.S. president, integrated advertising, of Framestore, have been named chairpersons of the 2025 AICP Show: The Art & Technique of the Commercial, and the 2025 AICP Post Awards, respectively.”