WHAT IS THE FABULOUS FIVE?
As one of the sub-categories under the New Director Lotus, Short Films by the Fabulous Five is a platform aimed to kickstart the careers of commercial directors in the Asia Pacific and Middle East. Launched in 2008 (as the Fabulous Four), the initiative has grown to receive close to 50 scripts from a dozen cities across the region.

Aspiring directors are invited to submit scripts (free of charge) for the chance to become one of the Fabulous Five New Directors. Juries of the New Director Lotus panel will vote for their favorite scripts to determine the identities of the Fabulous Five, who will be flown, accommodated, and take the stage and premiere their short films at adfest 2027, taking place Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 March 2027 in Pattaya, Thailand.

All Fabulous Five films will also be automatically entered for consideration at the Academy Award® and BAFTA qualifying 2027 LA Shorts International Film Festival (LA Shorts).

WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
To be eligible, aspiring directors must meet the following criteria:

Entrants must be directors or assistant directors based in Asia and the Pacific, including Australia,
New Zealand, and Middle East.

Eligible Directors must have started their career after March 2025.
Note: No more than 2 years professional experience as a Director.

Each eligible director can only submit one script.

Scripts which might offend national or religious sentiments or public taste are not eligible.

HOW TO BECOME A FABULOUS FIVE?
Each entrant submits (free of charge) a script for a 5-minute short film inspired by the adfest 2027 theme, “30&BEYOND” by Monday 4 January 2027.

All scripts will be read by the Film Craft Lotus & New Director Lotus jury panel, who will independently vote for 5 of their favourite scripts. Scripts will be sent anonymously to all juries with no information on the identities of the directors to ensure greatest fairness and transparency.

If your script is one of the top five scripts as voted by adfest's Film Craft Lotus & New Director Lotus jury, you will be asked to direct the short film of the submitted script and debut your film at adfest 2027, held Thursday 18 – Saturday 20 March 2027 in Pattaya, Thailand.

adfest will provide return economy airfare, ground transportation, accommodation, and full delegate registration for these 5 selected directors to attend adfest 2027 to debut and discuss their short films at the Fabulous Five session on Friday 19 March 2027.

To submit a script, click here.

SCHEDULE

Now – Mon 4 Jan	Script submission
Tue 5 Jan – Fri 22 Jan	Film Craft Lotus & New Director Lotus juries vote on top 5 scripts
Wed 27 Jan – Fri 29 Jan	Confirmation of the Fabulous Five New Directors
Sat 30 Jan – Fri 5 Mar	Short Film production
	Note: There is no production subsidy provided by adfest
By Fri 5 Mar	Deadline for 5-minute short films & 30-second trailers to adfest
Wed 17 Mar	The Fabulous Five New Directors arrival in Pattaya
Thu 18 – Sat 20 Mar	adfest 2027
Fri 19 Mar	The Fabulous Five session on stage at adfest 2027
Sun 21 Mar	Departure from Pattaya

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For inquiries on the Fabulous Five, please contact Nat Luevarapong, Entry Manager
at +66-87-711-6903 or Nat@adfest.com.

30 years of connecting culture, craft, creativity, and technology.

And we’re just getting started.

For three decades, adfest has brought together the people, the ideas, the creativity and the technology that have shaped our region — and our world.

But turning 30 isn’t about looking back. It’s about looking ahead.

We’ve lived through an extraordinary evolution. We started in a world governed by print, radio, billboards, and the broadcast clock. Today, technology has broken every boundary. Media consumption has transformed from a one-way street into an ever-flowing, hyper-personalized, real-time conversation. We’ve witnessed industries transform, technologies evolve and new generations of creative voices emerge.

Through these seismic shifts — as platforms multiplied, algorithms evolved, and emerging technologies redefined how work is crafted and consumed — one truth has remained constant: Technology can scale our reach, but it is humanity and creativity that create resonance. The kind of creativity that moves hearts, shapes cultures and drives meaningful change will always require the spark of human courage, curiosity and conviction.

30&BEYOND celebrates the journey we’ve shared, the community that has made it possible, and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.
30 years of ideas.
30 years of people.
30 years of connections.
30 years of technology pushing boundaries.

And now, a future full of possibilities.
New ideas waiting to be discovered.
New voices waiting to be heard.
New connections waiting to be made.
New boundaries waiting to be pushed.

30 isn’t a finish line.
Because human creativity doesn’t have one.

adfest 2027 | 30&BEYOND.