Chelsea Pictures founder and president will oversee the jury for this year’s Young Director Award.

The Young Director Award, in partnership with shots, is honoured to announce that the president of the 2019 YDA jury is Chelsea Pictures president Lisa Mehling.  

Mehling is an Emmy award-winning executive producer and her bi-coastal production company has cultivated a unique and diverse culture of producers and filmmakers who have become leaders across broadcast, digital, film, branded entertainment and print.

Mehling and Chelsea have launched the commercial careers of directors including David Gordon Green, Lauren Greenfield, Alex Gibney, Jack Cole, and Nadav Kander. The company’s list of celebrated work includes the paradigm shifting campaign for Always #LikeAGirl; Listen, the chilling, Cannes-winning Super Bowl spot for NFL, directed by Nadav Kander; Halftime in America, the multi-award-winning spot featuring Clint Eastwood, directed by David Gordon Green and Audi The Heist.

“We are proud and happy to welcome Lisa as this year’s YDA president as she is representative of our business as it is today and as it should be tomorrow.”

“We are always looking for a chair who represents an example for both producers and directors to follow,” said Francois Chilot, the founder and president of the YDA, on Mehling’s appointment. “At a time when the borders between the different advertising sectors are no longer so clearly defined, it’s interesting to work with and hear from a person who has been able to redefine the role of a commercials producer. Lisa is extremely successful and Chelsea Pictures’ work has been awarded worldwide, both for its commercial work and its work beyond, in areas such as branded content and features. I think, sometimes, we forget that commercials directors are artists and Lisa believes, as I do, in the power of combining art and commerce to create something memorable. We are proud and happy to welcome Lisa as this year’s YDA president as she is representative of our business as it is today and as it should be tomorrow.”

“I believe our industry must inspire young filmmakers to see the possibilities within the brand space to make an impact, push cultural boundaries, and influence the world.”

“It was a great honour to be invited by Francois to work with him on this year’s YDA,” added Mehling. “I greatly respect how Francois has grown the YDA into a globally recognised arbiter of the next generation of great directors. I believe our industry must inspire young filmmakers to see the possibilities within the brand space to make an impact, push cultural boundaries, and influence the world.”