The Shiny Awards returned to London on 31 March, bringing together the global commercial production community for an evening celebrating the most exciting emerging directing talent from around the world.

Hosted by Girl&Bear at VCCP London, the sold-out event welcomed directors, producers and creatives for a night of standout short-form work, industry connection and recognition of the next generation of commercial filmmakers.

As with all Shiny events, diversity remained central to the programme, with at least 70% of the work screened created by directors from under-represented backgrounds, reflecting Shiny’s ongoing commitment to broadening access and representation across the industry.

The evening showcased a curated selection of bold, original films spanning commercials, music videos, documentary and narrative work, all under five minutes, and selected for their creative voice, craft and innovation.

VANESSA STACHEL

Spec Ad 'The Summoning'

PRIZE

• Mentoring session with David Vass, Producer, Girl&Bear

• Colour grade with Girl&Bear Post

• Sound mix with Creative Outpost

• Mentoring session with Attila Horvath, Founder of Abroad Films

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Winners

On the night, a number of directors were recognised with awards and career-development opportunities from Shiny’s partners, supporting their next steps into the commercial industry.

LORENZO SORBINI

Finisterre 'REC'

PRIZE

• Mentoring session with Ed Rosie, Director/EP, Girl&Bear

• Non-exclusive worldwide representation with Global Production Network

• Colour grade with Whitehouse Post

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Annual sponsors

Testimonials & DEI Stats

Event sponsors

Head Judges & Jury

The Shiny Awards continue to be one of the leading global platforms for emerging directors entering the commercial industry, with winners selected by a jury of leading production companies, agencies and creative studios.

With over 70 companies represented across the judging panel, the awards provide not only recognition, but tangible career opportunities—from mentorship and representation to post-production support. See full jury HERE.

David Vass

Producer, Girl&Bear

Charlotte Borrell

Head of Studios, Girl&Bear

ALIA GHAFAR

BFI x BMW Filmmaking Challenge 'Hen Do'

PRIZE

• Mentoring session with Charlotte Borrell, Head of Studios, Girl&Bear

• Mentoring lunch with Andy Daly and the team at The Berry

• Colour grade with Wild Island

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Andy Daly

Exec Creative Producer,

The Berry

"The Shiny Awards at VCCP have been my favourite so far. As momentum builds, the energy grows each time. The work is consistently fresh and impressive, and the passion behind creating these films (on such shoestring budgets) is evident. Thank you for 'shining' the spotlight on the talent and potential of everyone involved’ - Danny Etherington, Co-Founder / Managing Director, Creative Outpost

‘Talent is everywhere, but access to exposure isn’t, it’s about creating real opportunities and a level playing field in an industry that doesn’t always play fair. That’s why I’ve been a fan of the Shiny Awards from the very beginning. Moving to a new country and building a network from scratch isn’t easy, and for me, Shiny helped bridge that gap: creating opportunities, offering exposure, and supporting directors like me who might otherwise have gone unnoticed.’ - Lorenzo Sorbini, Director

‘Abroad Films is proud to sponsor the Shiny Awards, championing fresh voices and bringing diversity to the forefront. Shiny’s commitment to opening doors for underrepresented directors and celebrating new talent aligns closely with our values. By supporting Shiny, we’re investing in a more inclusive and dynamic future for storytelling.’ - Attila Horvath, Founder, Abroad Films

‘Having Hen Do recognised by the Shiny Awards and winning these fantastic prizes such as a mentoring sessions with esteemed companies will be of huge benefit to me a Director seeking more experience in commercials work.’ - Alia Ghafar, Director

‘Thank you so much to Shiny and Girl&Bear for such a fantastic evening. It was a great success and wonderful to see the work from such an amazing range of talent. Congratulations again to all of the winners and we look forward to the next awards.’ - Rachel Anderson, Partner & Head of Production, Wild Island Films