D&AD & YouTube Announce First Shortlist for Inaugural Next Director Award

16 aspiring filmmakers are in the running for the first D&AD Next Director Award, a new award created in partnership with Youtube and supported by MOFILM.

Selected by an all-star panel of industry leaders including Dougal Wilson, David Bruno, Ringan Ledwidge and Juliette Larthe, the following films comprise the first shortlist:

• #ViolenceIsViolence, a web film directed by David Stoddart

• Bitch In Heat, a short film directed by Anna Carpen

• Chevrolet - Power Of Play – Bandung, branded content directed by Monatomi (Duncan Christie & Ben Perry)

• Daughters, a commercial directed by Ben Fouassier

• Disclosure: “Grab Her”, a music video directed by Emilie Somin

• GAWDS, a documentary directed by Christine Yuan

• Rollin’ Wild ‘Safari’, an animation directed by Kyra Buschor & Constantin Paeplow

• Living Moments, branded content directed by Paul Trillo

• Me + Her, a short film directed by Joseph Oxford

• MeTube: August sings Carmen 'Habanera’, a Web Film directed by David Moshel

• Moon, a commercial directed by Jabril Muse

• Mr Flash: 'Midnight Blue', a music video directed by PENSACOLA

• Mr X, a short film directed by Alex Nicholson

• Walking Contest, a short film directed by Vania Heymann

• We Are Shining: 'Killing', a music video directed by Ed Morris

• What Goes Around, a short film directed by Oliver Briginshaw

The Next Director Award follows a different format and exists separately to the D&AD Professional Awards. It is judged three times per year, producing three separate shortlists. Following the reveal of the first shortlist, the second entry period is now open, with the deadline for the second submissions on 15 October.

Alison Lomax, Head of Creative Agency Partnerships, YouTube commented, “I was blown away by the high level talent and variety of films across branded content, music videos and documentaries. A true reflection of the calibre of this next generation of filmmakers on YouTube.”