Chelsea Pictures founder and president Lisa Mehling will headline the jury for this year’s Young Director Award (YDA).
Mehling is an Emmy award-winning executive producer and her bi-coastal production company has produced a diverse team of producers and filmmakers who have become leaders across broadcast, digital, film, branded entertainment and print.
Chelsea has launched the careers of directors including David Gordon Green, Lauren Greenfield, Alex Gibney, Jack Cole, and Nadav Kander. The company’s notable works include the paradigm shifting campaign for Always #LikeAGirl, Audi “The Heist”, “Listen”, the Super Bowl spot for NFL that secured a win for Cannes, and “Halftime in America” starring Clint Eastwood.
When asked about the appointment of Mehling, Francois Chilot, the founder and president of the YDA, said, “Lisa believes, as I do, in the power of combining art and commerce to create something memorable. We are proud and happy to welcome Lisa as this year’s YDA president as she is representative of our business as it is today and as it should be tomorrow.”
Mehling expressed her gratitude upon receiving her appointment. “I believe our industry must inspire young filmmakers to see the possibilities within the brand space to make an impact, push cultural boundaries, and influence the world,” she added.
The YDA is a non profit organization that supports and promotes international creative talent in commercial film production. Since 1998, the organization has become a breaking ground for up-and-coming young filmmakers creating with state-of-the-art technology and cutting-edge techniques.
