The Talent
From Junior Creatives to ECDs, delve into career highlights (and lowlights) in our in-depth profiles.
Stéphane Xiberras: Game-changing creativity
President & Chief Creative Officer at BETC and Head of Havas Global Creative Council, Stéphane Xiberras talks to Tim Cumming about the state of creativity in the 2020s and the transformative magic of humour, humanity and relatability in the best work.
Kate Stanners; Keeping Curious
Twenty years on from her first Cannes Lions, Saatchi & Saatchi London’s CCO Kate Stanners is returning to the festival’s jury, this time as Film President. She talks to Amy Hey about her journey from aspiring graphic designer to prolific creative leader, shares her passion for elevating diverse talent, and reveals the work she’s hoping to see celebrated this year.
From Kanye to Beyoncé: Joe Perez’s visual alchemy
From designing albums and branding for clients from Beck to Kim Kardashian, Joe Perez is the creative mind behind some of contemporary culture’s most iconic visuals. He talks to Amy Hey at OFFF Festival about the intensity of his Kanye days, the myths and symbolism that have shaped his work, and the peace he’s learning to protect.
Stéphane Xiberras: Game-changing creativity
President & Chief Creative Officer at BETC and Head of Havas Global Creative Council, Stéphane Xiberras talks to Tim Cumming about the state of creativity in the 2020s and the transformative magic of humour, humanity and relatability in the best work.
Kate Stanners; Keeping Curious
Twenty years on from her first Cannes Lions, Saatchi & Saatchi London’s CCO Kate Stanners is returning to the festival’s jury, this time as Film President. She talks to Amy Hey about her journey from aspiring graphic designer to prolific creative leader, shares her passion for elevating diverse talent, and reveals the work she’s hoping to see celebrated this year.
From Kanye to Beyoncé: Joe Perez’s visual alchemy
From designing albums and branding for clients from Beck to Kim Kardashian, Joe Perez is the creative mind behind some of contemporary culture’s most iconic visuals. He talks to Amy Hey at OFFF Festival about the intensity of his Kanye days, the myths and symbolism that have shaped his work, and the peace he’s learning to protect.
Stéphane Xiberras: Game-changing creativity
President & Chief Creative Officer at BETC and Head of Havas Global Creative Council, Stéphane Xiberras talks to Tim Cumming about the state of creativity in the 2020s and the transformative magic of humour, humanity and relatability in the best work.
The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.
The Way I See It: Michael Sagol
Over the course of his 20-plus years in production, Michael Sagol, founder of Caviar Los Angeles, has EP’d thousands of commercials, ushered in a new generation of comedy directors and grown the company into an Oscar, Emmy and Lion-winning powerhouse. He tells Selena Schleh about shooting hoops with Jordan, refusing to wait tables and his dream of selling Sagol’s Bagels.
Getting to grips with Turkish Oil Wrestling
Directors Jan Hellwich and Samet Yalcin won a Gold at this years YDA for their passon project Turkish Oil Wrestling. Here they both talk about becoming friends during their studies, the almost two year long shoot, and casting your grandfather in your short film.
shots Unsigned: Saul Lotzof
In this shots Unsigned interview we chat with UK based director Saul Lotzof. Here, he talks about his heartfelt remake of The Smashing Pumpkins music video for Perfect, putting the whole project together over the course of a year and getting to grips with the historical 1965 Arri 16 BL.
The Way I See It: Michael Sagol
Over the course of his 20-plus years in production, Michael Sagol, founder of Caviar Los Angeles, has EP’d thousands of commercials, ushered in a new generation of comedy directors and grown the company into an Oscar, Emmy and Lion-winning powerhouse. He tells Selena Schleh about shooting hoops with Jordan, refusing to wait tables and his dream of selling Sagol’s Bagels.
Getting to grips with Turkish Oil Wrestling
Directors Jan Hellwich and Samet Yalcin won a Gold at this years YDA for their passon project Turkish Oil Wrestling. Here they both talk about becoming friends during their studies, the almost two year long shoot, and casting your grandfather in your short film.
shots Unsigned: Saul Lotzof
In this shots Unsigned interview we chat with UK based director Saul Lotzof. Here, he talks about his heartfelt remake of The Smashing Pumpkins music video for Perfect, putting the whole project together over the course of a year and getting to grips with the historical 1965 Arri 16 BL.
The Way I See It: Michael Sagol
Over the course of his 20-plus years in production, Michael Sagol, founder of Caviar Los Angeles, has EP’d thousands of commercials, ushered in a new generation of comedy directors and grown the company into an Oscar, Emmy and Lion-winning powerhouse. He tells Selena Schleh about shooting hoops with Jordan, refusing to wait tables and his dream of selling Sagol’s Bagels.
