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Marking five years of Young Arrows, we’re going beyond celebrating great work and introducing the first ever Young Arrows Fringe, a new day full of workshops, talks, screenings and practical sessions led by industry professionals.
Over the past five years, Young Arrows has become the platform for recognising and celebrating emerging talent across the UK moving-image advertising industry.
As we mark this milestone, we want to help the next generation build the skills, knowledge, relationships and community they need to progress, survive and thrive. This year we’re proud to introduce something new: the first ever Young Arrows Fringe Festival!
The Young Arrows Fringe is a day of workshops, talks, screenings and practical sessions created for the next generation of talent working in, or interested in, moving-image advertising.
Across five cinema screens, you’ll be able to build your own programme*, choosing sessions that relate directly to what you do as well as learning about other parts of the industry you might not usually have access to.
The festival programme includes sessions exploring creative writing, directing, stop-motion animation, VFX, production, pitching, music and sound, AI and filmmaking, networking and essential human skills, hosted by industry leaders from 4Creative, All of Us Here, Biscuit, Caviar, Chuckles, Framestore, Good Shout, Made by Humans, Object & Animal and Saatchi & Saatchi, to name a few.
There will also be screenings of the Young Arrows 2026 shortlisted work and British Arrows’ Ads of the Year, with more sessions and speakers still to be announced.
And because we know the words industry networking can sound daunting, and dare we say, a bit cringe, even to the most sociable among us, we're starting the day with a session dedicated to making networking a little less painful.
*subject to availability and on a first-come-first-serve basis
The Young Arrows Fringe is for anyone at the beginning of their career in moving-image advertising, or looking to take their next step within it.
Whether you’re a runner, assistant, office manager, junior creative, producer, director, animator, editor, VFX artist, designer, working in sound or music - or a student or graduate trying to find your way into the industry - we want to see you there!
With just 150 tickets available, this is your opportunity to meet people at a similar stage in their careers, alongside established talent from across the British Arrows community.
You don’t need to be a previous Young Arrows entrant or winner to attend. And you don't have to stick to sessions with your job title in them. Just come with an abundance of curiosity to learn more about your own craft, discover someone else’s, ask the questions you actually want answered and meet people you might otherwise never cross paths with.
The Young Arrows Fringe is only made possible thanks to our sponsors, partners and supporters, whose backing enables us to create opportunities, connections and a stronger community around the next generation of talent.
Thanks to their generosity, and our commitment to keeping Young Arrows accessible and inclusive, we’re able to keep tickets as affordable as possible.
General Admission: £25 + VAT
Includes a morning coffee or tea and a full day of programming. Please note, lunch is not provided.
Networking: How Bad Can It Be?
Led by Amy Kean, Good Shout, and Sorcha Shepherd, Caviar 09:30-10:45
This session is for everyone (no need to book!)
Apparently 70% of people hate networking events. For so many reasons: introversion, intimidation, a hatred of bragging, fear of social rejection, or simply just the cringiness of putting yourself out there. It only feels natural for a small percentage of us, so why does every industry event have the inevitable networking session that makes so many of us die inside?
But regardless of the reason for our avoidance, networking can be amazing for your career. You just have to rip of the band aid and get chatting! Psychologists argue that the best way to get through any daunting scenario is to imagine the worst, and then realise that whatever the worst is, you can get through it. So that's what we'll do. Call it immersion therapy, call it improv, doesn't matter, in this hour of networking, we're going to realise that even the worst scenario ever is actually a lot of fun - and value.
How Did That Get Made?
Rick Brim, Ace of Hearts, in conversation with Miketta Lane & David Wigglesworth, 4Creative 11:00-11:50
Join Rick Brim for a candid conversation with 4Creative's Director, Miketta Lane, and ECD, David Wigglesworth, about making ambitious, distinctive in-house work, how good ideas actually survive, and why young talent should be trusted with the good stuff.
Learn How To Write From Someone That Had To
Talk led by Franki Goodwin, Saatchi&Saatchi 11:00-11:50
"I'm not a writer, but…" All my career I said that sentence and meant it. Then I looked back at my work and realised it wasn't true anymore. This is a talk about what actually gets you there. I’ll share the golden rules (meant to be broken), tips, tricks, mantras and inspiration that helped get me from a graphic designer to CCO of Saatchi & Saatchi London.
