McCann India has pushed back the deadline for Fresh Take 2026, its talent-discovery platform built with D&AD and Mothership Productions to spotlight India’s next wave of ad film directors. Entries, originally due earlier, will now be accepted until Monday, 20th July, 11:59 PM IST, giving emerging talent extra runway to put their strongest work forward.
The platform remains open to directors within their first three years behind the camera, who can submit up to five projects made between 1st June 2023 and 30th June 2026 through the official Fresh Take 2026 form.
The extension arrives alongside a major reveal: the platform’s inaugural jury. The line-up brings together some of advertising’s sharpest creative minds, including Akanksha Seda of Good Morning Films, Amit Sharma of Chrome Pictures, Anand Menon of Early Man Film, Ashish Khazanchi of Enormous, McCann India’s Rahul Mathew, Oink Films’ Shirsha Guha Thakurta, and Ogilvy’s Sukesh Nayak. Together, they will judge entries on storytelling, originality, craft and creative vision.
The stakes are high for winners. The top director walks away with a paid trip to D&AD Festival 2027 and a 12-month commission for two projects with McCann India. The two runners-up will receive complimentary seats at D&AD’s online masterclass, “Storytelling for Action.”
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Mumbai on Friday, 7th August 2026.
Directors looking to enter can do so through the official form before the new 20th July deadline.
