Ridley Scott flexes creative standards with truncated New Directors’ Showcase in Cannes

The 50-minute showcase presented the best, groundbreaking directorial talent from around the globe. Partnering with creative studio MPC, the NDS provides a platform for latest directing talent and celebrates their creativity, innovation, and craft.

The showcase saw Scott take to the stage in a Q&A with Kate Stanners, Saatchi & Saatchi's global chairwomen and chief creative officer. This year’s theme, ‘Regeneration: Year One’ emphasized Scott’s views on new talent, the role of a director in today’s comms landscape, and importance of both the idea and execution.

The visual identity for the 2018 New Directors’ Showcase was created by Scott’s granddaughter, Cuba Tornado Scott, in creative collaboration with the design team at MPC. Cuba Scott was commissioned to create an original artwork inspired by the theme ‘Regeneration: Year One’.

The artwork was then used as the foundation for the team at MPC, led by creative director Antar Walker, to develop into a full title sequence and promotional materials.

Scott’s involvement in this year’s NDS coincides with the 50th anniversary of his production company, RSA Films, and the launch of the transmedia network, Ridley Scott Creative Group.

Of the final reel, Scott said: “The range of the work submitted this year has been remarkable. We’ve taken great care to ensure that the 2018 reel not only reflects great ideas but also considered craft and production."

Judging was completed in two phases. In the first instance, a global team at both MPC and Saatchi & Saatchi respectively, reviewed the initial round of submissions. The teams consisted of equal numbers of male and female judges, and feedback was called upon from people with varying degrees of experience within the businesses – giving up-and-coming talent the opportunity to feed into the process. The judging process was overseen by Andy Gulliman, who was also responsible for the entire NDS production.

RSA managing director Kai Hsiung commented: “When we were asked to oversee this year’s showcase we didn’t realise what an all-consuming task it would be. There were so many amazing ideas, and we were truly humbled by some of the outstanding work submitted.

"But in the end, we had to take into consideration the craft. Our selection is based on what we deemed to be the greatest execution of the best ideas.”

When looking at the role and opportunities for directors today, MPC's chief executive Mark Benson said: “There are arguably more opportunities today, but new directors face a range of challenges. It's harder because the market is broader, more competitive and there are more directors attempting similar work.

"At the same time the distribution platforms are evolving and multiplying - with the volume of content ever-growing, craft plays a fundamental role to enable brands and work to cut through the noise.”

The 12 directors selected for the New Director’s Showcase reel 2018 are:

Georgia Hudson

Mike Skrgatic and James Allen

Win Bates

Jessy Moussallem

Erik Ferguson & Elliot Seller

Kristof Brandl

Megacomputeur

Jim Cummings

Jodeb

Schall & Schnabel

Ben Proulx & Joyner Lucas

Steve Cutts