We begin a new series with the director behind the Most Watched video on Promonews last year - and discover she's setting her sights even higher in 2026.

Last month, Gabby Torreborre's video for Gaia Banfi's Ragni was announced as the No. 1 in Promonews' Most Watched Videos of 2025 chart. Quite a feat for a director making her second video, with a budget of less than £2K for a relatively unknown artist - and was released in December.

Also something of a surprise, of course, as Gaia Banfi beat out the likes of Lady Gaga and Snoop Dogg for the top spot. But what is not in any doubt is the intriguing quality of the Ragni video - an intimate drama streaked with surrealism and choreography. The promise shown by Torreborre in this video and its predecessor for Palometas sin maiz by Coro + Gully - which was included in the Best New Directors of 2025 list, shows that she is a very exciting new directing talent.

So who better to launch our new series? And in the first One To Watch Q&A we discover how Gabby got to this point and what is in store for 2026 and beyond. We find out she's not only a talented director, she is also thinking and working like a producer, to get where she wants to be.  

I want to run my own production company full-time, in the UK and US.

What’s your background, where did you grow up?

I was born in France but grew up in Japan, Australia (where I learned English when I was 8 years old), Germany, the Netherlands and went to university in Scotland. So, [I'm] a bit of a TCK. 

When did you start getting into making films, as a director or in another role?

I founded a theatre production company when I was in high school. I directed people from ages 16-55 in various plays performed across Germany. I always wanted to direct films but had zero contacts or resources.

It wasn’t until Covid forced me to abandon live arts that I decided to direct my first short film and teach myself commercial videography from watching YouTube tutorials.

What was the first film you made where you felt this could be a career move? 

I made my first short film Partner In Crime during my second year at university. I had no budget or equipment, so I borrowed a friend’s camera and found crew members via Facebook groups. I assembled a small but passionate team, and we shot the film over three days.

I did not come out thinking this could be a career move and forgot about directing for a while. No film triggered that thought, if I’m honest. I just decided one day that I would be deeply unhappy if I did anything short of the most ambitious and exciting thing I could imagine. Directing felt like that thing. As a result, I returned to directing with my first fashion film Sariusai (above) in March 2025.

Can you tell us about your first music video (or music-related project) and how it turned out?

I created my first music video Palomitas sin maiz alongside my co-founder Coro Benavent. The piece was a tribute to Coro’s grandmother who had just passed away. We shot the piece on 16mm, and put love and care into every detail.

It was more like a ritual than a commercialised piece - our goal was for her family to watch it and feel like it captured something important. I also got to celebrate my 24th birthday on set, which is now in my Top 10 memories. Directing and cake is a great combination.

Although the piece was intended for Coro’s family, it ended up doing really well externally, being shared by Kodak and nominated to British Young Arrows.

The piece was a tribute to Coro’s grandmother... it was intended for her family, it ended up doing really well.

Where do you draw your inspiration for your own work?

Philosophy, conversations with friends (or strangers), other films. 

What’s your favourite music video (or music-related project) you’ve made so far?

I directed Ragni by Gaia Banfi last October, and it was the first time I got to make a piece that felt like ‘mine’. It can be difficult to find your style as a director because resources are scarce and iteration is therefore limited. Ragni was the first time I had a sense of what my directing ‘voice’ was, which made the stakes feel higher and as a result, pre-production was all-consuming.

I’m super happy with how it turned out. While I could justify the creative choices in each frame, I was happy for people to have no clue what the video was about, so long as it made them feel something.

Our cast and crew were some of the most talented, connected, kindest humans I have had the pleasure of working with. Ragni is the product of countless sacrifices and favours, I feel deeply grateful whenever I think about it. I could write an essay on this piece! It was just the best. (And we somehow got Most Watched on Promonews for 2025, which was a very pleasant surprise!)

What has been the most creatively rewarding non-music project of the past year or so?

Building my production company Garo Studios with my co-founder Coro. This has meant learning how to approach various conversation types: from raising investment to sales to managing crews. Becoming a better speaker and conveyor of ideas. Learning to dream bigger and structuring those dreams into existence. 

Which aspect of the job do you enjoy the most? 

When film starts to feel like theatre. That feeling is really emphasised when shooting on actual film [as] every moment is carefully orchestrated in order to be as economical as possible with takes; hanging out with cast and crew during breaks, making sure everyone is having a good time; receiving rushes and opening them with both fear and excitement; reminiscing about peak stress points with collaborators after a shoot.

It can be difficult to find your style as a director because resources are scarce.

Can you tell us about your next project?

I’m directing my short film Tussle alongside Skye Wilson and Angel Jordan (producers from Working Title), BAFTA-winning DP Toby Lloyd and executive producer Marta Bobić (CANADA).

The film follows a young girl who becomes ostracised after hooking up with a boy at a high school party and turns to MMA for emotional release. The film is based on personal experiences I had in high school, and asks questions about how young people should deal with and process anger.

I’m also keen to make films (shorts, music videos and features) about co-founding relationships, the tech x art societal divide and existential optimism which I think we are lacking in our media. 

Which artist or band would you most like to make a music video for?

I would say Fontaines D.C. but Aube Perrie and Luna Carmoon are the GOATs. Raye is super cool. On the French side: Stromae, MPL, Mademoiselle K. Other emerging artists like Jhariah or Radio Free Alice. Honestly, too many!

Above: Garo Studios' co-founders Coro Benavent (left) and Gabrielle Torreborre. 

Career-wise where do you hope to be in five years time?

I want to run my own production company full-time with a UK and US branch. Employ an awesome team. Build a writer/director incubator program where we give new creatives the money to make their projects. Have directed at least one meaningful feature film. 

What do like to do when you’re not making films?

Train (bodybuilding, powerlifting or MMA), grow Garo Studios, meet new people who are building cool things, spend time with the people I love. 

• Watch more by Gabrielle Torreborre here