Spotlighting the stupendous class of Young Guns 20
Nearly 100 renowned industry professionals made up the jury for Young Guns this year. And after revealing the 84 finalists, it is finally time to unveil the 31 winners who make up the class of Young Guns 20.
Every year, we add another class of young talent from all over the globe to the exclusive Young Guns community. The winners of Young Guns 20 are your next project directors, animators, designers, editors, illustrators, artists, photographers, storytellers, coders, and writers. So this is your cue to follow them on Instagram immediately– because they are our industry’s future legends after all.
In two weeks, the winners will fly into NYC from around the world to celebrate their accomplishments, make new friends, have a few cocktails, and take home their official Young Guns Cube. We can’t wait to celebrate with them at Sony Hall on Wednesday, November 16, 2022, at 6:30 PM– and we hope to see you there too!
Before the party begins, we took the time to get to know each of our winners so you can read up on the highly creative individuals who make up Young Guns 20.
MARKO ROTH
DIRECTOR
Based:
Frankfurt, Germany
Hometown:
Bad Vilbel, Germany
What were your initial impressions of the Young Guns competition — the award and the community?
I came across Young Guns through Andzej Gavriss (YG19). It feels so refreshing to have an award which focuses on the whole portfolio of an artist and not only on one particular project.
Congrats on the win! What made you enter this year?
I am super thankful to be a first-time entrant winner. I entered this year because I realized there is not going to be the perfect time for it. You will never be 100% satisfied with your work. There will always be self doubt. But accepting where you are right now by looking back where you came from helps me a lot.
After all, you are only allowed to submit six projects. How did you decide which pieces were best to enter and truly reflected you and your work?
I love the fact that you have to submit six projects. It's a huge exercise in self-curation and self-reflection. The six projects I chose were all films I am most proud of. It was so nice to see the development between my latest work and the work from some years ago. It made me realize how important it is to stay true to your own artistic voice, but also allow room for it to change and grow.
Do you remember the exact place and time you were when you found out that you won? How did you celebrate?
I was traveling with friends when I got the notification that I am part of Young Guns 20. We stopped the car and went to get some ice cream to celebrate. I feel super exited and humbled for this recognition of my work, especially since some hours before I got the news that I lost a pitch... it was such a roller coaster day.
Try defining your personal brand in three words.
Imperfect. Alive. Honest.
Who are some of the biggest influences on you and your work?
I love the whole concept of having a person believing in you and your work. Someone who shares experiences and contacts to guide you through those crazy highs and lows. Someone who cheers you up when you loose pitch after pitch. Someone who keeps you grounded when you win award after award. But to be honest, I think it's impossible to find all of this in one person. I was fortunate enough to meet many mentors on my way. Most of them are my friends, family or very beloved people in the business who somehow connected with my work and believed in me as a human being.
My work is mostly influenced by my personal relations and experiences. Of course there are many great artists I get inspired by, but in the end I try to follow my gut feeling.
Now that you’re in the Young Guns crew, are there any past winners you look up to and admire? What is it about their work that you love?
I really admire the projects from Andzej Gavriss (YG19). When I discovered him, I watched through all of his films. I am so impressed by the unique worlds he creates and the conceptual details he puts into each one of them.
Name a creative dream that you have yet to fulfill — hey, maybe Young Guns can help propel you in that direction!
I would love to direct more storytelling projects and make my first step into the feature world. My dream project is a roadtrip feature film with a documentary approach.
"My dream project is a roadtrip feature film with a documentary approach."
This is YG20, but what do you imagine you’ll be up to when YG30 rolls around in 2032, both personally and professionally?
Hopefully in 10 years I will be doing one feature film a year and some commercials in between. I also would love to be a mentor for younger filmmakers and help them with their career. Personally, I hope in ten years I will be better at balancing the pessimism of my intellect and the optimism of my will.
Best piece of advice?
Less mind. More heart.
Come party with us and celebrate all the Young Guns 20 winners on Wednesday, November 16 at Sony Hall!
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