About YDA

The Young Director Award was established in 1998 by CFP-E (Commercial Film Producers of Europe), on the initiative of its then President, François Chilot. From the very beginning, the idea was both simple and ambitious: to give new directing talent a real chance, supported by producers who believe that the future of the industry depends on those who dare to start.

Over the years, François Chilot led YDA as its President and today continues his long-standing involvement in the role of Founder/Chairman. 

YDA was created as a non-profit platform with a clear purpose. To discover, support and elevate emerging directors within commercial filmmaking, and to do so with seriousness, curiosity and respect for the art of filmmaking. Over time, it has grown into an international reference point while remaining true to its original spirit of generosity and creative risk-taking.

Today, YDA is shaped by a close group of producers at its core, with the daily work and direction of the award led by Rikke Katborg and Anke Petersen. Alongside this core, YDA is supported by an active international ambassador network, representing YDA across countries, cultures and disciplines. Together, they ensure that YDA remains relevant, open and connected to the realities young directors face today, including the increasing movement between commercial work, long-form storytelling, film and series.

Alongside its ambassadors, YDA is supported by the Friends of YDA, an initiative born from the ambassador network itself. Friends of YDA is a community of individuals who choose to stand behind the award and its values, not as sponsors, but as supporters. Their involvement reflects a shared belief in the importance of discovering and nurturing new directing talent, and helps strengthen YDA’s independence as a non-profit platform.

At the heart of YDA lies a belief in producers as active partners in talent development, not only as facilitators, but as a creative force that helps directors grow, find their voice and enter the industry on their own terms. This philosophy has shaped YDA into a space where debuting directors meet established professionals, new ideas are tested, and long-term careers begin.

In recent years, YDA has expanded its international partnerships and sponsorships, guided by a long-term and value-driven approach. This work is led by Valeria Bereshna, who focuses on building meaningful relationships with partners and sponsors who actively support YDA’s mission. As part of this work, she also helps initiate and organise local YDA events in selected markets, creating visibility, context and closer connection to emerging directors and local creative communities.

YDA is internationally recognised as the most significant fringe event of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, taking place in June. Each year, the event brings together a global audience of emerging filmmakers, producers, creatives and industry leaders from across advertising, production and the international film and series landscape, including commissioners, platforms and studios. What happens at YDA is not only about winning, but about being seen, understood and taken seriously at a defining moment in a director’s journey.

YDA’s jury reflects the diversity of the industry it represents. The panel is composed of internationally respected producers, directors, executive creatives, commissioners, platform representatives and journalists from different markets and professional backgrounds. The jury is curated by YDA’s Founder, François Chilot, ensuring both continuity, experience and openness to new voices.

More than two decades after its creation, the Young Director Award remains future-oriented, curious, independent and open to evolution. It continues to ask the same essential question it started with: how do we give the next generation of directors the best possible conditions to grow, and the confidence to make work that truly stands out?

As François Chilot has often said, talent alone is not enough. It takes desire, hard work, courage and a bit of luck. YDA exists to make sure that luck has a place to land.