Young Director Award

26/07/2024

DON’T GET TOO COMFORTABLE

For this year’s screening in Cannes we created a full show to honor the winning directors and their work - a tribute to the magic of film, and a celebration of storytelling.

The show meant to connect all submission categories in a true 90s detective thriller puzzle. Now we’ll be publishing all the segments as a mini-series, in hopes of sparking inspiration for all your UPCOMING PROJECTS (which we can’t wait to see for YDA ’25!)

Follow no-nonsense detective Justine and Rain Man-esque Gerry on their hunt for a crooked criminal, as they must navigate twisted genre-clichés and learn to work together, in a classic cat-n-mouse game.

A HUGE thank you goes out to and for their invaluable support in making this project a reality. Additionally we wish to thank , , the entire cast and crew and all the additional people who contributed with all their hard work and talent to making this show - we are grateful beyond words

25/07/2024

On Thursday June 20th we had the tremendous pleasure of celebrating the Young Director Award 2024 - and now we’re happy to share some highlights from the day at Cinéma Olympia and Le Bénitier ❤️

Also, for those who couldn’t be with us in Cannes, we’re happy to share that the FULL SHOW is now available ONLINE on the YDA website, along with all the Gold winners, Silver Winners and shortlisted films (bio link).

A huge thank you goes out to all the amazing friends, supporters, sponsors and partners who made this wonderful day possible - we hope that all of you who joined us in Cannes had an amazing time, and that all those who couldn’t join us will come along next year!

Also a very special thank you goes out for providing the equipment to make this film. We’re very grateful for your support :D

Editing: Oliver Pilemand
Shot by: Mikkel Kappel Persson
Interviews: Valeria Berezhna
Still photos: Søren Nagels

On Thursday June 20th 2024 we had the tremendous pleasure of celebrating the Young Director Award 2024! All of this year's Gold Screen Award-winning films…

25/06/2024

25/06/2024

14/06/2024

We’re happy and honored to present GANG Films as a prime partner of YDA 2024!

For three decades, Gang Films has been at the forefront of identifying and promoting daring, brilliant, and visionary directors from all over the world. Their dedication to fostering new talent has consistently pushed the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the film industry.

Jean Villiers, Founder & President of Gang Films, shared his thoughts on the partnership:
“It is a source of pride to support the YDA in its relentless pursuit of uncovering young talents who will become the renowned directors of tomorrow.”

The YDA has previously recognized the emerging talent of Gang Films’ directors, such as and , who have now become major players in the industry. This recognition is a testament to Gang Films’ commitment to excellence and their role in shaping the future of filmmaking.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to for their support and dedication, which significantly contribute to the growth and success of our endeavors.

05/06/2024

YDA Afterparty Teams Up with German Beach by .media for an Unforgettable Night in Cannes

We are excited to announce that this year the YDA Afterparty will take place in collaboration with German Beach, promising an unforgettable night of networking, conversation, and new acquaintances.

For the past two years, the YDA Afterparty and German Beach have been neighbors in Cannes, sparking the idea for this perfect partnership. On June 20th, at 10:00 pm, the two parties will merge into one delightful event.
“This collaboration aims to enhance the Cannes experience for our guests by providing additional networking opportunities, encouraging more interesting conversations, and fostering new exciting connections.» says YDA Producer Anke Petersen ( )

For the YDA guests the festivities will begin at Le Bénitier Beach in Cannes from 7:30 pm. After 10:00 pm, the party will seamlessly continue at both Le Bénitier and the German O’Key Beach, functioning together as one venue.

Priority entrance to the party will be granted by invitation, and for the rest of our friends, the first come-first served rule will apply.

05/06/2024

Introducing New Show Format for 2024

We’re very excited to announce our new show for the 2024 screening at the Cinema Olympia in Cannes. This year, the YDA will return to pre-Covid times with the addition of a dynamic show, weaving a cohesive and compelling narrative that announces and links together the gold winners across each category.

“We are introducing an entertaining and immersive experience to the screening to make each moment spent in the cinema even more engaging for the audience,” explains Copenhagen-based YDA team members and , who have been working hard to bring the show to life over the past few months.

The creation of this show would not have been possible without the invaluable help of all our amazing and dedicated production partners in Copenhagen - so a huge thank you goes out to:

 &

All will be revealed on Thursday 20th June at 10:30am at Cinema Olympia.

Tickets are available through our bio link.

05/06/2024

Kick Off the YDA Winning Films’ Screening with a light breakfast sponsored by !

Join us at Cinema Olympia on Thursday, June 20th, at 10:30 am for an exclusive screening of this year’s newly recognized films at the YDA event in Cannes.

Arrive early for a light breakfast at 9:30 am, sponsored by our long-term partner shots. Enjoy a croissant and a coffee or tea while networking with friends, industry peers and the YDA community.

François Chilot, President of YDA, says, “The morning screening reflects our commitment to creating an engaging, comfortable experience for all attendees. Thanks to shots, our partner, we are able to enhance this experience further.”

Following breakfast, discover this year’s YDA gold-winning films in the comfort and atmosphere of the Olympia theatre. Take a break from the hustle and bustle of Cannes and immerse yourself in a diverse array of cinematic works.

Join us for a cinematic start to your day in Cannes. For more information and tickets, visit the Young Director Award website (bio link)

30/05/2024

We are very excited and happy to finally release the full YDA 2024 SHORTLIST!!

Check out the full shortlist on the YDA website (bio link) - and make sure to grab a ticket for the show too 🎟️🎟️(also available through our bio link).

Huge congratulations to all the talented Young Directors who made the Shortlist, and hope to see you in Cannes!

26/05/2024

Tickets for YDA 2024 are now available!

