Ali Brown brings expansive knowledge of industry production and distinct taste in storytellers to her roles as President and Partner of award-winning production company PRETTYBIRD and Academy Award-nominated creative studio Ventureland. Under Brown’s leadership, PRETTYBIRD’s work and roster continue to be recognized on the global stage with top honors from Cannes Lions, One Show, Clio Awards, D&AD, and the AICP Awards, as well as being named Ad Age’s Production Company of the Year twice. Between 2024 and 2025, the company and its projects earned 182 distinctions across award wins, shortlists, and longlists, including an Emmy nomination for the award darling “Michael CeraVe” spot. In 2025, PRETTYBIRD was named Production Company of the Year at the Clio Awards and ranked No. 2 on Ad Age’s Production Company A-List, cementing its status as a powerhouse in the commercial Arena. In 2026 alone PRETTYBIRD produced four of the top ranking Super Bowl spots, with three of them directly EP’d by Brown.

Brown co-founded Ventureland in 2020 alongside Oscar-winning producer John Battsek and PRETTYBIRD partners Kerstin Emhoff and Paul Hunter. Her creative vision continues to drive compelling scripted and unscripted storytelling, executive producing Netflix’s Emmy-winning Beckham, Academy Award-nominated Bobi Wine: The People’s President, Apple TV+’s Government Cheese starring David Oyelowo, and Hulu’s Daytime Emmy-winning docuseries Searching for Soul Food. She also executive-produced Netflix’s American Manhunt anthology, with its 2025 installments on O.J. Simpson and Osama bin Laden becoming global streaming hits as well as K2:The Last Winter one of 2026 Sundance’s largest doc sales. Further demonstrating her commitment to bold, original storytelling, Brown has produced a wide range of films - from the Netflix hit Murder in Monaco to the 7 part film component for the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s 2025 Good News Mass – a multi-sensory, multimedia collaboration between composer Carlos Simon and acclaimed director Melina Matsoukas.

Internationally recognized for her leadership and insight, Brown has served as an ANDY’s Global Juror, ranked in the top 10 for Creativepool’s Creative of the Year, acted as President of the New York Festivals Advertising Film Craft Jury, was a repeat speaker at Ciclope, juror for multiple other award shows including the One Show, was President of the Direction Jury at D&AD, and served twice as the AICP Show Chairperson. She previously made history as the first female president of Cannes’ Young Directors Award Jury. Deeply committed to inclusion, Brown founded “Double the Line,” an initiative aimed at increasing opportunities for BIPOC talent in advertising and serves on the boards of Manifest Works and Minorities in Film.

Continuing to nurture talent and expand company offerings, Brown remains dedicated to pushing creative boundaries, shaping impactful stories, and solidifying her place as a leader in global advertising and entertainment. In 2025, she was accepted into the PGA for her film and television work.

Rapha Dias is a Brazilian film director and executive producer, co-founder of the award-winning independent production company SquarePixel Films. With over 15 years of experience, his work is recognized for its strong cinematic language, emotional precision and careful attention to craft across storytelling and visual execution.

His projects have been widely awarded at major international festivals, including Grand Prix distinctions. A seasoned film director, Rapha has collaborated with brands such as Adidas, Hyundai, Diesel, Samsonite, Amnesty International, The Red Cross and National Geographic. He is also an educator at Miami Ad School, bringing a collaborative and craft-driven perspective to his role as a Film Craft juror.

Danny Gonzalez has spent the past 20+ years making the mundane unforgettable. With a gift for uncovering razor-sharp insights and the human core of every brand, he’s made a name for himself by injecting wit, warmth, and cultural punch into the most unexpected places. 

Alongside longtime creative partner David Suarez, Danny has brought that philosophy to iconic shops like Chiat/Day NY, Goodby Silverstein & Partners, and Barton F. Graf, before teaming up with Courtney Berry (former president of The Barbarian Group) to launch Bandits & Friends in 2022. The independent, female-and minority-founded agency believes attention can’t be bought, so bandits go steal it, and that clients deserve to be treated like friends. That rebellious spirit, paired with a deep respect for client relationships, earned them Ad Age’s Newcomer Agency of the Year.

In 2024, Danny was recognized in Adweek's Creative 100 list, an honor that highlighted two decades of work celebrated by  Radio Mercury, Cannes Lions, One Show, D&AD, Effie, Webby, Clios, Andy, Art Directors Club, AICP, and his parents, who think he’s just swell.

