Last April, BBH celebrated its 40th year with the launch of a global short film competition, ‘Differently Does It’. In partnership with Audi the competition aims to inspire and support the next generation of creative talent from around the world. Four filmmaking teams from four different countries were commissioned with the aim of showcasing more diverse voices in film. 

The competition launched on April 28th last year across the UK, US, Shanghai, Singapore and Mumbai, with a theme of ‘Difference’. In July, four winners were selected each receiving a budget of £20,000 to create four short films alongside a masterclass from a renowned director and creative guidance from BBH creative leaders to support the development of their vision.  

Now, the four films will be premiered at an exclusive screening at the BFI on 20th February and followed by a panel Q&A with the directors led by Mathieu Ajan, founder and artistic director of Bounce Cinema. The films will then go on to be launched on the international film circuit at the end of the year. 

The winners have been selected with a focus on supporting talent from under-represented backgrounds. Their ideas were judged by a panel of filmmaking and creative experts including playwright and screenwriter Rita Kalnejais, alongside a panel of creative leaders from across the BBH Global network. 

The winning films include:

• Where I Can See Them, directed by Lanre Malaolu; a British documentary-dance hybrid short exploring the emotional and psychological effects of police officers 'Stop and Search' on black men.
• Flee & Engulfed, directed by Chen Hui;  a Chinese fictional short which explores whether the politics of sameness are leading us to the destruction of the concept of difference.
• OBA, directed by Femi Ladi;  an Afrofuturist fictional short which tells the story of the King of Oyo, who has just died. The news sends global ramifications amongst the Yoruba people. Now they must choose a new king.
• As For Me, directed by Guen Murroni;  a British fictional short that fights against the mainstream negative portrayal of mental health and specifically Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

“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.” says Karen Martin, CEO at BBH.

Stephen Ledger-Lomas, Chief Production Officer at BBH, added: “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.” 

The competition supports BBH’s ongoing commitment to the Unsigned initiative in the UK, as the agency aims to 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 alongside four founder agencies to provide a vital platform for underrepresented and unsigned creators. 

The competition is a great example of how highlighting diverse voices can push forward creativity and help to uncover a new generation of talent.

Lanre Malaolu (top left), Guen Murroni (top right), Chen Hui (bottom left) and Femi Ladi (bottom right)