Shiny Awards LA winners announced
Three emerging directors win mentoring, representation and practical career support at Shiny’s first Los Angeles Awards.
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Shiny Awards held its first-ever Los Angeles Awards at Saatchi & Saatchi, bringing together emerging directors, producers, agency creatives and commercial-production leaders to celebrate distinctive new work from across the USA and Canada.
Following Shiny’s first USA and Canada screening in New York, the Los Angeles edition screened standout short-form work across commercials, music videos, documentary, animation and narrative. In line with Shiny’s commitment to representation, at least 70% of the work shown was directed by filmmakers from under-represented backgrounds.
Three winners were selected by Saatchi & Saatchi’s Sandra Luciano, Group Creative Director; Stephen Estrada, Senior Content Producer; and Robyn Stern, Creative Director.
The winners
Eno Freedman Brodmann, H&M Dress Like You’re in a Foreign Film
Brodmann receives a one-hour mentoring session with Stern; non-exclusive global representation with Directors Without Borders via Global Production Network; a complimentary grade for a short from Wild Island Films; and a suite of Commercial Directing Masterclasses from True Gent.
Ben Sapir, Pushed Together
Sapir receives a one-hour mentoring session with Luciano; a one-hour Ask Me Anything session with Lauren Schuchman of DIPLOMAT; a one-hour mentoring session with Attila Horvath of Abroad Films; and a suite of Commercial Directing Masterclasses from True Gent.
Mary Fix, WETSOUNDS
Fix receives a one-hour mentoring session with Estrada; one day of colour grading from Creative Operations; and a suite of Commercial Directing Masterclasses from True Gent.
All work screened at the Awards, including the winning films, will now be added to the Shiny List: Shiny’s curated and continually updated database of emerging directing talent. The List is used by Shiny’s global network of production companies, agencies, post-production companies and creative studios to discover and connect directly with new directors.
The Awards’ sponsors and partners played a central role in connecting the winners with practical next-step opportunities.
“Watching curated work from talented new filmmakers alongside a crowd of agency creatives and producers was the best,” said Jordan Brady, founder of True Gent. “These fresh voices will get a real opportunity to direct real assignments.”
Lauren Schuchman, owner of DIPLOMAT, added: “Shiny Awards brings such an inclusive and communal vibe to the discovery of new talent. It was great to meet the directors, fellow sponsors and jury members in person, a positively inspiring event I look forward to continuing to support.”
Shiny creates routes into commercial production for new and under-represented directors worldwide. Through its Awards, events and the Shiny List, it connects emerging talent with the producers, creatives, agencies and brands who can help move careers forward.
Next, Shiny will present its first-ever Japan Shiny Awards on 5 November 2026 at ROJU Nakameguro, Tokyo, in collaboration with production company Mt MELVIL. The Awards are open to directors based in Japan and the Japanese diaspora worldwide. Shiny will also return to London later this year for its Autumn Awards.
