AI wants a byte of KFC
An AI assistant becomes obsessed with getting a taste of fried chicken in this fun, futuristic spot from the fast-food chain.
OneDay depicts the impossible
Filmmaker Samir Mallal harnesses generative AI to dramatise Ukraine's recent Operation Spiderweb mission in a gripping documentary-style short film.
Cult Kits shoots and scores
Cult Kits makes its first foray into advertising with this humorous, gangland-inspired film that plays on the sanctity of the shirt.
LIS-BON and Dentsu turnip the music
The creative agency digs into a delightfully daft spot for the Lisbon-based music festival held in the lush Jardim Kiel do Amaral.
VW recharges childhood batteries
In a simple series of nostalgic vignettes, DDB Sydney and Finch tap into the joys of driving.
ILLIT’s dotty dance directive
Pulse Films director Zac Dov Wiesel helms a fun, fresh and largely demented music video for the South Korean girl group’s track Do the Dance.
SIRE’s dead funny wake-up call
A darkly humorous spot from the Dutch non-profit serves as a reminder for older audiences that just because you're aging, doesn't mean you should stop living.
The Loss Foundation's plea to the bereaved
Kimberley Nixon delivers a powerful performance in this emotive film, produced by Kabbage and Partizan, for the UK’s only charity supporting those mourning a loved one lost to cancer.
AI wants a byte of KFC
An AI assistant becomes obsessed with getting a taste of fried chicken in this fun, futuristic spot from the fast-food chain.
OneDay depicts the impossible
Filmmaker Samir Mallal harnesses generative AI to dramatise Ukraine's recent Operation Spiderweb mission in a gripping documentary-style short film.
Cult Kits shoots and scores
Cult Kits makes its first foray into advertising with this humorous, gangland-inspired film that plays on the sanctity of the shirt.
LIS-BON and Dentsu turnip the music
The creative agency digs into a delightfully daft spot for the Lisbon-based music festival held in the lush Jardim Kiel do Amaral.
VW recharges childhood batteries
In a simple series of nostalgic vignettes, DDB Sydney and Finch tap into the joys of driving.
ILLIT’s dotty dance directive
Pulse Films director Zac Dov Wiesel helms a fun, fresh and largely demented music video for the South Korean girl group’s track Do the Dance.
SIRE’s dead funny wake-up call
A darkly humorous spot from the Dutch non-profit serves as a reminder for older audiences that just because you're aging, doesn't mean you should stop living.
The Loss Foundation's plea to the bereaved
Kimberley Nixon delivers a powerful performance in this emotive film, produced by Kabbage and Partizan, for the UK’s only charity supporting those mourning a loved one lost to cancer.
The Craft
Q&As and behind-the-scenes info on the latest and greatest commercials, shorts and music videos.
How the BBC and Blinkink sculpted excitement for the UEFA Women’s Euro
Handmade down to the last thumbprint, the BBC’s UEFA Women’s Euro trailer brings football’s biggest stars to life in an intricate and action-packed claymation. We spoke to BLINKINK producer Rebecca Little about painstaking craft, uplifting tone, and why traditional techniques still score big in an increasingly digital world.
How Laurie Rowan made a cutesy curmudgeon
With its new work for Telstra, Nexus Studios has given us the most precious pessimist in recent memory. We caught up with director Laurie Rowan to find out how character design and vocal performance can sell such a sweet idea.
How Pika gave us the darkest app ad ever
With a film that switches from seeming normality to gut-wrenching (and LOL-making) bleakness, AI video platform Pika gave us commercial-watching whiplash last week. Here, we speak to the in-house creative team (Lindsay Brillson and Monica Tan), director Marie Schuller, and editor Val Thrasher about how they delighted in going dark.
How OVO gave life to electrical appliances
Eschewing CGI in favour of practical, in-camera effects, the green energy brand's latest ad depicts a playful, cinematic standoff between a man and his rampaging household appliances. Here, we talk to Saatchi & Saatchi and CANADA directing duo Réalité about the meticulous craft behind the chaos.
How Freddie Powell took a loving look at parental passion
In an acerbic short from the Drool filmmaker, premiering on shots, an ageing couple display their love through habitual disharmony and nagging niggles. Here we speak to Powell about casting, comedic timing and commandeering his parents' house for the shoot.
The early bird catches the shots Awards worm
The entries for shots Awards EMEA are now open and if you're a fan of saving money, then the early bird entry fee is yours to take advantage of until July 25.
