Matt Miller, President and CEO of AICP presented a pair of inaugural grants at the Young Directors Awards (YDA) in Cannes, France. There are two Emerging Voices Grants - each in the amount of $15,000: The Women's Voices Career Grant and the Underrepresented Voices Career Grant, awarded to a YDA winner from a historically underrepresented background in directing professions. The grant recipients were selected from among the winners of the YDA. Mal Ward, Managing Director/Co-Founder of Arts & Sciences, served as the Chairperson of the 2026 Young Directors Awards Jury.
The recipients are: Lunga Mthombeni - a.k.a. Steezus - and Daria Maximova. Steezus won a Silver Honor in the Passion Project category for “Love Thy Nation,” produced by Chris Coetsee and Steezus through Dare Content. Maximova scored a Silver in the Film School (up to 10 minutes) category for her IKEA piece called “Rooms.”
These grants, from the funds collected to foster these goals, and managed by the DGA Commercials Qualification Administration, together with a mentoring component, are intended to support women and people from other historically underrepresented groups by widening their opportunities to develop careers in the directing craft. AICP and the Directors Guild of America are committed to championing education and mentorship initiatives that promote equity and diversity as a cornerstone in developing directorial talent in advertising.
“The AICP and DGA committed to support emerging directorial talent from underrepresented groups over 10 years ago. The YDA, in its 29th year, is a showcase and competition unlike any other for directors in the beginning stages of their careers,” noted Miller. “This seemed like a natural partnership and the idea that we can further their careers by giving them some financial support and mentorship by production companies who are DGA Signatories is truly a win-win.”
Grant Overview
The grants - whose recipients are selected by the YDA Ambassadors - combine recognition, mentorship and financial support in order to help exceptional emerging directors take the next step in their careers. This year’s YDA Ambassadors are: Rouba Asmar, Moreish; Karim Bartoletti, Indiana Productions; Daniel Bergmann, Stink; Rebecca Bourke, Assembly; Ingrid Bragemann, Tantor Films; Janette de Villiers, Ground Glass; Jérôme Denis, La Pac; Anna Hashmi, The Corner Shop; Mette Jermiin, Slutet; Timo Otsuki, Black Cat White Cat Music; Ana Laura Solis, We Produce; and Mal Ward, Arts & Sciences.
Directors considered for the grants may not yet be signed to a production company for representation, and must provide an outline of how they will utilize the grant funds, and the impact this would have on their careers.
As part of the process, the YDA Ambassadors Group appoints a mentoring company for each recipient. The mentor role supports the recipient professionally throughout the year and helps maximize the impact of the grant. Daniel Bergmann of Stink, Anna Hashmi of The Corner Shop and Mal Ward will serve as mentors to these recipients.
At YDA 2027, recipients and mentors will be invited to share how the grant was used, what was achieved during the year and how the Emerging Voices Grant contributed to the recipient's career development.