Ah, Fall. The time of year when the pumpkin-crazed emerge from hibernation, and Michael Buble is left out to thaw before the holidays. For the creative community, this season is also the time when some of the best films, freshly blessed from their festival runs, are finally released to the public. While the holiday season is on the horizon, there’s still a ways for us to go and a lot of work to keep on our radar. Luckily, we compiled the best work from underrepresented directors just for you.
We’re also introducing a new section of Film News, to give you access to the biggest headlines in film from the past month—just in case you missed them!
This list is alphabetical, so don’t forget to scroll all the way down to the bottom!
See your work on the list? Let’s celebrate! Share across social media—tag us at @FreeTheWork and use the hashtags #FreeTheWork and #HeresTheWork!
Want to have your work featured? Send it over to [email protected].
What is “Here’s The Work”?
This newsletter represents a curated selection of the commercials, branded content, short films, and music videos that were directed by the talented directors in Free The Work’s global database and released over the months we’ve been away. Moving forward, we will be integrating film, television, webseries, documentaries and short-form projects from our directors as well.
Bear in mind, too, that while this list showcases the work of Free The Work directors, our site also is a one-stop-shop for discovering writers, editors, colorists, composers, and DOPs. A commitment to freeing the work doesn’t just stop at hiring a woman director—enrich your crews with underrepresented creators across production roles!
The following commercials, branded content, short films, and music videos were directed by directors from our database, released this past month.
FILM & TV NEWS
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Season 2 of Abstract: The Art Of Design features an episode directed by E. Chai Vasarhelyi. (LINK)
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Writer-Director Stella Meghie's rom-com "The Weekend" (starring Sasheer Zamata) hit theaters this September – did you get a chance to see it? (LINK)
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Elizabeth Banks' "Charlie's Angels" reboot will be hitting theaters on November 15th – mark your calendars. (LINK)
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Joey Soloway's "Transparent: Musicale Finale" began streaming on Amazon Prime on September 27. (LINK)
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The first trailer for Reed Morano's film, The Rhythm Section, has been released – in theaters January 31. (LINK)
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Trailer is now out for Chinonye Chukwu’s death row drama “Clemency" – in theaters December 27. (LINK)
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"The Chambermaid (La Camarista)," directed by Lila Aviles, makes history as the first woman-directed film to be submitted by Mexico for consideration in the best international feature film Oscar category. (LINK)
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"Desert One," Barbara Kopple's documentary about the disastrous U.S. rescue mission during the Iran-hostage crisis, premiered at TIFF this month. (LINK)
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A new trailer for Melina Matsoukas' "Queen & Slim" has been released – in theaters November 27. (LINK)
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Gabriela Cowperthwaite's cancer drama "The Friend" premiered at TIFF. (LINK)
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Director Gaysorn Thavat's feature film debut, The Justice Of Bunny King, is currently shooting in New Zealand. (LINK)
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Nicole Dorsey's film "Black Conflux" gains positive review at TIFF as "a haunting, humane twist on thriller conventions." (LINK)
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Lauren Greenfield's documentary The Kingmaker will get a U.S. theatrical run via Greenwich Entertainment (LINK)
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Filming has begun on Billie Piper and Lucy Prebble’s new Sky original drama series "I Hate Suzie," which will be directed by Georgie Banks-Davies. (LINK)
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BAFTA-winning British filmmaker Amma Asante is set to direct two episodes of FX's nine-episode project Mrs. America. (LINK)
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A new trailer for Amazon Studios' "Modern Love" which has episodes directed by Sharon Horgan and Emmy Rossum. (LINK)
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A new trailer for Melina Matsoukas' "Queen & Slim" has been released. (LINK)
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Dawn Porter will direct episodes of Apple's upcoming docuseries about mental health. (LINK)



