Director Na has joined Toronto-based production company Alfredo Films for Canadian representation. The transgender director has dedicated their career to projects that give back to underserved and underrepresented communities like LGBTQ+ and BIPOC. Now based in Detroit, they were born and raised in Seoul—where they started making films at the age of 15, using a camcorder received as a birthday present. Filmmaking became a form of language, a gift expressing their care and gratitude to loved ones. Na’s first work with Alfredo is a powerful new spot for MasterCard via McCann Canada called “True Name.” True Name by Mastercard is the first card in Canada that lets transgender and nonbinary communities display their chosen name. Mastercard worked with McCann Canada to create a video series and invited influencers from the 2SLGBTQ+ community to share their stories and speak to what the True Name feature means to them. The series showcases the challenges of misrepresentation that individuals from the transgender and nonbinary communities face when the name on their bank cards does not reflect their identity. It was important to Mastercard to partner with Na to ensure representation at all levels of production. Na has directed national broadcast commercials, as well as branded content, and documentary style work for a wide range of clients including Microsoft, General Motors, Ford, Chevy and Bumble, all with a commitment to ensuring visibility of everyone from local artists to trans and gender non-conforming individuals, poets, and urban farmers. Alfredo Films is a Black, Indian, Asian and female-owned production company. Na has representation in the U.S. via Tool of North America and Detroit-based Local Boy….
“Better Man” Tops Australia’s AACTA Awards With 16 Nominations
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) has unveiled its domestic nominations for the 2025 AACTA Awards. Returning to the Gold Coast in February, the awards celebrate achievements in Australian film, television, documentary and online content.
Topping the film categories are cinematic heavyweights Better Man, How to Make Gravy, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Late Night with the Devil and Memoir of a Snail. Leading the race, the Robbie Williams-inspired Better Man picked up a record-breaking 16 nominations across film categories. This is followed closely by George Miller’s Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and streaming giant BINGE’s feature film debut How to Make Gravy securing 15 nominations each. Horror-favorite Late Night with the Devil secured 14 nominations while the animated gem Memoir of a Snail landed 11 nominations. Rounding out the Best Film category is Runt, which earned four nominations.
The nominees for Best Direction in Film are Michael Gracey for Better Man, George Miller for Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Nick Waterman for How To Make Gravy, Colin Cairnes and Cameron Cairnes for Late Night with the Devil, and Adam Elliot for Memoir Of A Snail.
In television, the critically acclaimed Boy Swallows Universe dominates with 22 nominations, including Best Miniseries and eight acting nominations, the most nominations for any production in AACTA history. Dylan River’s Thou Shalt Not Steal follows with nine nods, while Colin From Accounts and The Artful Dodger earn eight nominations each. Other standout productions include Exposure, Fake, Total Control, Fisk and Territory,... Read More