Believe Media, Los Angeles, has entered into a partnership with Action Films, a leading production company in Russia. Per the deal, Believe will be promoted under its own banner in Russia. Believe Media founder/managing director Luke Thornton said, “This alliance with Action Films gives us the ability to enter a market that is still relatively undefined and full of creative possibilities. Furthermore, to do it under the Believe banner underscores the global nature of our brand.” Action Films has turned out more than 1,000 projects and its work has earned such honors as a Cannes Gold Lion and recognition at the London International Awards….Director Brian Scott Weber, whose credits include Busch Gardens, Chevrolet, and ZeroMeth, has signed with Lemonaide Media, the bicoastal house headed by founder/exec producer Jeanne Mattiussi, for exclusive spot representation. He was most recently at Rhythm+Hues. Weber joins a Lemonaide roster that includes director/photographer Dean Karr, directors/cinematographers Morten Sandtroen and Jefferson Miller, and director Ed Miller….Hollywood, Calif.-based agency goodness Mfg. has added sr. art director Rob Bajohr and art director Neal Desai. Bajohr's experience includes sr. art director posts at both Digitas and MRM Worldwide NY. In the social space he helped create Digitas' “Small Business Saturday” experience for American Express OPEN. The campaign used social media incentives, local news media and bloggers to drive consumers to small retailers resulting in a 28% increase in holiday spending. Desai comes to goodness Mfg. via TDA Advertising & Design, Boulder, Colo., where he was an art director…..Jessica Stanchak has joined Beast's New York facility as producer. She comes to the editorial house (which also has offices in Santa Monica, Austin, Detroit, Chicago and San Francisco) after a stint as a producer at edit boutique jumP. Prior to jumP, she served as an assistant producer at Ogilvy & Mather, NY….Cutting Room, New York, has promoted Melissa Lubin to executive producer with former EP Susan Willis moving into the managing partner position. Lubin has come up the ranks at Cutting room, joining in 2005 as a receptionist and ascending to assistant post producer, sr. producer, then head of production and now EP….Digital agency Domani Studios has hired Jonathan Lander as creative director. He will work out of offices in NYC and Chicago. Prior to joining Domani, Lander served as creative director at U.K. interactive agency Code Computerlove….
DGA Feature Nominees: Audiard, Baker, Berger, Corbet and Mangold
The field of feature nominees for the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Awards spanning two categories is set. Nominated for the DGA honor for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 are: Jacques Audiard for Emilia Pérez, Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Conclave, Brady Corbet for The Brutalist, and James Mangold for A Complete Unknown.
The DGA also revealed the nominees for the Michael Apted Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in First-Time Theatrical Feature Film. The first-time narrative feature directors are: Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine as Light, Megan Park for My Old Ass, RaMell Ross for Nickel Boys, Halfdan Ullman Tondel for Armand, and Sean Wang for Diddy.
“2024 has been a truly extraordinary year for storytelling--and today’s nominees have created audacious and unique films that expand the possibilities of cinematic excellence,” said DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter. “I am thrilled to congratulate all our nominated directors for their brilliant work, which is visionary, inspirational and speaks to the depth of the human experience. To be chosen by one’s peers is the true marker of outstanding directorial achievement and what makes these nominations so very special.”
The winners will be announced at the 77th Annual DGA Awards on Saturday, February 8.
Here’s a fuller rundown of the nominees in both DGA Award categories:
THEATRICAL FEATURE FILM
Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Theatrical Feature Film for 2024 (in alphabetical order):
JACQUES AUDIARD
Emilia Pérez
(Netflix)
SEAN... Read More