SIGNED DIRECTORS
The Coles | Spindle | LINK
Elena Petitti di Roreto | Anonymous Content | LINK
Jill Greenberg | Greencard | LINK
Savanah Leaf | Academy | LINK
Gurinder Chadha | Bully Pictures | LINK
AD
Sophia Banks | Stein Mart, "Light Humor, Lots of Looks" | BODEGA, Banks Films | LINK
Lisa Boostani | Desigual, "Manifesto Campaign" | We Are Pi | Sauvage.tv | LINK
Kim Gehrig | Apple, "iPhone 11" | Somesuch & ANORAK Film | LINK
Lesley Chilcott | AdventHealth “Feel Whole Challenge” | 22squared | BODEGA | LINK
B.Monét | Estee Lauder, "Estee Lauder w/ Sloane Stephens" | Guggenheim Productions | LINK
Leonn Ward | Intimissimi, "Bra Twist with Sarah Jessica Parker" | 72andSunny Amsterdam | RSA Films | LINK
Ramaa Mosley | Visit California, "Born to be Wild" | Mering Carson/Sacramento | Station Film | LINK
Georgia Hudson | Zalando, "Free to Be" | Grey London | Park Pictures | LINK
Malia James | Wrangler, "ICONS" | Mother NY | Strike Anywhere | LINK
Katia Lewkowicz | Orange International, "We all have great power. We all have great responsibility." | Publicis Conseil | Grand Bazar | LINK
Christine Yuan | Reebok, "Go Bold / Yurino" | SAGA Studio | Push Media | LINK
Christine Yuan | Reebok, "Go Bold / Zico" | SAGA Studio | Push Media | LINK
Sophia Banks | VRC (The Melbourne Cup), "Go and Let Go" | Finch Company | LINK
Similar But Different | Diesel FW19 – "Enjoy Before Returning" | Publicis-Italy | Smuggler, Division7 | LINK
Sara Dunlop | Fujifilm Instax, "Don’t just take, give." | McCann NY | The Corner Shop | LINK
Sara Dunlop | “Dark Balloons" | Duncan Channon | The Corner Shop | LINK
Gracie Otto | Seafolly, "Own your Folly – Swimwear Australia 2019" | Thinkerbell | Playtime | LINK
Tiny Bullet | McDonalds, "How To Do Beef" | Leo Burnett UK | Thomas Thomas Films | LINK
Leonn Ward | Tu at Sainsbury's | Portas | RSA Films | LINK
Andrea Kapos | Sunbites, "Sharing bag: Bigger bag. More reasons to share." | Dark Energy Films | LINK



Nicole Dorsey | MakeLoveNotPorn, "The New Language of Love" | Someplace Nice | LINK
Vicky Lawton | Govida, "Wonder Awaits" | McCann London | Rebecca Wilford Production Company | LINK
Director Kit | Easy Waves, "The Detective" | FCB/Johannesburg | Darling | LINK
Theresa Wingert | NorthShore University Health System, "2019 Science of Understanding" | Camp + King | Fiona Media Company | LINK
Karien Cherry | Sanlam Investments, "A Whole New World" | King James/Cape Town | Giant Films | LINK
La Dulce Liberal | Beck's, "Cerveza Beck’s #HaceloDiferente Episodio Iva" | Mutato | LINK
La Dulce Liberal | Beck's, "Cerveza Beck’s #HaceloDiferente TVC 15" | Mutato | LINK
Basak Erol | Confused.com x Rugby World Cup Idents, " | Karmarama | Blink Productions | LINK
Georgia Tribuiani | BOSS | Hugo Boss Eyewear, "Sharpen Your Focus" | Collateral Films | LINK
Los Perez – Tania Verduzco | "We Deliver" McDonald's | Leo Burnet & Fallon London | Blink Productions, Magic | LINK
Sofia Garza-Barba | Commercial Director’s Diversity Program, "Toyota – Daddy" | Saatchi & Saatchi | Hungry Man | LINK
Raine Allen Miller | Virgin Media, "I can do anyth-ing" | Adam & Eve/DDB | Somesuch | LINK
Stef Smith | The Kids' Cancer Project, "I don't want to be an angel" | Saatchi & Saatchi Australia | Playtime | LINK
Sandra Winther | ADP, " Imagine" | Havas NY | Sibling Rivalry | LINK
Justine Puren Calverley | Unilever BRUT, "Brut" | The Hardy Boys | FirstPencil | LINK
Ariel Fisher | W Hotels, "Whatever Whenever" | Instrument | Little Ugly | LINK
MJ Delaney | Kinder Chocolate, "Dino Boy" | krow | Merman | LINK
Melissa Rossi | Bank of America, "Cheeky Monkey Home" | Gray Cat Films | LINK
Sandra Winther | Toyota, "The Road" | New Land | LINK



MUSIC VIDEO
FKA Twigs, Nick Walker | FKA Twigs ft. Future – "Holy Terrain" | Object & Animal | LINK
Sophie Muller | Shakespears Sister ft. Richard Hawley – "When She Finds You" | LINK
Ashleigh Jadee | IYKZ ft. Maleek Berry – "Show Me Mercy" | LINK
Jennifer Juniper Stratford | Turnover – "Much After Feeling" | Telefantasy Studios Production | LINK
Ashleigh Jadee | Lioness ft. J.F.L.O.W.S – "XOX" | LINK
Julie Rohart | Ozlo – "Yin & Yang" | LINK
Zia Anger | Jenny Hval – "Accident" | LINK
Adi Halfin | S-Type – "Waiting" |True Motion Pictures, Lief | LINK
Leonn Ward | Michael Kiwanuka – "You Ain’t The Problem" | LINK
Eva Michon | Kazu Makino – “Come Behind Me, So Good!” | Lief | LINK
Hannah Lux Davis | Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, and Lana Del Rey – "Don't Call Me Angel" (Charlie's Angels) | London Alley | LINK
Savanah Leaf | Mowtown Records, Marvin Gaye – "What's Going On" | Doomsday Entertainment | LINK Susie Francis | MF Tomlinson – "Sum Of Nothing" | LINK



