adfest is on the hunt again for the next Fabulous Five New Directors to bring their stories to the screen at adfest 2027. Launched in 2008, the initiative nurtures emerging commercial directors through the Short Films by the Fabulous Five sub-category of New Director Lotus. Script submissions for Fabulous Five are now open until Monday 4 January 2027.

If you’re a Director or Assistant Director based in Asia Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand, or the Middle East, this is the perfect opportunity for you to show the creative community what you’re capable of. Eligible Directors must have started their directing careers within the past two years (after March 2025).

For the chance to become a Fabulous Five New Director, eligible Directors and Assistant Directors must submit a script for a five-minute short film inspired by the adfest 2027 theme, 30&BEYOND. Script submission is free, with one script permitted per director.

adfest 2027, 30&BEYOND celebrates the community that has shaped its journey and the possibilities ahead. Aspiring Fabulous Five New Directors are invited to bring their ambition to the screen, sharing their unique perspectives and creative interpretations of the theme.

The Film Craft Lotus & New Director Lotus jury will review the scripts anonymously and independently vote for their five favourites. The top five will become the adfest 2027 Fabulous Five New Directors, whose films will come to life and debut on stage at the Fabulous Five session on Friday 19 March 2027 at 11.50-13.00. adfest will provide return economy airfare, ground transportation, accommodation and full delegate registration.

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

The Fabulous Five offers a rare opportunity for emerging Directors to be recognised on a regional stage as Michael Ahmadzadeh, adfest 2026 Jury President of Film Craft Lotus & New Director Lotus, shares, “adfest has a special culture, a deep respect for craft, individuality and where we come from. The Fabulous Five gives emerging directors the platform to find their voice, push their craft and help shape Asia’s creative voice on the global stage.”

Ariyaporn Boondeepathum, Director from And Friends Studio, Bangkok, this year’s Commendation Winner, adds "It all started with adfest selecting my script and giving me the chance to direct my first short film. That experience gave me my first step into directing, opened up more opportunities, and sparked a new path that I’d love to keep exploring."

Nagi Tajima, Director at FIELD MANAGEMENT EXPAND Inc., Tokyo, who won the Popular Vote, further adds “Being selected for Fabulous Five, having the opportunity to create my film, and having it screened at adfest were truly great honors for me. Taking the first step and deciding to apply gave me the opportunity to have many people see my work and share their reactions. It also became an important opportunity for me to reflect on myself and my work as a director. Another meaningful part of this experience was meeting fellow directors whom I would not have had the chance to connect with otherwise, as well as the wonderful crew members who helped bring my film to life.”

Irvine Prisilia, Assistant Director at TJT Creative Lab, Jakarta, reflects on the experience “Being one of the Fabulous Five was exciting, but honestly, I was nervous too. Writing a synopsis is one thing, bringing it to life as a director is another. There were so many ways to tell the story, and I had to balance my vision with the available budget and time when making choices. I’m grateful to adfest and everyone who supported and guided me through making my first short film, and to the jury members for their encouragement and generous feedback. I see this experience as the beginning of a journey that may take me somewhere unexpected. I’d encourage anyone with a story to tell to start writing and submit it to Fabulous Five. Take that first step, you don’t have to have it all figured out.”

Karin Nogami, Director at Tohokushinsha Film Corporation, Tokyo, further shares “I’m truly glad I took on this challenge. Being able to bring my film this far with the support of so many people is something I will treasure for the rest of my life. When I finally saw the film I had struggled with, questioned, and somehow managed to complete, screened at adfest in Thailand, I felt so many emotions, both joy and frustration. Experiencing all of those feelings was an incredibly meaningful experience in my life. If you’re interested, I truly encourage you to take on this challenge. You never know where it might take you.”

To find out where the Fabulous Five journey might take you and discover what lies beyond, check out the full details of the Short Films for adfest 2027 by the Fabulous Five here. Submit your script online here by Monday 4 January 2027.

For enquiries, contact Nat@adfest.com or +66-87-711-6903.

The adfest 2027 Lotus Awards will be open for entries soon. Stay tuned for more announcements from adfest.

adfest 2027, 30&BEYOND, will take place from 18–20 March 2027 at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group, Pattaya, Thailand.

adfest is one of Asia’s leading international creative festivals, celebrating creativity, culture and innovation. Since 1998, it has brought together the creative community across Asia and beyond to recognise outstanding work, exchange ideas, nurture talent and celebrate the diverse cultures and perspectives that inspire creativity.

As a not-for-profit organisation, adfest is committed to nurturing and supporting the creative industries across Asia Pacific and MENA. It is one of only 7 regional creative festivals featured in the WARC Creative 100 Rankings, one of 12 awards included in the Campaign Brief Asia Rankings, and one of 22 awards recognised in The Drum World Creative Rankings.