Jameson First Shot: 2016 Winners

If you identify as creative, at some point, you've let your mind go wild with fantasies of being discovered by some of the biggest talents in the industry and seeing your ideas fully realized. Unfortunately, this doesn't happen in the real world very often—but three up-and-coming filmmakers who were named the 2016 winners of the Jameson First Shot competition have the chance to see this scenario play out as more than just a dream.

Jameson put out a call for "fresh and fearless" filmmakers to write a short film starring Oscar-nominated actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. After sifting through thousands of entries, three winners have been chosen to get their First Shot in the film industry, with guidance from Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti. Cameron Thrower from California, Kat Wood from Sheffield and Jason Perini from Sydney, three standout individuals from around the world, will be given the chance to see their vision come to life on the big screen through Trigger Street Productions.

To have your heart warmed with a feel-good video, watch how Jameson announced its decision to the winners of the First Shot competition. Rather than contacting each filmmaker directly, Jameson traveled to California, Sheffield and Sydney in order to deliver the surprise of a lifetime to each winner. Film posters and movie marquees were set up in their home cities, giving them a taste of what it feels like to have their names displayed alongside some of Hollywood’s most critically acclaimed talents.

Now that the initial shock is over, all three winners will work with a professional team to develop a script and prepare to direct Maggie Gyllenhaal in a Los Angeles shoot.