Production company Believe Media has added director Phil Lind to its UK roster. Lind’s commercial work has steadily gained recognition, much of which involves directing a range of famous talent in addition to actors. For instance Jamie Oliver, the celebrity chef, was at the helm of Sainsbury’s Summer campaign for AMV. Another project with Oliver for “Jamie’s Return to School Dinners” received unexpected media attention when paparazzi got wind of the shoot, which required Jamie to be in full body fat suit prosthetics, leading to the set in Battersea to be overwhelmed by a swarm of photographers. Lind also had the opportunity to direct the entire cast of Shane Meadows’ celebrated mini-series “This is England ‘86” for a viral promo film showing them throwing a house party. Lind’s longer-form work includes a 5-piece online series featuring Bear Grylls for Dos Equis’ Most Interesting Man Academy, as well as a short film featuring documentary filmmaker Nick Broomfield, who parodied himself to extol the public service remit of Channel 4. Most recently, Lind shot an Enel campaign for Saatchi & Saatchi Rome, as well as a spot for James Holiday Villa’s for McCann, currently airing in the UK. Lind made his first industry mark on the agency side, serving as creative head of 4Creative and then executive creative director of ITV Creative….Agency kbs+ Toronto has appointed Matt Hassell as its chief creative officer. He will head up creative for Target Canada and Bank of Montreal at kbs+. Previously, Matt was CCO of OgilvyOne where he led work for Unilever and helped the agency secure clients Tim Hortons and InterContinental…..Santa Monica-based production company Detour Films, headed by founder/executive producer Josh Canova, has signed director Jordan Kelley for exclusive commercial representation in the U.S. His credits include debuting the Dr. Martens x Pendleton Autumn/Winter capsule collection with a campaign highlighting the craftsmanship and quality of the two heritage brands partnering to create a colorful and vibrant collection. And for a personal short-form piece “The Craftsman,” Jordan turned the lens on himself taking a pause from the modern fast-paced life to pursue learning the hands-on discipline of leatherwork. Kelley got his filmmaking start in action sports….
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More