The Talent
From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.
Pelle Sjoenell: From the launderette to the Film Lions
For Pelle Sjoenell, seeing Levi’s iconic spot starring Nick Kamen was the point at which he fell in love with advertising. After leading the creative output of the agency that made it, as well as Droga5 and Activision Blizzard, he’s now leading this year’s Cannes Lions Film jury. Here, he talks to Danny Edwards about how Launderette seduced him, why Sweden gave him a creative head start, and why awards still matter.
King of the Hill
As Jury President of the Entertainment Lions at Cannes, BBDO Worldwide Chief Creative Officer Chris Beresford-Hill has the task of assessing work that doesn’t just compete with other ads, but sits alongside the media people choose to spend time with. Here, he tells Jamie Madge how strong foundations make room for creative flourishes, and why protecting the value of a Lion is central to his judging process.
Emma Wright: Blaze of glory
The Bear Meets Eagle on Fire lead producer talks to Tim Cumming about the secrets and strategies of producing award-winning campaigns as the shots Awards Asia Pacfic Agency of the Year, 2025.
The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.
Max Miechowski: Border force
London-based photographer Max Miechowski mixes long-form projects such as Burgess Park and the book and exhibition Land Loss, which explore relationships between people and place, with commercial and editorial work. Here, he talks to Tim Cumming about working within defined parameters, learning to expand those boundaries, his output and its preoccupations.
Peter Thwaites: The chemistry of creativity
The Corner Shop’s Co-Founder Peter Thwaites talks to Tim Cumming about his four decades of creative adventures. First, he discusses life as a DP, working magic in the analogue days of film before becoming a director of spots for the likes of Audi, Honda, Guinness and more. Then he talks of setting up The Corner Shop to face the challenges and innovations of the digital present.
RVBBERDUCK: From postroom to After Party
RVBBERDUCK, also known as Ben Doyle, is the Co-Founder and Executive Creative Director of creative production company After Party Studios. He swapped delivering packages around BBH London for delivering stand-out content for the likes of Sky, Revolut, O2, Netflix and Channel 4. Lucy Aitken took delivery of his story.
Diane McArter: Holding a torch for tomorrow’s talent
Kicking off our Icons and Innovators series of profiles, Diane McArter, President of Furlined, tells Lucy Aitken how her business is not just about doing well but about doing good, praises the supporting hand of Ridley Scott, and explains the importance of championing new talent.
Michael Ritchie: Sign of the times
Revolver built on an impressive 2024 with a phenomenal 2025, full of attention-grabbing work and a healthy clutch of prestigious awards. Lucy Aitken spoke with Co-Founder Michael Ritchie to find out what Revolver’s aiming for in 2026.
Take a step into Ward’s World
Mal Ward is Jury Chair for this year’s Young Director Award. He talks to Lucy Aitken about the thrill of sharing new talent, overcoming his existential dread of AI, and how the streamers are rewriting the production playbook.
Pip Smart: Smart Talk
Revolver’s Pip Smart is the Jury President for the Film Craft Lions. She spoke with Lucy Aitken about working with icons on Play It Safe, finding your voice and the enduring power of human-made work.
Blockhead's altered images
Stefan Coory [left] and Nigel Mortimer [right], partners at Australian VFX company Blockhead, talk to Tim Cumming about campaigns, creativity and ensuring that AI is your servant, not your master.
Skin in the game: Anthony Yano Hays
Splitting his time between Tokyo and Los Angeles, bilingual filmmaker and shots Awards Asia Pacific New Director of the Year 2025, Anthony Yano Hays, talks to Amy Hey about props made from human flesh and how he keeps commercial work fun.
What's your first memory? Who were your influences? Find out more about your favourite creatives in our in-depth series.
The Way I See It: MJ Delaney
Merman director MJ Delaney can count the Clintons, Spice Girls, Ted Lasso, and the new Christmas M&S ad among her oeuvre, but did you know she had slightly more canine ambitions as a child? Here, she talks to shots about the Welsh breakthroughs, words of wisdom, and perspective-altering baubles that have shaped her career.
The Way I See It: Ellen Kuras
The Corner Shop director and DP Ellen Kuras reflects on her career and creative philosophy, tracing her path from history student to pioneering filmmaker, spanning documentaries, commercials, TV and features. Discussing her feature directorial debut, Lee, she explains how cameras can be used to create meaning and challenge traditional narratives.
The Way I See It: Edgar Wright
Spaced, Shaun Of The Dead, Scott Pilgrim, Last Night In Soho; regardless of your Edgar Wright entry-point, the frenetic filmmaker’s wit and passion makes fans of all who view his work. With a recent eyebrow-raising McDonald’s spot (shot through Moxie Pictures) an indication of more commercial work on the horizon, we caught up with Wright to chat about working with legends at an early age, the creative testbed offered by music videos, and how making yourself your own ‘dream viewer’ is the way to please those crowds.
