New Directors Scouted Live at June’s Shiny Awards

Reps and producers were hooking up with new directors as soon as their films screened at last week’s Shiny Awards. Winner Emma Gilbertson, only 2 weeks out of NFTS was scouted by a ‘significant’ UK production company, and LA director Stacy Pascal Gaspard was approached by one of the judges before the Awards even ended.

Said Caroline Bottomley, awards director “…we’re always told by reps and directors that they get connections through Shiny but it was pretty exciting to see it happening in public!…”

The shortlist of 18 brand ads, music videos, dance, docs and spec ads were scored by Shiny’s jury network of 100+ production companies, post houses, services and ad agencies. Due to coronavirus and other emergencies, there were a couple of last minute changes to the Awards Judge lineup. Winners were selected live by Lucky Generals New York CD Jonathan Santana, New York’s HARBOR Picture Company EP Kelly Broad and from LA, Disney+ Producer Britt Ellis.

Judges’ winners are:

- Emma Gilbertson for Crashing Waves. Based in Liverpool, she's a very recent graduate from NFTS and is currently freelance (though not for long by the sound of it).

- Stacey Pascal Gaspard for ‘Isadore’, based in LA and a recent signing to Paxeros. Rollo Hollins for ‘Bears Den/ Hiding Bottles’, is Shiny's only winning white, middle class feller. He’s based in London and is a recent signing to Armoury.

- The audience votes went to Jane Qian’s ‘Bonafide’ (recently signed to Knucklehead LA) and Lou Escobar for ‘Vogue Portugal/ Familia’, based in Marseilles and who is a recent signing as filmmaker to CANADA.

As well as live scouting, winners & their reps are hooked up with the Award judges over email. Details for all screeners, plus directors whose work was great but couldn’t squeeze into the screening are also sent onto Awards judges, and promoted across Shiny’s networks.

Of 18 screening films, 9 were by women, 4 were by Black or Brown directors, 1 x LGBTQ+ and 1 with a low income upbringing.