The search to find the next big thing in directorial talent has been extended by a week, to Wednesday 11th March, as the third and final entry deadline for the D&AD Next Director Award approaches.  

The Next Director Award, created in partnership with YouTube, is open to aspiring filmmakers with less than two years commercial filmmaking experience. Any type of film can be entered into the Next Director Award – including short films, commercials, branded content, documentaries and music videos – as long as the submission is under five minutes in length. Entries cost just £40, and new directors now have until Wednesday 11th March to submit entries.

Each shortlisted film director will receive a host of invaluable prizes designed to provide the launchpad their career, including: international exposure for their work at screenings as part of MOFILM’s event calendar throughout 2015; a place on a mentoring scheme offered by high profile filmmakers and producers from top production companies, including Partizan, RSA Films, Great Guns, Hungry Man, Rattling Stick, Academy Films, Sonny, Jelly London and Lobo Sao Paulo; and a production grant from MOFILM to work on a commissioned brief.

Laura Gregory, D&AD Trustee, Founder of Great Guns and jury foreman, commented: “This is the last chance to get your work in front of an incredible jury for the first D&AD Next Director award.  Being on the shortlist has already made a difference to the lives of the directors who were selected and this is your final chance to get on that shortlist and be in contention for the top prize. The winner gets a massive package, including a place on a mentoring scheme with some of the world’s best production houses and best of all, a D&AD Pencil. What the hell are you waiting for?”

The final shortlisted entries will be revealed in April, selected by an all-star panel of industry leaders including Johnny Hardstaff, Tom Tagholm, Dougal Wilson and Juliette Larthe. The overall D&AD Pencil winner will then be chosen from the three combined shortlists and announced at the D&AD Professional Awards Ceremony in May 2015.

Alison Lomax, Head of Creative Agency Partnerships, YouTube, added: “We've been blown away by the talent from previous shortlists, but there's still a last chance to win the prestigious D&AD pencil."

• Find out more about the Next Director Award, including the jury, eligibility criteria, prizes and the first two shortlists, here