Gia Coppola | Yves Tumor ft. Hirakish & Napolian – "Applaud" | LINK
Carolina Cortella | Openside – "FCK U" | LINK
Emma Westenberg | Princess Nokia – "Sugar Honey Iced Tea (S.H.I.T.)" | Partizan | LINK
Maegan Houang | Vagabon – "Water Me Down" | We Make Movies Productions | LINK
Martina Hoogland Ivanow | Mambo Noir Trio – "Noir" | LINK
Adinah Dancyger and Kaya Wilkins | Okay Kaya – "Ascend and Try Again" | LINK
Charlotte Rutherford | Lil Miquela – "Money"Brud. Inc | LINK
Cara Stricker | Tei Shi ft. Blood Orange – "Even If It Hurts" | LINK
Leire Aguilera Kelly | Gert Taberner – "Georgia" | Madrefoca | LINK
Wendy Morgan | Lous and The Yakuza, "Dilemme"Scheme Engine | LINK
Clara Aranovich | K. Flay – "Not In California"Reprobates | Little Ugly | LINK
Patricia Gloum | Blu DeTiger – "Tangerine" | LINK
Rianne White | Aurora – "Apple Tree" | Partizan | LINK
Jennifer Juniper Stratford | Jennifer Vanilla – "Space Time Motion" | Telefantasy Studio | LINK
Nadira Amrani | The Japanese House – "Something Has To Change" | LINK
Hannah Lux Davis | Hailee Steinfield – "Afterlife" | London Alley | LINK
Astrid Salomon | HOLY HOLY – "Maybe You Know" | LINK
Ximena Prieto, Lorenza Clapp | Robert Laser – 'Showmeuwantme" | Hermanas Sacófago Production | LINK



BRANDED CONTENT
Rachel McDonald | Uniting | DDB | RemedyRabbit Content | LINK
Shimmy Ahmed | Alexa Chung, "Style Challenge! 5 Looks In 5 Minutes" | Little Dot Studios | LINK
Corinne Ladeinde | Bonjela | NERD Productions | LINK
Emily McDonald and Christo Geoghegan | Queer Nostalgia for Netflix x YouTube, "A Look At Queer TV Icons inc Drag Race, Ugly Betty and Sex Education" | Social Life | LINK
Emily McDonald and Christo Geoghegan | Queer Nostalgia for Netflix x YouTube, "A Look At Gay TV Icons inc Queer As Folk, Grace & Frankie + Star Trek" | Social Life | LINK
River Gallo | Maison Margiela x Vogue Italia, "#MyMutiny" | 3RD SOL | LINK
Nadia Lee Cohen | Maison Margiela x Vogue Italia, "#MyMutiny" | 3RD SOL | LINK
AnAkA | Vogue's 24 Hours With, "FKA twigs Gets Ready for Afropunk With Swordplay, Pole Dancing, and More" | West of Ivy | LINK
Katy Wang | Mailchimp's Outer Monologue, "Joy Bryant" | The California Sunday Magazine, BLINKINK | LINK
Vanessa Black | Peach Pack, "For All Bleeding People" | Fox & Leopard | LINK
Mélodie Roulaud/ MÉLO | Nevs Model Agency, "Meet the #nevsfamily" | PI Film Network | LINK
Sonja Phillips | Entelechy Arts, "Rosaline’s Story" | Knucklehead | LINK



SHORT FILMS, DOCUMENTARIES, AND TRAILERS
Erica Rose, DOP: Daisy Zhou | "Girl Talk" | Sour Peach Films | LINK
Rayka Zehtabchi and Sam Davis | "(SHn(y)o͞of)" | LINK
Mary Dauterman | "Hey Girl" | LINK
Sandra Winther | Nowness, "Shadow of a Hurricane" | New Land, Iconoclast | LINK
Elena García | 'La Sister – We Are the Same' | Chicanita Films | LINK



Goodbye for now, but keep on the lookout for these creators! Big things are coming, and we're excited to be a part of this journey with all of you. Catch ya in October!