The Season of Light

Director Caleb Femi infuses Mulberry’s Christmas commercial with a newfound poetic relevance, capturing the mood and madness of the season and invites audiences to share in The Season of Light. Third Channel were thrilled to play their part in the creation of a short festive film for international clothing and handbag brand Mulberry. The latest festive cinema campaign, focuses on Christmas as The Season of Light. Third Channel worked with the team at Mulberry and director Caleb Femi, who was the inaugural poet laureate for London. Femi, well known for giving a nuanced perspective on Black British London life, challenging the often misunderstood environment of his youth, makes a departure from his more overtly autobiographical work. Femi holds onto his artistic voice in this Christmas ad. His morals and his experiences are central to its mood and tone giving way to a film rooted in empathy, compassion and the spirit of Christmas. The film embodies the spirit of this year’s Mulberry Lights campaign and uses a light installation and community togetherness to drive home Mulberry’s brand values. The relationship between light and darkness is a recurring theme in Femi’s work. Using prose and poetry to build a style filled with surreal and dreamlike elements. Often using it to deconstruct stereotypes about working class and Black London youth. Driving positivity through his work referencing light and optimism as visual and spiritual signifiers. Mulberry is ‘bussing a whine & a two step’ into the holiday season, with Femi himself playing a starring role in a turn on traditional Santa Claus – the gift giving man in red with a Mulberry makeover. Embodying the spirit of giving while driving home a focus on family, warmth and togetherness. His style is a unique cross between a swagger filled Artful Dodger type, and a high-fashion streetwear hype-beast. “We have always really loved Mulberry’s Christmas campaigns especially the comedy campaigns of the last few years, so we were so excited to work with Caleb on producing yet another original interpretation of the traditional Christmas advert.” Dorothea Gibbs, Executive producer at Third Channel With an original Christmas soundtrack by Rui da Silva, of classic early noughties club track “Touch Me” fame, and sound design from Dario Swade, the film creates a cosy reminder of the importance of giving. Film advertisement created by Third Channel, United Kingdom for Mulberry, within the categories: Fashion, Retail Services.