Amara Abbas is a Brooklyn-based American-Pakistani director. After crafting award-winning campaigns and films as an Art Director for Apple, she transitioned to film directing and continues to take on projects in the commercial, music video, and narrative arenas.

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Amara Abbas captures female passion and rage with arresting immediacy and exhilarating energy in her music video for Skrillex's "Xena." As a filmmaker crafting pieces bursting with ideas and bold cinematic language, it’s no surprise that Iconoclast and new-land TV quickly added Abbas to their impressive rosters.

Bar Cohen is an Israeli director and screenwriter. Her three short films have earned several honors, including a BAFTA Student Film Award nomination. Today, Bar is developing a TV series about her personal journey as a trans woman.

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We were thrilled to feature “Bug,” Bar’s third film, as a Staff Pick Premiere. Her storytelling often features moments of searing strength and defiance, with fiery-eyed female leads daring to confront emotional challenges. Bar has a strong grasp on human behavior, and her films grasp your attention from start to finish.

Kerry O'Neill is an LA-based filmmaker and writer on Amazon's hit Jury Duty and Netflix's Murderville. Her work has screened at festivals worldwide, earning her a spot in the prestigious AFI Directing Workshop for Women.

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Kerry O'Neill had a breakout year with her dramatic short "Walk Out Nice and Smooth" and the viral success of Jury Duty. This work may seem disparate at first glance, but the short's moments of unexpected humor and empathy for its flawed, hustling characters reveal O'Neill’s keen observational skills and comedic chops.

Renee Maria Osubu is a British-Nigerian photographer and director whose work has screened at Sundance, Tribeca, and Blackstar among others. Her first Staff Pick, "Dear Philadelphia," qualified for the Oscars and BAFTAs.

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Renee Osubu's work investigates themes of community, identity, and childhood. Seen through Osubu's eyes, each embodies a specificity that honors every detail in her subject's worlds–whether in documentary or narrative form. Osubu's bold themes and striking visual style has positioned her as someone to watch.

Sam Davis is a multi-hyphenate filmmaker whose career began with the Academy Award-winning "Period. End of Sentence.," which he produced, shot, and edited. Since then, his work has screened at Sundance, Tribeca, and SXSW.

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We've celebrated Sam Davis in the past for his work as cinematographer, editor, and co-director, but "You Know Where to Find Me" announces him as a major talent to watch as a solo director. His naturalistic style employs improv with non-professional actors to convincingly blur the line between narrative and documentary.

Agnes Skonare Karlsson is an LA-based Swedish filmmaker. Her second short, Berry Pickers played Telluride and is a proof-of-concept for a feature; the script for which won the 2022 BlueCat Screenplay Competition.

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In "Berry Pickers," Agnes Skonare Karlsson ambitiously balances environmental and economic concerns alongside intimate character drama with a sensitivity, curiosity, and maturity that would be impressive from a veteran filmmaker— and is frankly astonishing to see in a student film.

Mitch Kalisa is a London-based filmmaker and co-founder of the content production company, JAM Flicks. His debut short film, Play It Safe, won the jury prize at SXSW and critical acclaim before launching as a Staff Pick Premiere.

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When a filmmaker takes a familiar narrative and transmits it through an unexpected, innovative lens, we pay attention. Influenced by his own experiences as an actor, Mitch Kalisa possesses an undeniable talent for building visceral experiences. We can't wait to see his feature debut, now in development with Film 4.

California filmmaker Nick Roney has earned 8 Staff Picks for some of the most original music videos on Vimeo. His first narrative short, "The Flute" won the Midnight Short Grand Jury Prize at SXSW in 2023.

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From instruments made out of flesh, to washed up Chuck E. Cheese animatronics, we've been devouring the strange stories that have crawled out of Nick's head since he earned his first badge in 2014. However, "The Flute," which made its online debut as a Staff Pick Premiere, was his very first (!) narrative comedy. Here's to many more.

Abdou Cissé is a two-time BIFA nominated and LFF award-winning writer and director from South London. After commercial success working with brands like Apple and Nike, Cissé transitioned to directing with his debut Staff Pick Serious Tingz in 2019.

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Discovering the exceptional “Festival of Slaps'' felt like a welcome thwack to the senses. The electric edit, rollercoaster-ride camerawork, and cheeky, emotive storytelling suggest a dynamite narrative filmmaking career in Abdou's future. He makes the ordinary extraordinary, while challenging stereotypes through his art.

Arthur Studholme is writer and director who works across advertising, music videos, and comedy. In 2022, he won a Gold YDA at Cannes Lions. Currently, he has projects in development with Channel 4 and Adult Swim.

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It's a rare treat to find shorts that make you cackle like a hyena at your screen. That is exactly what is in store when you press play on Arthur's uncouth, absurd, and ridiculously funny videos. He stretches the physical world as far as his imagination, making his comedies not just playful but surreal and always surprising.