Los Angeles, CA, September 15, 2025 -- Emerald Pictures is proud to welcome Mitra to its directorial roster for U.S. representation. Mitra is a renowned director, known for bold aesthetics, a sly sense of humor, and playful storytelling. His body of work is marked by memorable visuals that stay with audiences long after they’ve aired.
Born in Latvia, Mitra began his career on the agency side, working as a copywriter and later as a creative director at BBDO, McCann Riga, Guilty Grey, and Ogilvy. There, he helped shape campaigns for global brands, including Samsung, American Express, and Mars. After studying cinema in London, he returned to Latvia, determined to move into directing. Pitching himself directly to agencies, he quickly built momentum and launched a career behind the camera.
Mitra’s work includes campaigns for McDonald’s, TELE2, Pētergailis, CSDD, Rimi, Cēsu Alus, and Latvijas Loto, spanning everything from retail and telecom to consumer goods and banking. His films often play with retro textures, surreal twists, and carefully chosen casts, creating fresh and familiar stories. His style carries across borders, making his work instantly engaging to audiences everywhere.
“I’m excited to work in the U.S.,” says Mitra. “After my first conversation with John and Mara, I knew Emerald was the right place. Their vision and values resonated with me. I believe in building genuine partnerships; they felt like people I could dive into any project with.
Emerald Pictures Co-Founder Mara Milićević adds, “Mitra grew up watching classic American TV and films, which influences his comedic sensibility, but his global perspective gives his work a unique edge. He has a rare gift for creating stories that land in under a minute, with just the right mix of wit, surrealism, and craft. Every frame he makes has purpose, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Emerald.”
Emerald Pictures is a world-class production company committed to a fearless approach to production that values integrity as much as ingenuity.
Mara Milićević and John Duffin founded Emerald to connect their passion for filmmaking with the talents of global storytellers to bring ideas to life. Their depth of experience and expertise has taught them the value of uniting around a shared vision for an idea, and their focus on collaboration gives them a unique perspective on bringing that vision to life.
The result is unforgettable, award-winning work for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, like Nike, Apple, Starbucks, Budweiser, Pfizer, BMW, Gatorade, and Visa.