We’re delighted to announce that tickets for our Winners’ Screening and Beach Party on Thursday 20th June in Cannes have been released, so grab yours now through our bio link

Dedicated to discovering and supporting
young directors and filmmakers across the globe since 1998.

18/04/2024

We are proud to announce LA PAC as our Prime sponsor for YDA 2024, reinforcing a commitment to celebrating and nurturing young talent in the industry!

Established in 1972, La Pac is renowned for its dedication to recognising and fostering emerging directorial talent. With a diverse portfolio spanning commercials, fashion content, music videos, digital content, short films, and documentaries, La Pac's innovative, creative and curious approach reflects its core belief of discovering and developing talent to produce excellent work.

La Pac has fostered and promoted notable young directors like Quentin Deronzier, known for music videos for Doja Cat and The Weeknd, and fashion films for Mugler and Louis Vuitton. Claire Anrold, who recently worked with Vans and collaborated with Offset and Cardi B, and Adrien Wagner, who directed films for French urban megastar Damso and Jaeger Lecoultre, are also among their impressive young directors. Supporting emerging talents drives La Pac's continuous development.

Jerome Denis, CEO of La Pac, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, "We look forward to seeing more young French talent among the esteemed ranks of YDA winners with their vibrant rhythm of creativity and directorial vision."

We extend sincere gratitude to La Pac for their support, enabling YDA to continue celebrating and empowering emerging directors and excellent storytelling.

11/04/2024

We’re extending the main submission deadline for another week - so there’s still time to enter your masterpiece before fees go up!

02/04/2024

The YDA 2024 main submission deadline is fast approaching!

Submit before April 10th midnight 🎬

06/03/2024

Don’t forget to take advantage of our EARLYBIRD DEADLINE for YDA 2024!

Submit your work before Friday March 8th midnight to make the most of our reduced entry fees while you can.

Visit our website and submit your entries as soon as possible! (link in bio)🕒

We can’t wait to see your amazing submissions! 🤩

Dedicated to discovering and supporting
young directors and filmmakers across the globe since 1998.

04/03/2024

Congratulations to all the very deserving winners and nominees at this weekend’s Watersprite Film Festival!
It was great to speak about all things filmmaking with those we had the chance to meet.

A reminder that our Early Bird deadline is fast approaching on March 8, so we invite all winners and nominees to take full advantage of our following discount offers as soon as possible:

● A free entry to all winners into a category of their choosing, worth 220€ each, as well as a 50% discount to enter a second category.
● A 50% discount to all other nominees into one category of their choosing.

Thank you to for a wonderful weekend!

31/01/2024

Medb Riordan, Academy Films' Joint MD and Partner, is the jury chairperson for this year's Young Director Award. Here, she talks about the challenges involved in building a directing career, the skills needed, and why more trust needs to be put in creative risk-taking.

11/01/2024

Calling all aspiring directors: YDA 2024 is now officially open for entries! 🎬 ✨
 
As you can see, with the help of Midjourney, all greatness starts small. Did you spot little Greta Gerwig in our previous post? Born to create drama, even before mastering the art of baby steps… can you guess who this renowned baby director is? 🍼
 
Your journey to greatness starts here! 🎥

09/01/2024

The wait is finally over… We are delighted to announce Medb Riordan as our 2024 Jury Chair!

From starting at the world renowned Academy Films on the reception desk to becoming Joint MD and Partner, Medb's career journey is truly inspirational. Over the past 15 years, she has overseen projects with renowned directors, musicians and brands, leading Academy to being named Production Company of the Year from multiple international award bodies and publications, as well as winning at British Arrows, Cannes Lions, AICP and a coveted D&AD Black Pencil in 2022.
Her debut film "Earth Mama" (2022) has met with critical acclaim with Medb, and Shirley O’Connor, being longlisted for Breakthrough Producer at the British Independent Film Awards.

Join us in welcoming Medb to what promises to be a very exciting YDA 2024!

shots.net

02/01/2024

2024 IS UPON US!

In a few days, entry submissions will open for the YDA '24 edition. Soon, we will also be revealing the jury chair and a few more exciting updates for the year.

For the time being, we ask you to be patient a little longer and stay tuned. So with a little help from Midjourney, we created this image to remind you all that even the giants had to wait a while for things to get started.

Wish you all an amazing 2024!

23/12/2023

Wishing you all a happy holiday season!

Hope to see you again in January, where we'll kick-off the YDA 2024 edition by opening film submissions once again - along with many other exciting updates for next year.

THANK YOU ALL FOR A GREAT 2023!

27/06/2023

Som det første skandinaviske produksjonsselskap noensinne har Bacon vunnet Producers Award i Young Director Award (YDA), som deles ut hvert år i løpet av Cannes-uka i det uoffisielle sideprogrammet.

26/06/2023

On Thursday 22nd June 2023 we had the tremendous pleasure of celebrating the Young Director Award 2023!

All of this year's Gold Screen Award-winning films were screened at Cinéma Olympia - and for those who missed it all Gold winners, Silver Screen Winners and shortlisted films can be viewed on the YDA website: https://www.youngdirectoraward.com/2023-winners/

Moving on to the afterparty at Le Bénitier, bottles were popped and trophies were awarded to all Gold winners, handed over by our lovely jury members.

Spirits were high, and we were honored and happy to see SO many people showing up to support YDA and the next generation of young filmmakers.

For those who made it to Cannes; we hope you had an amazing time - and for those who could not join us; we look forward to seeing you again next year!

Videographer & editor
Oliver Pilemand

Music (supplied by Epidemic Sound)
"Life Is a Party" by John Runefelt (modified)

On Thursday 22nd June 2023 we had the tremendous pleasure of celebrating the Young Director Award 2023! All of this year's Gold Screen Award-winning films…