Sir John Hegarty said of BBH, “We didn’t hire the most famous directors. We hired talented directors and made them famous.” That heritage is being brought to the fore for the agency’s 40th anniversary.
BBH is launching a global short film competition, Differently Does It. Four filmmaking teams from four different 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.
Alex Grieve, global chief creative officer at BBH commented, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it. Differently Does it is a launchpad for a new generation of film-making talent not just to rocket into culture but to shape it moving forward.”
Differently Does It launched April 28 in the UK, US, Shanghai, Singapore and Mumbai, with a brief themed around ‘Difference’. Applications opened 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 to create four short films. In addition, they will receive a masterclass from a renowned director as well as creative guidance from BBH creative leaders to support the development of their vision.
The four 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 US and two from Asia.
Karen Martin, chief executive officer at BBH, stated, “Nurturing artistic talent is in our DNA and our roots are forged in telling stories through film. We’re incredibly proud of that legacy and with Differently Does It, we aim to find and support the next generation of filmmakers from around the world.”
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, and a panel of creative leaders from across the BBH Global network.
Stephen Ledger-Lomas, chief production officer, explained, “We wanted to pay it forward and invest in the creative visionaries of this new generation. 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.”
Martin added, “With 40 years of creative heritage to our name, we are looking forward to delivering the next wave of creative excellence at BBH, through our unwavering belief in the power of creativity and celebrating difference. We want to make the best work of our history, in our future. The best is yet to come.”
As part of its ongoing Unsigned initiative in the UK, BBH will continue to bring together some of the most exciting and progressive artists, photographers, filmmakers and illustrators in the country. BBH will also continue to play a leading role in the Unsigned Union, which launched in 2021 with four founder agencies to provide a vital platform for underrepresented and unsigned creators.