How Alexander Kuehn made a girl fly
With three Young Director Award Golds under his belt for his epic short If I Could Fly, Alexander Kuehn took the event by storm. Here, he explains the two-year project that blends the emotive story of a displaced family with making a girl fly.
Joe Picozzi celebrates his kind of people
Director Joe Picozzi speaks on his YDA Gold winning film My Kind Of People. Here he talks about the importance of preserving your culture, the trials and tribulations of making a short film and also relying on friends and family to make things happen.
How Milo Blake tackled Paralympic disparity
Spindle director Milo Blake won Gold in this years YDA for his commercial The Empty Seat. Here he talks about the music video that inspired the film, how a film can develop in the post stage, and future projects on the horizon.
Lauren Maya Davis flies high with Songbirds
The YDA Video Art Gold-winning director discusses weaving nature, nuance and non-actors into her evocative Mississippi Delta-set short.
Fromm Studio's animated world of whimsy
From scanning Staffordshire statues to creating folklore-inspired window displays for Selfridges, Partizan 3D studio Fromm shares the joy of creating wonderfully wonky animations.
YDA Winner Tanner Williams explores the anti-sacred space
Magna Studios director Tanner K Williams' playful and provocative promo for Madge, shiversucker, picked up a YDA Gold in the Music Video category. He explains how the self-funded film was inspired by his and the artist's shared experience of growing up queer in Utah's Orthodox Mormon community.
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.
Folkert Verdoorn & Simon Becks: Directors with drive
shots speaks to the YDA Gold Music Video winners on Driving Round Looking For Unknown's tragic hero, the film's unique visual flair, and how to maintian a delicate balance between emotion and absurdity.
Joachim Morre’s corrective vision: The YDA Gold-winner pushes back against prison clichés
The Danish director reflects on the human-centred series that earned two YDA Golds, and why storytelling should serve rehabilitation, not sensationalism.
How YDA Gold winner Fiona Obertinca brought lost queer history to the screen
Director Fiona Obertinca, who won a Gold in the Film School (ten minutes and over) category for her short Dandelion, talks about the vital work of the 1970s Youth Advocates program and how she captured the vibe of the time.
Seeing through Leve Kühl's eyes
UPPERFAST director Leve Kühl's UNHCR film, Through My Eyes, picked up YDA Gold Screen trophies in three categories; Changing the World Frame by Frame, Creative Use of Sound and Film School [up to 10 minutes]. Here, Kühl discusses searching for truth, the power of audio, and why the film isn’t aimed at refugees, but at people like him.
Oliver Pilemand's lessons in love
True love never did run smooth, and the recognisable scenario in Oliver Pilemand's YDA-winning comedy short is proof of that. Here, the director talks lucky breaks, reckless courage and not waiting for permission.
Anja Giele’s peas of mind
The Filmakademie Baden‑Württemberg director discusses how she sprouted the YDA‑winning stop‑motion short What was I made for from a seed of an idea to a fully‑grown production.
Bec Pecaut reframes trans experiences on screen
We catch up with Bec Pecaut about their raw and compassionate film Are You Scared... - a deeply honest dive into gender identity, relationships, and the complexities of transitioning - which won a YDA gold in the Changing the World Frame by Frame category.
Katie Lambert’s tidal wave of gay lust
Kicking off shots run of interviews with the YDA Gold winners, director Katie Lambert at MrMr Films talks about their coming-of-age film I Hate Helen. Here, they tell us about their snapshot of teenage life, the highs and lows of filming with teenagers, and potentially bringing their film to the big screen.
The Amazing World of Antoine Perez
From cult cartoon show The Amazing World of Gumball to experimental game concepts and anime trailers inspired by Japanese woodcuts, Antoine Perez, director and art director at THE LINE, is a master at marrying the technical and artistic.
Anna Ginsburg: Drawing from life
From intimate explorations of the female body to psychedelic tales of millennial medusas, animator and Strange Beast Creative Director Anna Ginsburg has carved out a space for fiercely personal, emotionally resonant storytelling. She talks to Amy Hey at OFFF Festival about her creative evolution and the power of animation in presenting sensitive subjects.
Materials girl: Hayley Morris
From cut paper and clay, to repurposed lace doilies and foraged leaves, stop-motion animator Hayley Morris revels in rich textures - embracing a joyfully analogue approach to bringing her miniature masterpieces to life.
The Way I See It: Charlie Crompton
Until recently, as the Founding Partner of Rogue Films, Charlie Crompton was at the helm of one of the UK’s most respected and awarded production companies. Having stepped away last year to take on a new adventure, he talks to Danny Edwards about trying to follow in the footsteps of The Jam, attempting to conduct and support creative talent, and having “a hittable face”.
Ian Pons Jewell's pearls of wisdom
Promo director, advertising powerhouse and ProdCo founder Ian Pons Jewell talks to Danny Edwards about friendship, finding his path, and why - despite the advent of AI - real filmmaking will continue to flourish.