The Young Director Award 2019, organised in association with shots, is now open for entries. YDA, presided over by Francois Chilot, is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards shows for – and accurate indicators of – aspiring directing talent in the advertising industry.

Enter by March 31 and you can take advantage of the healthy early bird rates, such as a €65 discount on the standard entry fee. The final deadline for entry is May 15.

The YDA prize-giving ceremony will take place during the Cannes International Festival of Creativity on Thursday June 20 at the JW Marriott hotel. It is attended by an audience of over 900 people and is one of the most important fringe events during the week of the Lions International Festival of Creativity.

The YDA attracts over 500 global entrants each year and celebrates and rewards new directing talent from across the globe. Previous YDA winners include such talented and successful directors as Hanna Maria Heidrich, Ringan Ledwidge, Andreas Roth, We Are LA and many more.

This year the YDA jury will be presided over by Lisa Mehling, Founder and President at Chelsea Pictures.

Details of the competition, its rules and categories, including the burgeoning Changing the World Frame-By-Frame category, can be found on the recently revamped YDA website, along with work from and interviews with past winners. Tickets to the YDA ceremony will be available to buy from the YDA site from May.

To enter your work please click here.

As is the case every year, all YDA winners will be profiled in shots after the festival and the full shortlist will appear online on the YDA site and a shots Slate Reel.