A Fireside Chat with...Molly Manners
Biscuit Filmworks 11:00-11:50
The Future of Creative Craft & Storytelling
Presentation led by Framestore 11:00-11:50
Global creative studio Framestore is taking the stage for an exclusive session that explores what it takes to deliver world-class VFX, design and AI solutions today. At the heart of the discussion is a fierce celebration of craft and a deep dive into one of the most delightfully chaotic commercial projects of the year: Columbia Sportswear’s “Engineered for Whatever” campaign.
Unpacking their collaboration with adam&eveDDB and Smuggler, the Framestore team will share how they took an epic, stunt-heavy brief and turned it into seamless, high-impact reality. From navigating complex challenges to cleverly blending cutting-edge technology with meticulous digital artistry, the session will showcase what it takes to make invisible VFX look effortlessly real.
Chuckling Through Production
Session led by Sally Pritchett and Nikki Cramphorn, Chuckles Studios 12:00-12:50
Taking a look under the bonnet on how the best production is crafted.
It's A Sound Idea
Panel discussion with Sîan Rogers, SIREN, Dave Bass, Wake The Town, Thomas Horley, Warner Chappell, and Toydrum, 33RPM/45RPM Music Publishing 12:00-12:50
Music can transform a good film into something unforgettable but finding the right track is rarely as simple as searching for the perfect song.
Moderated by Sïan Rogers, this panel brings together music supervisors, publishers and composers to reveal how music for advertising is actually discovered, developed, negotiated and delivered. Following the journey from initial brief to final mix, the panel will explore who does what, where the best ideas come from, how original music competes with commercial tracks, what happens when budgets or rights get in the way and how collaboration can lead to something better than anyone originally imagined. For anyone interested in music, advertising, or moving-image craft, it’s an honest look at the many different careers behind the soundtrack and how emerging talent can get heard.
The Next Ten: Mastering the 10 Skills You Need to Succeed in the Next Decade
Workshop with Amy Kean, Good Shout 12:00-12:50 Repeated at 14:00-14:50
In an algorithmic technoscape fuelled by AI lobotomies and efficient entities, how can we retain our sense of humanity while making sure we also remain employable? The Next Ten from Amy Kean at Good Shout is your immersive guide, detailing the ten skills you'll absolutely need over the next decade to become an even better creator, worker and most importantly... an actual living and breathing, interesting person. Think: imagination, emotion, influence, ethics, and everything in between. Complete with props, social psychology and sufficient space for questions, this session will test and entertain you in equal measure. You'll tell your friends you were chuffed to be there, your friends will obviously be jealous, and Claude will be quaking in his boots.
A Behind-The-Scenes Guide to Generative AI Filmmaking
Practical session with Guy Soulsby, Made by Humans 12:00-12:50
What actually happens when an AI director makes a film? Is it really just a case of typing a few words into a box and seeing what comes out? And, if the machine is doing the generating, where does the human creativity come in?
Join Guy Soulsby, Co-Founder and CCO of generative AI studio Made by Humans, for an interactive look under the hood of gen AI filmmaking. Going beyond the hype (and the fear), Guy will break down how AI directors actually work, from the difference between AI and Generative AI to prompt structure, creative workflows and the ever-growing toolkit behind the work.
Most importantly, the session will explore the role that humans play throughout the process. Because while AI can generate almost anything, knowing what to make, why to make it and whether it’s actually any good still requires something much harder to automate: taste, judgement, storytelling and creative intent.
And this won’t just be a show-and-tell. The audience will become part of the creative team, working with Guy and Made by Humans directors to make a film live on stage. Together, you’ll put the tools and techniques discussed into practice and see first-hand how an idea moves from human imagination, through Generative AI, and onto the screen.
Inside The Mind Of A Rep
Anna Murray, Mother, in conversation with Emily Jordan-Wilson, FERAL Reps, and Mia Powell, MAMAMIA Talent 14:00-14:50
Being a UK Production company rep is fast evolving. Emily and Mia have both recently set up their external representation companies in response to a changing appetite across the advertising ecosystem.
Join Mother's Chief Production Officer, Anna Murray, as she interviews the founders of Feral Reps and MAMAMIA Talent to see what it takes to navigate, nurture and sell directors for commercial projects.
