YDA announces 2024 Jury Chair

The Young Director Award, organised in association with shots, has announced that Academy Films' Joint MD and Partner, Medb Riordan, will be this year's Jury Chairperson.

The YDA, which is now in its 27th year, is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards shows for – and accurate indicators of – the next generation of directing talent making its way into the advertising industry.

This year’s jury will feature a host of international advertising luminaries and will be chaired by Riordan, who boasts a remarkable career at Academy. Starting as a receptionist in 2008 Riordan rose to become Joint MD and Partner, in 2018. Over the past 15 years she has overseen projects with renowned directors, musicians and brands, leading the company to multiple awards, including a D&AD Black Pencil in 2022. 

The YDA is one of the most important global awards for emerging talent, seen as a rare badge of honour and an unparalleled uplift to careers.

In 2022 she produced the acclaimed feature film Earth Mama, directed by Savanah Leaf, which premiered at Sundance in 2023 and which has been met with critical acclaim, earning her and fellow producer Shirley O’Connor a nomination for Breakthrough Producer at the British Independent Film Awards. She expanded Academy Films to the US in 2023, affirming the company's global success.

“I am both honoured and genuinely excited to be chairing this year’s jury," said Riordan. "Discovering and championing new talent has been a passion of mine from the off, starting my career with YDA winners Us, 10 years ago. The YDA is one of the most important global awards for emerging talent, seen as a rare badge of honour and an unparalleled uplift to careers. For me, it's about mining for gold across all filmmaking mediums. I’m excited to work with Francois and the YDA team to secure an inspiring jury, diverse in regional and creative backgrounds, andto rise to the challenge of awarding the world’s next best filmmakers.”