SHOOT® Magazine, the leading publication for Film, TV & Commercial Production and Post, today announced the names of the 31 individual directors who made the final cut to be included in the SHOOT 2021 19th Annual New Directors Showcase.

The NDS 2021 Showcase Reel will debut on the SHOOT NDS website on Tuesday, November 16, 2021. Compiling the SHOOT New Directors Showcase and producing the New Directors Showcase Event at the DGA in NYC represent one of SHOOT's most anticipated annual highlights. While we had hoped to hold the in-person event this year, after discussion with past sponsors, speakers & attendees the consensus was that most people were still not quite ready to go back to events so we made the tough decision not to hold the in-person event this year. Next year will mark the 20th Anniversary of the NDS Showcase and both SHOOT and the DGA look forward to a great 2022 Event when hopefully the pandemic will not longer be something to take into consideration.  While SHOOT and the industry won't be convening at the DGA Theatre to debut the Showcase as in the past, the NDS Reel and NDS Issue remain the major means of exposure for new worthwhile talent that is scrutinized by the advertising and entertainment communities which contine to become increasingly interconnected. The industry at large will still be able to enjoy the reel, and generate word of mouth for others to check out the work and the individual director profile pages--information on both below.

SHOOT is pleased to announce the lineup of directors for the SHOOT 2021 19th Annual New Directors Showcase:

  • Eric Almond 
  • Zeke Anders
  • Josh Banks
  • Henry Behel
  • Isabel Bethencourt
  • Paige Compton
  • Tyler Davis
  • Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah
  • Oge Egbuonu
  • Abraham Felix
  • Devon Ferguson
  • Mario Garza
  • Utsab Giri
  • John Connor Hammond
  • Chloe Hayward
  • Parker Hill 
  • L.J. Johnson
  • Julia Kennelly
  • Natasha Lee
  • Leah Loftin
  • Dave Maruchniak
  • Jabu Nadia Newman
  • Amber Park
  • Bianca Poletti
  • Drew Pollins
  • Zack Seckler
  • Khalid Seña
  • Jane Stephens Rosenthal
  • Ben Strang
  • Emily Elizabeth Thomas
  • Grayson Whitehurst

As is the tradition, we're keeping company affiliations and selected work under wraps until the NDS website goes live on November 16th.  We can tell you that this year's NDS Class of 2021 is a fantastically diverse group of directors with backgrounds that include cinematography, acting, still photography, savvy producers turned filmmakers, former ad agency creative talent, recent film school grads and those who are self-taught through in-the-trenches experience. Their directorial work spans commercials, promo fare, public service and spec advertising, short films, documentaries, branded content, music videos, web series, comedy and drama. There are 16 male and 15 female directors in this year's lineup; 17 have production affiliations and 14 are currently unaffiliated. Each year the mix of work on the SHOOT New Directors Showcase Reel is a reflection of the industry at large--as is SHOOT itself as exemplified in our multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary, multi-platform coverage, including our regular coverage of feature, TV and commercial directors residing side by side in our coverage. As embodied in our coverage and underscoring the relevance of our NDS competition and event, SHOOT's mission is to connect the worlds of advertising and entertainment while also bringing content creators together with the collaborators who can hire them. On November 16, SHOOT's New Directors Showcase website will go live where the industry will be able to view the NDS Reel along with individual profile pages on each director with headshot, video of selected work, additional Q&As, and contact information.  And, on December 10th our December Issue will be published in both Print & PDF Issues with mini-profiles of all the directors in this year's NDS Showcase.

NDS Marketing Final Deadlines Are Fast Approaching...

11/12:  Deadline to Join "We Support New Directors" Logo and Banner Packages!

Click Here for SHOOT NDS "We Support New Directors" Logo & Banner Package Info.  
Logo Package: Logo will appear on NDS website and NDS website Sponsor Page will stay live for the next year and in the "We Support New Directors" Ad that will run in SHOOT's December Print & PDF Issue.
Banner Package: Banner to run on SHOOTonline, The SHOOT>e.dition email newsletter and special "Meet the NDS Class of 2021" Custom email blast. The offer is also ideal for production companies and talent agencies representing a director in the Showcase.  If you are an unaffiliated director, you may want to pass this information along to companies you have worked with; they often want to take advantage of a special opportunity such as this. 
Ad Deadline:  Reserve Logo or Banner Package and provide Logo/Banner by 11/12.

11/29:  Deadline to Reserve "NDS Congratulations" or Regular Ads in the December Print (+PDF Issue with Digital Distribution) with mini-profiles of all the NDS Directors in this year's Showcase 

Click Here for SHOOT NDS  "Congratulations" Advertising info for the December NDS Issue with digital distribution + bonus email newsletter banners.
High Profile exposure for the directors in the Showcase, companies that represent them or companies that have worked with them. The Issue has always been an important way for the industry to find out about the directors.  Since we aren't able to hold the NDS Showcase Event this year, the issue will be more important than ever.  This opportunity is ideal for production companies and talent agencies representing a director in the Showcase.  Also, great for any production and post-related company to promote their company, roster and services. 
Ad Deadline: Reserve Space by 11/29 |  Ad PDF File due by 12/3 

For Space Reservations & more info, please contact Roberta Griefer via email or 203-227-1699, ext 701.

About The New Directors Search / Showcase Reel
Each year SHOOT conducts a worldwide search to discover the best up-and-coming directors who, based on their initial work, show promise to soon make major positive contributions to advertising and/or entertainment in its traditional and emerging forms. This year's search entry period was April 1-July 21, 2021.  Criteria for entry are directing any type of advertising or entertainment content professionally less than 3 years and submitted work must have been produced during the fifteen month period of April 2020-July 2021
Categories of entry:

  1. Traditional Broadcast: TV Spots, spec work, cinema ads, branded content, music videos, trailers, broadcast promos
  2. Alternative media content: webisodes, spots created for online, mobile phone content, in-game advertising, advergaming, virals, alternative reality gaming, ads created for PDAs
  3. Film/TV Entertainment: Feature films, independent films, short films, TV programs.

About SHOOT Magazine / SHOOTonline
SHOOT® Magazine and SHOOTonline are the leading publication and website for film, TV & Commercial Production & Post; edited for agency, cable/TV/Online/Mobile networks and movie & studio creative and production executives, executives at commercial and entertainment production/post companies, brand marketer production executives, independent filmmakers and artisans including directors, cinematographers, editors, colorists, VFX supervisors/artists/animators, composers, sound designers & mixers. Through its "News" and "ScreenWork" sections, "Columns" and in-depth "Features", SHOOT publishes timely news, relevant information and a behind-the-scenes look at the best new work and profiles/interviews with industry news makers. In addition, SHOOT reports on the latest cinematography, post & editing technology and equipment. If the work involves advertising and entertainment motion picture content that consumers view on a screen---a TV screen, Cinema screen, Computer screen, Mobile screen or Game screen, SHOOT is searching out who's doing the most innovative work and what's coming next. For further information please visit https://www.SHOOTonline.com®. Follow SHOOT on Twitter #SHOOTonline

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