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.
Brent Anderson: Harnessing the next wave
Brent Anderson, the Global Chief Creative Officer for TBWA\Media Arts Lab, talks to Tim Cumming about branding, creativity, simplicity, and how to surf, survive and thrive in a world of rapid and radical change.
The people who make the spots you love, covering all aspects of production, post and sound.
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.
Shawn Lacy; making her mark
The founding partner of production powerhouse Biscuit Filmworks, Shawn Lacy has been at the heart of creativity for more than 25 years. Here, she talks to Danny Edwards about influences, ideas and why ‘problem-solving’ is the new ‘brave’.
Lucy Forbes; the long and the short of it
Lucy Forbes, the in-demand director of Netflix hit Eric, talks to Tim Cumming about focusing her comedy and storytelling skills onto her two shortform award- winners for Waitrose and Libresse.
Collective innovation with Nicoletta Rousianos
Nicoletta Rousianos knows how to get things started, and how to finish them, as EP and Managing Partner at industry big-hitter The Editors.
Ali Ali: The craft of chaos
Best known for unleashing adland’s most aggressive panda, Egyptian director and Good People Films co-founder Ali Ali has built a reputation on crafting bold, witty ads that resonate with audiences all over the world. He talks to Amy Hey about bringing his hard-won wisdom and love of short storytelling to the Croisette, where he’ll sit as President of the Cannes Lions Film Craft jury.
Tone Aston talks the psychology of sound
The evolution of sound design, the future of sonic branding and the psychology of sound are among the topics Tone Aston mulls over as he discusses Rumble Studios win at the 2024 APAC Awards.
Natsuki Urayama is staying true to the story
Natsuki Urayama, the young Japanese director of acclaimed short film Cut, opens up to Tim Cumming about her life, her nascent career and her ultimate goals within Japan’s creative industries.
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.
Young Arrows targets the future
Co-chairs of the 2025 Young Arrows, Jane Dilworth and James Guy, talk to Tim Cumming about new work, encouraging new talent, and the secrets of success in an industry in constant flux.
Making the cut with Jack Hutchings
When it comes to getting the best assembly, directors turn to Jack Hutchings, winner of the Editor of the Year award at shots Awards Asia Pacific 2024, who works his magic across spots, shorts and feature-length films at The Editors and ARC Edit.
Lauria’s Law
A year on from presiding over the Sustainable Development Goals Lions Jury in Cannes, Gustavo Lauria, President and Chief Creative Officer of We Believers, talks to Lucy Aitken about harnessing the industry’s “superhero brains”, game-changing creativity and farting cows.
Finding advertising’s funny bone with Jeff Low
Revolver’s Jeff Low picked up the Director of the Year award at 2024’s shots APAC Awards. He talks to Tim Cumming about his attention-grabbing Telstra spots, and what needs to go into a campaign in order to extract a laugh.
shots Unsigned: Harry Barber
For Junes shots Unsigned interview we hear from UK director Harry Barber. Here, he talks about his music video The Worm, sleeping in the van after the shoot in freezing conditions, and how personal projects keep you creative.
Raising the bar with Kem Suraphongchai
As the Festival Director of ADFEST, Kem Suraphongchai is at the heart of Asia Pacific advertising. She talks to Tim Cumming about the past, present and future of the region’s creative ambition.
PHC is raising the roof
Lauded for his music films and striking spots for Crumpler, 2024’s New Director of the Year winner, PHC, aka John Stewart, talks to Tim Cumming about life, work and career, touching on Love Hotels, tattooed Yakuza and chasing the new.
Thinking Big with Micah Walker
Micah Walker, the Founder and CCO of the extravagantly titled Bear Meets Eagle On Fire, looks back on a global career and reflects on the creative challenges facing the APAC region.
Flying high with FINCH
With two consecutive Production Company of the Year wins for FINCH at the shots APAC Awards, and with entries for the 2025 edition open now, the company’s Executive Producer, Nick Simkins, talks to Tim Cumming about the nature of the work coming from Asia Pacific and the region’s challenges and opportunities, including budgetary downturns and cultural and global uncertainty.
Thomas Kolster on the business of doing better
A founding father of ‘goodvertising’, Thomas Kolster has spent almost 20 years at the intersection of sustainability, branding and marketing – preaching the gospel on brand transformation. Now, with a new enemy on the horizon, his mission is clearer than ever.
Azlan Som on finding clarity in the abstract for ADFEST
Finding himself in the Fabulous Five at the festival with his personal short RINTIK, Som speaks about how a storytelling experiment can help to find your voice.
Mika Sasaki talks ADFEST perfection with IM PERFECTION
The festival's Fabulous Five Jury Commendation winner talks about how societal trends and Japanese cultural norms lend themselves to dystopian futures, and how collaboration is key in getting big ideas onto the screen.
Haruna Takahara on the coolest way to Collide with ADFEST
The winner of the festival's Popular Vote in breaking talent showcase, Fabulous Five, explains how ICE, her wildly witty short that gives a solution to the problem of annoying customers, showcased a uniquly surreal sense of humour.