RSA Films recently announced that the director of Alien, The Martian and Gladiator has been tapped to curate this year’s New Directors’ Showcase at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Now in its 28th year, the showcase is annually presented by Saatchi & Saatchi at the festival to spotlight emerging directors.
According to the agency, Scott will work with both the S&S and VFX company MPC to select this year’s reel of new directing talent.
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The announcement comes as RSA Films, the commercial production company Scott co-founded with his brother Tony Scott, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
“I am thrilled that to mark Ridley‘s 50th anniversary, he has taken on the Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase which is now in its 28th year,” said Kate Stanners, Chairwoman and Global Chief Creative Officer of Saatchi & Saatchi, in a statement.
“The showcase has always been an important platform for new directing talent,” she continued, “and this year Ridley will bring his extraordinary director’s perspective to recognising a new generation of film makers.”
Mark Benson, chief executive of MPC, added: “The search and support of new talent should be at the top of everyone’s agenda and relentless. Both Saatchi & Saatchi and Ridley are great friends of ours and we’re delighted to partner with them for this year’s NDS. The opportunity to hear directly from one of the world’s greatest creative minds on the next generation of creative talent, makes the 2018 showcase one not to miss.”
Former Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Creative Director Paul Arden, who died in 2008, launched the New Directors’ Showcase in 1991. Some of the showcase’s alumni include Spike Jonze, Tarsem, and Jonathan Glazer.
I’ll never forget the first time I met Ridley Scott. It was at his RSA Films Christmas party and I had the chance to speak with him for a good 15 minutes. I’m sure I was babbling, as we discussed his plans to film Thomas Harris’ Hannibal, but the famed director was gracious and entertaining. I was fan before that meeting, and even more so afterwards.
Contact Colin Costello at colin@reelchicago.com or follow him on Twitter @colincostello10.
