The YDA 2019 Focus

We sat down with the Gold-winning directors from this year's competition to chat about their films, their industry journey and what picking up a YDA really means to them.

Talent

Thessa Meijer on picking up this year's YDA Special Jury Prize

The Walking Fish, a fantastical tale about a mutsugorou (or mudskipper) that evolves into a girl, wowed this year's YDA judges. Here, its director, Thessa Meijer, discusses the inspiration for her film and why working in a foreign language was brilliantly challenging.

Talent

Dani Pearce on her YDA-winning short and the 'wild process' of directing

Sydney-based director Dani Pearce likes to explore narrative in unconventional, original ways and her experimental short film Backpedal, based on a poem by Olivia Gatwood, is a case in point. She chats to shots about wolf pack research, pushing boundaries and why winning gold at this year's YDA was a career-defining moment.

Talent

YDA Gold-winner Paul Nevison on diving into Lake Volta

The Volta director talks to us about the logistical troubles of a Ghanese shoot, his ongoing imposter syndrome and what he's up to after his 'Changing the World Frame by Frame' YDA win.

Talent

Asher Jelinsky on their award-winning film & the portrayal of trans & nonbinary characters

Miller & Son, Asher Jelinsky's film about Ryan, a transgender mechanic, was a Gold winner at this year's YDA. Here, Jelinsky discusses the making of the film and their thoughts on the representation of transgender and nonbinary people on screen.

Talent

YDA Producer of the Year-winner on targeting new talent

After picking up the Producer of the Year award at this year's YDA, HALAL's Partner and EP, Gijs Determeijer, reveals how the company sources new talent, and why it's the most important - and exciting - part of the process.

Talent

David Gesslbauer on making cinematic vertical filmmaking in [UNUM]

The YDA Gold winner speaks about the challenges, and freedoms, inherent in shooting in an unusual aspect ratio, collaborating with co-director Michael Lange, and how no amount of planning can prepare you for filming with animals.

Talent

How horsing around with a blond god won Vedran Rupic a gold YDA

As a young lad, Vedran Rupic ran wild with a crowd of fellow immigrants. Now, he's progressed to pushing wild ideas. Having bagged gold in the Music Video category for Salvatore Ganacci’s Horse, the rising director tells shots about giant pointy shoes and Slavic storytelling.

Talent

Nare Mokgotho on doing the double at the YDA

We continue our look at this year's gold-winners from the 2019 Young Director Award as we talk to a South African director who returned home with two well-deserved trophies.

Talent

YDA-winner Nina Holmgren wants us to panic

The filmmaker talks us through how talks by young climate activists Greta Thunberg and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez inspired her to create her visually dazzling, emotionally charged short.

Talent

Eugen Merher on making a charity film with bite

The Dark Red director won gold at this year's YDA with a grisly yet unexpectedly tender take on blood donation. He tells shots how he and the team created their 'own kind of vampire film' and what's next on the slate.

Talent

How the dark web helped shed some light for this winning YDA film

After picking up a Gold Screen in the Charity category at this year's YDA, Martin Norgaard Furze and Mette Carla talk about the art of collaboration, the importance of research and the "gut-wrenching" things on the dark web.

Talent

Jola Bankowska on her YDA win, finding animation and how to tell a good Story

The director talks us through how discovering her talent for animation helped her experiment with narrative.

Talent

YDA gold winner Josh Hayward paints a Still/Life portrait of Yangon

The director spent weeks exploring the Burmese city, capturing its cultural renaissance through the eyes of a new generation of athletes, and the result is this award-winning short film.

Talent

YDA-winner Istvan Kovacs discusses his A Siege mentality

Good Kids director Istvan Kovacs picked up a Gold Screen for his short film, A Siege, at this year's YDA. Here, he discusses turning his back on law, the influence of the Balkan war and his desire to tell brand stories.

Talent

Pascal Schelbli on finding The Beauty in plastic pollution

Fresh from picking up a Gold in the Changing the World Frame by Frame category of this year's YDA, the director talks us through how he combined marine life with man-made waste.

The New Talent Focus

We speak to a few of tomorrow's bright new directorial stars, chat to the established about their big breaks, and get to grips with how the industry is finding and nurturing fledgling creators.

The International Women's Day Focus

In honour of this year's International Women's Day, we look back at some interviews, profiles and opinions from the industy's top female talent

The Food & Drink Focus

From boozy branding to the power of meat-free messaging, this month's focus takes a look at, and speaks to the people behind, the consumable sector's biggest players

The shots Awards Europe 2019 Focus

With shots Awards The Americas drawing ever-closer, we speak to the company and individual winners of last year's European show.

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