The Way I See It: Sharon White
Sharon White, current Chair of John Lewis Partnership, is the first ever female to hold this position. Previously she’s held such notable roles as Chief Executive of British media regulator Ofcom and was the first Black person – and the second woman – to hold the title of Second Permanent Secretary at HM Treasury. In 2020 she received a Damehood in the New Year Honours List. She talked to shots about her pride in the John Lewis Partnership, car-crash weeks as a working mum and inspiration drawn from Michelle Obama.
The Way I See It: Luke Scott
From a boy on the set of his dad’s film, Alien, Luke Scott, award-winning director and the CEO of the Ridley Scott Creative Group, has gone on to gain his own valuable perspectives on filmmaking. His two-decade career has encompassed art directing, set building and directing TV (Raised By Wolves), features, ads and viral content for Prometheus and Blade Runner 2049. He shares his views on panopticons, prime ministers and the folly of space travel.
The Way I See It: Dede Laurentino
The multi-award-winning, Brazilian born Chief Creative Officer of Ogilvy UK, André 'Dede' Laurentino, tells us about a difficult adolescence, life-changing trips to Europe, the feelings of inadequacy he has often struggled with, and why every creative person is punching back at the world.
Daniel Eatock: The generosity of creativity
Art Practice's Daniel Eatock is a director, artist, author and creator who says he's a "specialist generalist" who blends his work life with his home life. Izzy Ashton speaks to the man who delights in playful unpredictability.
Cut to the joke: André Rodrigues
From short films exploring 17th-century queer subculture to gothic beauty campaigns, OkayStudio editor André Rodrigues slices and dices his work with humour, rhythm and an innate sense of playfulness.
Rogers on a roll
Steve Rogers, Co-Founder of Revolver and winner of shots Awards APAC 2025 Director of the Year, claims he’s not a fan of commercials. Lucy Aitken met him to find out how, on his quest to make ads that aren’t ‘annoying’, he’s shot some of the most popular spots of recent times.
Ben Gregor: Rooted in play
From cult comedy shorts to Cannes-winning commercials and now just down from climbing The Magic Faraway Tree, Ben Gregor has spent his career making the borderline absurd feel human. Here, the Knucklehead director talks to Jamie Madge about performance, play and why good chaos needs structure.
Making it playful: Paloma Rincón
Multidisciplinary visual artist Paloma Rincón crafts bright, bold and deliciously playful photographic and moving image projects for global brands from Heineken to IKEA. She talks to Amy Hey at OFFF Festival Barcelona about experimentation, handmade craft and making people smile.
shots Unsigned: Seth Ickerman
In this months shots Unsigned interview, we speak with French directing duo Seth Ickerman about their body of work and recent film Speed or Perish. Here they go in depth about their remarkable creative process, their passion for animation and AI, and the trials and tribulations of working on VFX laden productions.
Yannis Konstantinidis: Playing with fire
Best known for wrangling flames for the BBC and experimenting with ice, smoke and water for WWF, director and co-founder of Nomint, Yannis Konstantinidis, has mastered the art of elemental craft. Kicking off this month's Play Focus, he talks to Amy Hey about risk-taking, pyrotechnics and why difficult ideas deliver the greatest impact.
The Way I See It: Ted Rogers
Currently associate artist at the Tracey Emin Foundation, Ted Rogers – choreographer/dancer/painter and all-round Renaissance polymath, who’s work includes promos and ads for brands such as Gucci, Very and Future Islands – is also a fine storyteller. Here they share with Carol Cooper their candid, moving tales of movement.
Made to move: Andrew Vucko
As founder of boutique motion agency Vucko, Andrew Vucko is a body language expert. But the bodies in question aren’t human – they’re global brands such as Google, Spotify and Intuit. He talks to shots about his ‘why’-driven approach and how brands are finally buying into the importance of motion identity.
The shots Podcast: Calling the shots with Johnny Kelly
The OSCAR-nominee, Cannes Lions Grand Prix hoarder and new Riff Raff signing talks to Jamie Madge about the shots taken, missed and swerved in his creative journey.
Pietro Biz Biasia: Shooting from scratch
Pietro Biz Biasia tells Amy Hey how his DIY ethos, which fuels his work with a gritty urban edge, earned him New Director of the Year at the shots Awards The Americas 2025 and paved the way for opening his own post production studio.
The Way I See It - Kai Hsiung
With ancestors including a turn-of-the-century cross-dressing ventriloquist, an education activist who protested with a severed finger and a film editor dad who literally set the BBC on fire, Kai Hsiung comes from a line of creative individualists. The retiring Global MD of RSA Films shared with Carol Cooper her candid reflections on workaholism, cancer and her 34 glorious years with the Scotts.
shots Unsigned: Breanna Lynn
For this months shots Unsigned interview, we speak with director and producer Breanna Lynn about her film Drive It Like You Stole It. Here she fills us in on making a car commercial with zero funding, juggling director/producer roles, and launching her own production company.