Arts & Sciences’ Managing Director Mal Ward Talks How the Search for New Directing Talent Has Changed

With the Cannes Lions festival happening next month, it also means that the 2026 edition of the Young Director Award is almost upon us.

Now in its 29th year, the YDA is an annual event which highlights the new directorial talent making its way into the industry and is recognised as one of the most prestigious awards shows for – and accurate indicators of – the next generation of directing talent.

But after almost three decades of existence, has the ways in which production companies seek out these new directors changed, and has what they are looking for changed with it? The best place to look for answers to such questions is at the coal face of the production community, so we spoke to the heads of four production, all of which are Prime Sponsors and longstanding supporters of YDA, and all of whom have vast knowledge of what new talent looks like, how and where to find it, and the challenges that talent faces in 2026.

More on shots!