London-based BBH is marking its 40th year with the launch of a global short film competition. Four filmmaking teams from four countries will be commissioned, with the aim of finding more diverse voices in film and supporting the next generation of creative talent from around the world.
‘Differently Does It’ will launch in the UK, U.S., Shanghai, Singapore and Mumbai, with a brief themed around “Difference.” Applications will open via a dedicated portal on May 4 and will remain open for four weeks. The four winners will be selected in July, with each receiving a budget of £20,000 ($24,689.60 U.S. dollars) to create four short films. In addition, they will receive a masterclass from a renowned director and creative guidance from BBH creative leaders to support the execution of their vision.
The films will be premiered in a showcase in London in December 2022, and launched on the international film circuit at the end of the year. The four winning teams will be selected from across BBH’s locations, with one winner from the UK, one from the U.S. and two from Asia.
“We are incredibly excited to be launching this worldwide film competition to celebrate difference and support diversity in the industry, opening the doors for fresh new talent to get a big break,” said Amani Duncan, CEO, BBH USA. “What a wonderful way to honor 40 years of BBH’s global creative leadership. We can’t wait to see the films created by talented filmmakers around the world.”
“BBH is known for its groundbreaking creativity, a now 40-year legacy which we are honored to lead in North America at BBH USA,” said Rafael Rizuto, Chief Creative Officers, BBH USA. “As a creative who has worked across the globe from Brazil to Dubai to San Francisco and New York, I feel personally connected to this global creative competition.”
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The winners will be selected with a focus on supporting talent from under-represented backgrounds. Their ideas will be judged by a panel of filmmaking and creative experts including playwright and screenwriter Rita KalneJais, alongside a diverse panel of creative leaders from across the BBH Global network.
“We wanted to pay it forward and invest in the creative visionaries of this new generation,” said Stephen Ledger-Lomas, Chief Production Officer, BBH. “‘Differently Does It’ is an idea that is borne from BBH’s legacy in engaging with and nurturing emerging talent and placing our belief in raw talent rather than status; essentially investing in the power of difference.”
‘Differently Does It’ launches as BBH enters its fifth decade with a new generation of leaders at the helm. Duncan, who recently was named Ad Age’s Executive of the Year, and Rizuto, a finalist for Campaign’s creative leader of the year, have assembled a team of top-ranking executives with a shared ambition to create the best work of the agency’s history.
The agency was recently named an Ad Age A-List Standout Agency for 2022 and its creative work was recognized with more than 45 trophies in 2021, including honors at Cannes Lions, One Show, D&AD, ANDY’s, Clios and Webbys as well as Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards and Campaign’s Power of Purpose Awards.
