Sally
Campbell

about the speaker

Industry powerhouse, Sally Campbell, co-founded the independent production company, Somesuch, in 2010 alongside Tim Nash and Nick Gordon. Formed in London, Somesuch opened its second office in Los Angeles in 2017 and currently represents a roster of thirty-six directors globally including Kim Gehrig, Ibra Ake, Raine Allen-Miller, Caleb Femi, Crystal Moselle, Aneil Karia, and A.V. Rockwell. As Global CEO, Sally leads fearlessly, with a tireless drive to maintain the exceptional level of craft seen in her company’s output of commercials, music videos, branded content, stills and feature films. In 2022 Sally was named one of AdAge’s ‘Leading Women’.

Somesuch’s work has received award recognition from the Academy Awards, Cannes, Emmys, BAFTA, DGA, British Arrows, D&AD, CICLOPE, AICP, AdAge, MTV, and the UKMVAs. Somesuch won the Palme d’Or at the 2023 Cannes Lions taking home twenty Lions and in 2019 was named ‘Production Company of the Decade’ by Campaign Magazine, while year-on-year ranking in the top three in the magazine’s end-of-year ‘Top Production Companies’ list.

Sally is uncompromising in her intent that Somesuch continues to create, and lead with, socially conscious work, confronting issues others may shy away from. The Oscar for Best Short Film was presented to ‘The Long Goodbye’ at the 2022 Academy Awards. This short, directed by Aneil Karia and starring Riz Ahmed, tells the story of a South Asian family met with unthinkable violence at the hands of an all-white militia aided by the police force. Most recently ‘Urchin’, which had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, tells the story of a homeless person in London as he struggles to break free from a cycle of self-destruction while trying to turn his life around. ‘Urchin’ is the directorial debut by BAFTA-nominated actor Harris Dickinson and stars Frank Dillane as the lead.

Regarded as one of advertising’s most vocal and passionate nurturers of underrepresented directors, Sally remains unmatched in her unique ability to recognise creative talent, whether amongst her staff or her roster of directors. In the last 12 months, Sally has expanded the Somesuch roster with an enviable list of breakthrough filmmaking talent including Sophie Jones, Charlotte Regan and Lydia Garnett. As a long-term advocate for diversity in the industry, Sally is unwavering in her determination to use her voice and position to drive change, creating and implementing equitable policies and diversifying representation both within her own company, across Somesuch’s roster of directors and the industry as a whole. Somesuch currently has 80% Female, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ combined representation across its London and LA in-house staff and 66% Female, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ combined representation across its roster of directors.

Sally has held a Director seat on the AICP Executive Committee since relocating to Los Angeles in 2017 and additionally was announced as a member of the AICP Equity and Inclusion Committee in 2021. In 2020, Sally founded Somesuch’s own internal Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, alongside DEI Consultant, Dr. Cheryl Ingram. With the aim of improving industry access for marginalised communities, Somesuch has formed partnerships with The Kusp, Ghetto Film School and Crete Academy in London and LA. With both a financial and time commitment to these organisations, Somesuch facilitates mentoring, workshops and on-set trainee placements.

Somesuch is currently in production on a documentary about Crete Academy. Co-directed by Darol Olu Kae, the film explores the impact and importance of the South Los Angeles school, which serves children who are homeless and living in poverty. Somesuch’s own internship programme gives young people from all backgrounds an invaluable introduction to the industry. Many of these interns are now in full-time employment within Somesuch or being developed as directors.