IDIDTHAT JUDGE
JESSIE ZINN

Jessie Zinn is a South African film director working across commercials, documentary and narrative film. With an MFA from Stanford University and a background in documentary, her work is known for its emotional intimacy, cinematic restraint and deeply human performances. Her films have screened at DOC NYC, Visions du Réel, AFI Docs, Palm Springs and Aspen Shortsfest, with work featured by The New Yorker and Vimeo Staff Picks. She is a SAFTA winner and nominee, and has directed work for brands including Marriott, Generali and Four Seasons. Her recent work includes narrative directing for Netflix, and she is represented by Bioscope Films in South Africa, Darling Films in the UK and Tomorrow in the US.

I DID THAT CRAFT AWARDS
Judge’s Pick – Jessie Zinn

JUDGES COMMENT
”Yassis. What a trip. This spot feels like Euphoria, Yizo Yizo, and a Checkers Hyper teen fever dream got shoved through a Ratanga Junction infinity mirror and handed a bucket of KFC. What amazed me was how much of the visual trickery was crafted in-camera, all so beautifully planned, choreographed and executed. It’s hard to make chaos feel alive without letting it turn into total mush and this is where Zee’s directing craft really flexes. The anarchy may feel spontaneous, but you can sense the careful brain behind every mirror & movement. Zee is never afraid to quite literally eat the rules, and in doing so, reminds us what advertising can become when vision, craft and chaos are all held by a director who knows exactly what he’s doing.”

AWARDED
09 June 2026

I DID THAT CRAFT AWARDS
Judge’s Pick – Jessie Zinn

JUDGES COMMENT
”This felt like a mini South African episodic show in the best way. So charming, funny and understated, with Gogo Vivian eating up her role as the family diva. I would absolutely watch a full ‘Succession’-esque South African film built around this family, ideally with at least one episode dedicated entirely to the reading of the will, where someone is accusing someone else of stealing all of the Tupperware. In a feed full of flashy tricks it was so refreshing to come across a spot that simply breathes. The dialogue lands, the performances feel real, and the humour is specific without feeling cartoonish. A beautifully directed piece that understands something very simple and very hard to fake: character is craft.”

AWARDED
09 June 2026