Nathan Hoad is an Executive Producer at Untold Studios.

With over 13 years of experience in the creative production and VFX industry, Nathan has spent the last five years working across Untold’s London, Los Angeles, and most recently New York studios. During this time, he has helped deliver high-end visual effects work for global brands and studios, including Mountain Dew’s Kiss from a Lime, DIRECTV’s For the Birds, and Disney’s Princesses.

Nathan is known for combining creative ambition with production discipline, partnering closely with directors, artists, and clients to bring complex ideas to life at the highest level. He shares Untold’s mission to craft the best work, with the best people, while continually pushing the boundaries of what’s creatively and technically possible.

Carlyn Hudson is an LA-based comedy director and writer known for crafting performance-driven, cinematic, and often absurd pieces. She directed over 40 sketches at CollegeHumor and Funny or Die before transitioning to commercials, and three of her short films premiered at SXSW — including the award-winning NICE ASS and the horror-comedy WAFFLE. She’s developed features for Netflix and Hulu and is a proud member of the WGA.

As a commercial director, Carlyn has directed for brands like JIF, Tinder, Nike, Cheerios, and Annovera, earning recognition from Source Creative, a Shark Award for celeb direction, and a Cannes Lion along the way. She is represented by Imposter in the US for commercials, and Artists First and UTA for film and television.

Hannan Hussain is a Grammy nominated director and photographer based in Brooklyn, New York. The son of Pakistani immigrants, his work is driven by a sensitivity to overlooked details and cultural nuance, translating them into visual experiences that feel both conceptual and deeply human.

Self-taught, Hannan’s approach moves fluidly across disciplines and tones, from high energy performance driven work to more restrained, atmospheric imagery. Regardless of scale, his focus remains the same: creating images that draw the viewer closer to the subject, revealing an intimate perspective that feels intentional, immersive, and distinctly his own.

Shawn Lacy has been at the helm of Biscuit Filmworks since co-founding the company with director Noam Murro in 2000. Bringing extensive expertise across commercial production, branded storytelling and creative development, she has helped build Biscuit’s reputation for nurturing A-list directing talent and being a trusted partner to leading agencies and brands worldwide.

Biscuit and its directors have garnered widespread acclaim from AdAge, AICP, Cannes Lions, Clio, DGA, D&AD and One Show. In 2025, the company was named Production Company of the Year at both Ciclope Festival and Shots Americas, further cementing its standing within the international creative community.

Shawn is regarded for her collaborative approach, sharp creative judgement and dedication to her team. A consummate multi-tasker, Shawn is a mother of four lovely humans (True, Jett, Desta and Axel) and is married to the industry’s finest craft service provider, “Smoothie Dave”.

Julia is the Head of Production at 72andSunny New York, where she leads teams responsible for turning ambitious creative ideas into culture-shaping work.

She began her production career at Crispin Porter + Bogusky and went on to hone her craft at Wieden+Kennedy and BBDO, building a foundation rooted in bold ideas, world-class execution, and creative problem solving. Across her career, Julia has produced everything from Super Bowl campaigns for Coca-Cola and E*TRADE to award-winning campaigns recognized by Cannes Lions, the Clios, One Show, Webbys, AICP, and more.

Julia believes great production lives at the intersection of strategy, craft, and a bit of chaos, and that is where the magic happens. A Michigan native, she lives in New York with her family, where life revolves around cooking, corgis, and singalongs to her six-year-old daughter’s ever-evolving punk playlist.

Sophia Lou is a NY-based film & commercial editor and partner at Cartel. She has spent the last 10 years crafting some of advertising most powerful campaigns. In 2023, she made the whole nation cry during the Super Bowl with her work on a commercial from The Farmer’s Dog, which subsequently led to an Emmy nomination. 

Her commercial credits include brands such as Apple, IKEA, Coca-Cola, Nike, and more; with music video work for Doechii, Renée Rapp, and Chappell Roan.

Rebecca O'Neill is the Head of Production at Johannes Leonardo where she leads a department that champions bold ideas that push the boundaries of production. Collaboration and craft sit at the heart of every project. With over 20 years of experience in the advertising industry, Rebecca has worked at industry leading agencies like Crispin Porter + Bogusky and BBH with her work being honored by every major industry award show. Equal parts problem solver and creative partner, she brings a steady passion for great work and a thoughtful approach to evolving what production can be.