Frame By Frame: An Interactive Stop Motion Workshop
Practical session with Victor Haegelin, All of Us Here 14:00-14:50
Join acclaimed stop-motion director Victor Haegelin for a hands-on dive into the weird and wonderful world of stop-motion animation. Inspired by Eastern European masters like Jan Švankmajer and Jiří Trnka, Victor taught himself the craft after falling for animation while studying at FAMU in Prague. His big break came during an internship when his producers spotted him messing around with clay in a corner. Since then, he’s been directing stop-motion spots for brands and artists worldwide, all hooked on his unique, playful style. He claims to be the fastest animator in Paris. He's currently working on being the fastest in France...and his ultimate goal is to be the fastest in the woooOOOoooorld!
In this interactive session, Victor will lift the lid on his creative process and share the tricks and techniques behind his distinctive style. Expect experimentation, practical insights and a fresh way of thinking about how ideas can come to life. No stop-motion experience required - just bring your curiosity and get ready to make things move
Screening: Young Arrows 2026 Shortlist Reel
14:00-14:50
This is your chance to watch all the shortlisted work from the New Director - Unsigned and New Director - The James Rouse Award categories. Grab some popcorn and enjoy!
The Art of Pitching
Session led by Jani Guest, EP, and Joe De Souza, Wieden+Kennedy 15:00-16:00
In this session, Joe de Souza, Group Creative Director at Wieden+Kennedy London, and Executive Producer, Jani Guest, will take you behind the scenes of a successful pitch.
From mastering the conference call and structuring a compelling pitch, to finding and communicating a director’s unique voice, Joe and Jani will share practical insights from both sides of the process.
Joe will offer the creative director’s perspective, while Jani will explore how directors and executive producers can work together to shape a pitch that is distinctive, persuasive and built for success.
From Film School to Film Sets: A Director's Journey
Danny Edwards, Shots, in conversation with Hugh Mulhern, Object & Animal 15:00-16:00
'Conventional' is a relative term but, by his own admission, Hugh Mulhern's career progression has been less than conventional. From working as an on-set electrician at 16-years-old to becoming an award-winning director, Mulhern got there via film school, independent projects, a second, Covid-era film school, music videos and, eventually, commercials. All of this was undertaken with a singular directorial style and a passion for the craft. He discusses facing challenges, taking chances, inspirations and insights.
Developing Killer Ideas for Brands: Have You Got The Next Big Cultural Hit?
Interactive session led by Connor McRae, Lemonade Labs 15:00-16:00
Audiences love entertainment, and brands love audiences, but in a world of endless scrolling, both are harder to reach than ever.
The secret to cutting through the noise is expanding your creative toolkit. Branded entertainment offers a broader arena for ideas, fusing the best of traditional advertising with evolved storytelling. Whether it’s a creator-led social series with colossal cultural impact, a high-stakes reality format showcasing an airline's top holiday destinations, or a charity-funded documentary that changes the conversation, the next big hit starts with a single, sharp idea.
Join Connor McRae, Head of Branded Entertainment at Lemonade Labs, to find out if you’re sitting on the next great brand-led format. Having developed programmes for linear broadcasters like the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4, as well as international streamers like Amazon, Connor has a proven eye for what keeps viewers hooked - and how brands can authentically live within that space.
This interactive session is designed to help you unlock your creative instincts and think beyond traditional advertising models. Whether you have a fully-fledged idea for a disruptive reality show or just a starting point for a brand owned social format, this is where you learn to build it.
You’ll gain direct insight into the current content climate, and learn how to develop and shape ideas that are not only highly entertaining but also a must-have skill in the crowded advertising landscape.
You might already have the next big hit in you - you just don’t know it yet. And brands want it.
Screening: British Arrows Ads of the Year Reel
15:00-16:00
Looking back at the work that shaped our culture, come and watch a selection of some of the most iconic ads from the last 50 years. Bring some popcorn and enjoy!
ODEON Leicester Square is a venue with step-free access to all wheelchair spaces and bathrooms. Below you’ll find useful information regarding the accessibility at ODEON, as well as how to request assistance to get your requirements accommodated.
Accessible Toilets – You can find the accessible toilets on both the ground and first floors.
Accessible Seating – You can request a seat/space in our Accessible seating area (allocation allowing) via awards@britisharrows.com.
Step-Free Access – ODEON has step-free access to: box office via street entrance, toilets (ground and first floor), bars, and accessible seating areas in the main event space.
