J.J. Adler

J.J. Adler is an American writer/director who’s helped create comedy spots for companies like P&G, SC Johnson, Virgin Mobile, Nestle, Coke, and Verizon, with agencies including Mother, Y&R, PKT, JWT, and BBDO.

Known for her caustic wit and dry comedy, JJ is a highly sought-after comedic director, and her talent was on full display with the Cannes Lion-winning “Girls Who Code,” a biting satire that calls out gender stereotypes in the tech world. She has directed spots for Samsung, Virgin Mobile, McDonalds, Breath Savers, Hyundai, Enterprise, Tinder, Crest, and Bayer.

Adler was a founding creative and head director at The Onion’s Peabody Award-winning web series The Onion News Network. J.J. also co-executive produced and directed season 1 of The Onion’s IFC TV series of the same name. JJ directed the short film “Places, Thank You Places,” written by SNL’s Gary Richardson.

J.J.’s graduate thesis film, the short dark comedy New Media, made its festival premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won several awards and her short documentary Unattached won a Student Academy Award. J.J. holds an M.F.A. in film directing from Columbia University and thinks advanced film degrees are of dubious value.