Brazilian creative studio Surreal Hotel Arts expands to New York

Surreal Hotel Arts has opened its first international headquarters in New York City, extending the São Paulo-based creative production company’s presence into the United States and strengthening its access to brands and agencies across North America.

The expansion reflects the studio’s growing international profile and supports its ambition to deliver its storytelling approach and production expertise to the North American market. Founded in 2021 in São Paulo, the company focuses on commercials, branded content and entertainment.

Creative storytelling rooted in Brazilian culture

Carlão Busato, Co-Founding Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Surreal Hotel Arts: "We believe in the power of stories that reflect the full diversity of the world. Brazil has always embraced diversity and has never been afraid of boldness – in color, in sound, in feeling – and this is reflected in our creative mindset. Storytelling is part of our DNA, and that's why New York – a city at the center of ambitious, culturally resonant storytelling – is the perfect place for us to bring our uniquely Brazilian flavor to North America. It is a natural second home for us, and we hope to add a distinct voice to the conversations already happening here."

The studio is led by Carlão Busato alongside Operations Director Cris Chacon and Executive Director Milena Trindade. Since its launch, Surreal Hotel Arts has developed a client portfolio that includes global brands such as BYD, Coca-Cola, Diageo, GM, GSK, Heinz, Kimberly-Clark, Mars, McDonald’s, Nestlé, Nissin Foods, PepsiCo, Samsung, Unilever and Visa.

Building a director roster and award-winning work

Surreal Hotel Arts has assembled a roster of directors that includes Blake Farber, Brendo, Brenno Castro, Michael Zvegintsev, Lua Voigt and Oriol Barberà. Among the studio’s campaigns is Caramelo for Pedigree, which received Gold in the Creative Strategy category at Cannes Lions 2025.

Carlão Busato also directed the official music video for Deep End, the 2025 single by The Lemonheads, together with Luigi Parisi.

Strengthening presence in the United States

The New York headquarters builds on earlier steps toward the U.S. market. In 2022, Surreal Hotel Arts appointed Blake Farber as Associate Director for the United States. Blake Farber has worked in more than 30 countries and has contributed to projects for brands including Guinness, Nike, Pepsi, Ray-Ban and Toyota.

Line Producer Felipe Rangel will divide his time between São Paulo and New York to maintain collaboration between both offices.

Expanding into film and advanced production technologies

Alongside advertising projects, the studio is developing original storytelling formats. Surreal Hotel Arts plans to release nine short films and four feature films during the year, targeting audiences in Brazil and international markets.

To support these productions, the company has partnered with Brazilian production studio AIR+ATOMO to integrate AI and visual effects capabilities into its workflow.

Milena Trindade, Executive Director at Surreal Hotel Arts: "This is an incredibly exciting moment for us. We have built a strong foundation, a loyal national and international client base, an exceptional team of directors, and the ability to shoot anywhere. Brazil continues to offer extraordinary creative possibilities: a breathtaking range of locations, world-class talent, favorable shooting conditions, and outstanding production value. Wherever we work in the world, we bring the same commitment to fusing creativity and innovation, and our success at Cannes Lions is proof of what that approach can achieve."

Responsible growth and sustainability commitments

As the company expands internationally, Surreal Hotel Arts maintains its environmental, social and governance commitments. The studio is a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact and aligns its operations with the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

www.surrealhotelarts.com

Follow Marketing Report on LinkedIn