Stink Rising Puts Spotlight On New Talent

Stink Films is launching a carefully curated platform to develop new talent globally.

A true spotlight, Stink Rising will represent only the most exceptional and unusual filmmakers and artists; people already making exciting work and getting noticed, but who still have room to grow.

Whether they’re making music videos or art installations, photography or short films, Stink will dedicate time and energy to mentoring Rising talent. We will be connecting them to agencies and brands, as well as developing original content with them.

Blake Powell, Global Head of Talent said: “Stink Rising launches with ten filmmakers from around the world who we believe, given the right support and exposure, will be leading creativity in advertising and entertainment in years to come. This roster shines a spotlight on the emerging talent we’re most excited about and everyone needs to see now. We’d like to think we’ve set the bar pretty high.”

“Every filmmaker on the Rising roster has been chosen for their unique voice and style”, added Katie Lambert, EP of Music and Stink Rising. “I’m so proud to have such diverse work represented, ranging across continents and formats. From Berlinale awarded pieces, through YDA awards, Vimeo staff picks and all the way to the most talked about young director of Brazil, this roster truly represents the global scope and taste of Stink Films.”

Growing up in a video store in Brazil, Douglas Bernardt fostered an early love of cinema. Working both as a director and a DP, Douglas creates unique and beautiful imagery around heartfelt topics. Nominated for the 2016 YDA at Cannes, since then he’s gone on to win various awards including Best Music Video at Ciclope and Gold at Kinsale for ‘Tagua Tagua’. Doug’s favourite piece is ‘Forgotten Heroes’, a must-see a short film for Comicon Brazil.

With an extensive background in prop making and set building, Londoner Felix Brady constantly creates new ways of telling stories. His knack for drawing out energetic and authentic performances is matched only by a love for experimentation and camera trickery. Since winning at the prestigious HomeSpun Yarns competition, Felix has been busying himself with mind-bending techniques, reflecting UK street culture and modern London, earning him the only Gold for ‘Best New Director’ at Kinsale.

Geej Ower started out in theatre and as such, her speciality is directing actors and non-actors, getting surprising performances from both. Sensitive, beautiful, always moving and human, her work often combines different artistic practices. She has worked regularly with the BBC and multiple arts organisations, such as the Hayward Gallery at London’s Southbank Centre, Headlong Theatre Company and West Yorkshire Playhouse. Her latest music video for Becky and the Birds has just been shortlisted at the UK MVA’s for Best Pop Video Newcomer.

Jared Hogan creates soulful and graphic images for every story he tells. Whether it’s evoking feeling for a furry red monster in a swimming pool for Joji in ‘Demons’, or a documentary on an underground artist, every Jared Hogan film is genre blurring and distinctive. His work has already achieved significant popular and critical acclaim, amassing over 40m views on YouTube and a considerable Vimeo following.

Dutch director Judith Veenendaal brings a simplicity and lightness to her work, elevating the everyday to something visceral and special. Her passion for music, dance and theatre inform the pieces she makes as an independent visual artist and runs through the many music videos and commercials she’s directed for prominent brands. Judith will be represented by Stink globally except France and US.

Kenneth Karlstad’s work is atmospheric, expressive and often noir. Winning the critics’ award at the Norwegian Short Film Festival and screening at festivals across Europe, ‘The Hunger’ blends his dark aesthetics with a perceptive and moving script – presenting life in the Norwegian suburbs as we’ve never seen it before. 

Matthew Thorne is a young Australian artist whose work is focused around the relationship between people, land, mortality and spirituality. With an exceptional eye, he has already created an incredible body of work in film and photography capturing lives in places as diverse as Iran, Russia, Java and Japan. His commercial work includes second unit direction for Alien: Covenant, stills photography on Justin Kurzel’s upcoming feature film "The True History Of The Kelly Gang”, as well as direction and photography for major brands. He has screened and exhibited globally from Cannes Lions, YDA and One Show, to the LA Music Video Festival, Adfest and Spikes Asia. 

Driven by stories, Dutch director Noël Loozen is fascinated by little worlds and the clumsiness of life. His films share the stories nobody is waiting for, or rather, the stories nobody knew they had to know about. An accomplished artist, photographer and director and his work is a reflection of this hybridity. ‘Spoetnik’ premiered at the Berlinale and went on to win several prizes. Charming, off beat and visually unique, you know a Noël Loozen film within a single frame.

Sherif Alabede is an award-winning Nigerian-American filmmaker who has received widespread acclaim for his haunting music videos 'Arcadian' and 'Acid Rain' for LORN, which clocked up over 34m views on Youtube and won Best Dance Video at UKMVAs. Dedicated to narrative-based visuals with a signature dark aesthetic, he has a natural propensity for turning mundane subjects into memorable images that have a lasting effect.

British director Stella Corradi represents a fresh voice in film, creating stories around people who haven’t previously had a platform to share their experiences. She spent years working with young people and refugees in documentary before moving into fiction where as a director’s assistant, she worked on several features with Sally Potter and Justin Kurzel. She won Best Female Director at LSSF for ‘Little Soldier’ and got a special mention at Underwire Film Festival for Best Screenplay. Recently she was selected to direct a 30-minute episode of the 4Stories scheme for Channel 4.

See all their work at www.stinkfilms.com/stink-rising