Curated this year by Ridley Scott, famed director of Alien, The Martian and other classics, The New Directors Showcase at Cannes is now in its 28th year. Acting as a platform for talented new directors to have their work premiered to a global audience, Scott took to the stage in front of a full house this morning to showcase this year’s selection.
He was introduced by Kate Stanners, chairwoman and global chief creative officer, Saatchi & Saatchi, with whom he chatted about his time honing his directorial skills as a TV commercial director.
To aspiring directors, Scott stressed the importance of story.
“My favourite phrase is ‘am I engaged’, have you engaged me. And even something that doesn’t look so good, but for some reason the story is engaging…that’s your first first priority. Because the rest – technically and visually is the fun part and it’s relatively easy.”
“Go back to the story. Story, story, story, story, story.”
Scott also encouraged his fellow directors to pay close attention to world news. He feels that news affects one’s perspective and thinking. A director needs to be globally aware in order to be a good story-teller.
Here is this year’s showcase:
Tom Misch ‘Water Baby’, by Georgia Hudson
Honda ‘Dream Makers’, by Mike Skrgatic and James Allen
PSA in Real Life, by Win Bates
Mashrou’ Leila Roman, by Jessy Moussallem
https://vimeo.com/226294034
Zhu x Nero ‘Dreams’, by Erik Ferguson and Elliot Sellers
The Kids, by Kristof Brandl
Deuspi, by Megacomputeur
La Legende de la Chevre Qui Connaissait le Vrai Sens de la Montagne, again by Megacomputeur
Thunder Road, by Jim Cummings
London Grammar ‘Non Believer’, by Jodeb
Confidence Man ‘Boyfriend (Repeat)’, by Schall & Schnabel
Frozen, by Ben Proulx and Joyner Lucas
Happiness, by Steve Cutts
I’m Not Racist, again by Ben Proulx and Joyner Lucas
