Cannes, France and Sydney, Australia – Rapid Films director, Craig Rasmus, has won first place in the Charity category of the Young Director Awards held at the JW Marriot in Cannes.

His direction of the 5 Fund film for the UNICEF/Qantas Change For Good campaign via iris-worldwide, placed the rising director a finalist in the animation category and overall winner of the Charity section.

Craig Rasmus

Prior to signing with Rapid Films, Rasmus was at The Feds who produced the piece. The winning film was the director’s very first foray into animation direction.

The Young Director Award has promoted emerging international creative talent in commercial film production since 1998 and is a pioneer breaking ground for directors using new technologies and progressive techniques.

It is recognised as the most important fringe event of the Cannes Lions, attracting over 400 entries and over 900 spectators every year. The jury – drawn from the Commercial Film Producers of Europe – represents 17 associations that comprise of 600 companies across Europe.