The Young Director Award has launched a new initiative to expand its global presence: the YDA Ambassadors Board. This newly formed group of respected industry voices from around the world will act as advocates for YDA — helping to identify potential supporters, spark new connections, and raise awareness about the award and its mission.
As YDA prepares for its 28th edition in Cannes, the Advisory Board arrives at a crucial time in the award’s history. For nearly three decades, YDA has fulfilled its mission of spotlighting emerging filmmaking talent without actively seeking external support. However, as the industry landscape of advertising and production industry continues to shift, this independent initiative is becoming increasingly reliant on sponsors, partners, and collective industry backing to continue its work — and to grow.
“YDA has always been more than an award — it’s a movement built by a community that believes in the power of young talent. Supporting emerging filmmakers is not just an investment in their future, but in the future of our industry. It is through the commitment of ambassadors like you that YDA can continue to thrive.”
François Chilot, Founder & President, YDA
A New Chapter for YDA
The Advisory Board brings together a small circle of long-time supporters who will play an active role in YDA’s future. They promote YDA and its mission within their professional communities, facilitate introductions to potential partners, sponsors, film schools, and creative institutions, and recommend industry professionals for the YDA Jury Board — particularly those invested in emerging talent. They also help YDA identify and elevate new filmmaking voices around the world.
While ambassadors don’t provide direct support to entrants or winners, their involvement is similar to that of a board of advisers — offering perspective, sharing insight, and opening doors through their networks to help YDA grow stronger and reach further.
Each of the inaugural ambassadors is not only a highly regarded industry leader but also a passionate advocate for new talent. They fully embrace the role of the producer as the one who discovers, nurtures, and promotes emerging directorial voices. As the industry continues to evolve, the importance of producers as champions of fresh creative perspectives becomes even more vital — reaffirming their responsibility to uplift the next generation of filmmakers.
Meet the First YDA Ambassadors
- Ana Laura Solís, Founder & Executive Producer, Story: – Mexico
- Anna Hashmi, Founder & Executive Producer, The Corner Shop – LA, USA
- Janette De Villiers, Founder & Executive Producer, GROUNDGLASS – Cape Town, South Africa
- Jérôme Denis, CEO, La Pac – France
- Mette Jermiin, Independent Executive Producer – Scandinavia
- Rouba Asmar, Founder & Executive Producer, Moreish – Middle East
This initial group of six ambassadors marks the launch of the Advisory Board. YDA plans to gradually expand the board with representatives from additional regions as the initiative evolves.
Why It Matters
Expanding the circle of supporters and raising awareness around YDA’s mission is more vital than ever — not only to ensure sustainable patronage and backing, but also to strengthen the community behind the award and broaden its international network.
At a time when the industry is in flux, the formation of the Ambassadors Board marks a timely effort to unite key voices around a shared purpose: to advocate for emerging talent, reinforce the producer’s role in shaping creative futures, and elevate YDA as a global platform rooted in mentorship, discovery, and collaboration.