D&AD announces 2025 New Blood Pencil winners
The ceremony took place at Leake Street Arches, following the New Blood Festival at Protein Studios in Shoreditch, London from 30th June – 2nd July 2025, where the work has been on display in a graduate showcase of more than 40 exhibiting university courses.
Somesuch and The Kusp Announce 2025 Partnership
Building on the success of the last four years' partnership, for 2025, Somesuch will fully fund five year-long memberships to The Kusp Club.
Blue Zoo Animation Studio expands team
Blue Zoo Animation Studio unveils a diverse new roster of directors for advertising, including Ines Pagniez Robert Strange, and Danny Capozzi,.
Hamlet sign mixed media directing duo WAAAW
The French-Belgian directing duo WAAAW to their roster for representation in France, Belgium, Japan, APAC and China.
Revolution joins JW Collective
Manchester based production and service company Revolution joins JW Collective for strategic partnership.
- MilkPEP can help
- The King's Trust launches urgent campaign to tackle youth unemployment
- Covert makes pickles a 'Big Dill'
- Julian Assange gets Exposure
- Scout Motors returns to Baja
- AXA encourages women to keep on kicking in global brand campaign
- The Molotovs say today's gonna be our day
- noosa is the envy of the yogurt aisle
- Hungry Man revives dead scripts with Dead Ad Society
- PropertyGuru says everyone welcome in new brand film
The early bird catches the shots Awards worm
The entries for shots Awards EMEA are now open and if you're a fan of saving money, then the early bird entry fee is yours to take advantage of until July 25.
D&AD announces 2025 New Blood Pencil winners
The ceremony took place at Leake Street Arches, following the New Blood Festival at Protein Studios in Shoreditch, London from 30th June – 2nd July 2025, where the work has been on display in a graduate showcase of more than 40 exhibiting university courses.
Somesuch and The Kusp Announce 2025 Partnership
Building on the success of the last four years' partnership, for 2025, Somesuch will fully fund five year-long memberships to The Kusp Club.
Blue Zoo Animation Studio expands team
Blue Zoo Animation Studio unveils a diverse new roster of directors for advertising, including Ines Pagniez Robert Strange, and Danny Capozzi,.
Hamlet sign mixed media directing duo WAAAW
The French-Belgian directing duo WAAAW to their roster for representation in France, Belgium, Japan, APAC and China.
Revolution joins JW Collective
Manchester based production and service company Revolution joins JW Collective for strategic partnership.
The Talent
Materials girl: Hayley Morris
From cut paper and clay, to repurposed lace doilies and foraged leaves, stop-motion animator Hayley Morris revels in rich textures - embracing a joyfully analogue approach to bringing her miniature masterpieces to life.
The Way I See It: Charlie Crompton
Until recently, as the Founding Partner of Rogue Films, Charlie Crompton was at the helm of one of the UK’s most respected and awarded production companies. Having stepped away last year to take on a new adventure, he talks to Danny Edwards about trying to follow in the footsteps of The Jam, attempting to conduct and support creative talent, and having “a hittable face”.
Ian Pons Jewell's pearls of wisdom
Promo director, advertising powerhouse and ProdCo founder Ian Pons Jewell talks to Danny Edwards about friendship, finding his path, and why - despite the advent of AI - real filmmaking will continue to flourish.
The Inspiration
Peer Review: PACO
Repped by Furlined, director Paco Cruz talks surreal spots, sharp timing, and the joys of making people laugh and cringe simultaneously.
On My Radar: Eugen Merher
Academy director Eugen Merher talks about the inspiring streets of LA, why advertising should be better at avoiding pigeon-holes, and how he almost went to space.
Julienne Guffain: A Few Of My Favourite Things
Sonic Union’s moggy-loving, skull-hoarding Mix Engineer, Julienne Guffain, talks us through the items that leave her feline creatively fresh.
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In 1995 Toy Story burst onto cinema screens, apparently heralding the end of stop-motion as an art form. That proved not to be the case, and Not to Scale director Anthony Farquhar-Smith examines the ongoing appeal and artistic merit of stop-motion animation.
The Showcase
Monthly round-ups, technique focusses and entertaining showreels, curated by the shots team.
The Focus
Our monthly digital magazine, bringing you an indispensable look at specific territories, techniques and themes within the advertising industry.