)
YDA launches the Ambassadors Advisory Board
){kind=avatar}
The Young Director Award, produced in partnership with shots, has strengthened its global network with the launch of its Ambassadors Advisory Board.
The Young Director Award has launched a new initiative to expand its global presence; the YDA Ambassadors Advisor Board.
This newly formed group of respected industry voices from around the world will act as advocates for YDA, helping to identify potential supporters, spark new connections and raise awareness about the award and its mission.
As the YDA prepares for its 28th edition in Cannes, the Advisory Board arrives at a crucial time in the award’s history. For nearly three decades, the YDA has fulfilled its mission of spotlighting emerging filmmaking talent without actively seeking external support. However, as the landscape of the advertising and production industry continues to shift, this independent initiative is becoming increasingly reliant on sponsors, partners, and collective industry backing to continue its work.
"The YDA has always been more than an award; it’s a movement built by a community that believes in the power of young talent."
The Advisory Board brings together a small circle of long-time supporters who will play an active role in YDA’s future. They will promote the YDA and its mission within their professional communities, facilitate introductions to potential partners, sponsors, film schools, and creative institutions, and recommend industry professionals for the YDA Jury Board — particularly those invested in emerging talent. They will also help the YDA identify and elevate new filmmaking voices around the world.
Above [clockwise from top left]: Ana Laura Solís, Jérôme Denis, Janette De Villiers, Mette Jermiin, Anna Hashmi and Rouba Asmar.
The inaugural members of the YDA Ambassadors Advisory Board are;
- Ana Laura Solís, Founder & Executive Producer, Story: Mexico
- Anna Hashmi, Founder & Executive Producer, The Corner Shop USA
- Janette De Villiers, Founder & Executive Producer, GROUNDGLASS South Africa
- Jérôme Denis, CEO, La Pac France
- Mette Jermiin, Independent Executive Producer Scandinavia
- Rouba Asmar, Founder & Executive Producer, Moreish Middle East
"The YDA has always been more than an award; it’s a movement built by a community that believes in the power of young talent," said François Chilot, Founder and President of the YDA. "Supporting emerging filmmakers is not just an investment in their future, but in the future of our industry. It is through the commitment of ambassadors like you that YDA can continue to thrive.”
“With smartphones, software, and now AI, filmmaking is more accessible than ever," added Jérôme Denis. "But accessibility isn’t the same as talent. As producers, we have a duty to support true cinematic talent, or we risk losing the next generation of great filmmakers — the very asset our industry depends on. And YDA is the place where the future of filmmaking is being written”.
