Jury

The first Global Chief Content Officer in Mediabrands history, Gaul is responsible for identifying and managing strategic content opportunities across Mediabrands’ extensive agency portfolio in 12 of the company’s key global markets. Gaul also leads Mediabrands’ new Content Studio (MBCS) and is Co-Founder and Global President of Mediabrands’ new indie development and production entity, TRAVERSE32. In that capacity, he oversees development, acquisitions, and distribution of original narrative and unscripted branded content projects for the company around the world. Previously, Gaul spent 14 years as Chief Content Officer at Mediabrands’ agency, UM, and Head of UM Studios. His most recent projects under the UM Studios banner include OSO (about the founding family behind global luxury jewelry brand TOUS) on Amazon Prime and the 2020 IFC Films’ award-winning theatrical and TVOD / Hulu released Christmas documentary, DEAR SANTA, which Gaul produced for the U.S Postal Service. Called “one of the most wonderful films of the year” by legendary movie critic, Richard Roeper, DEAR SANTA has earned eight Telly Awards - including the coveted People’s Telly - and was named Best Feature at Tribeca X, among other recent notable accolades. Gaul is also responsible for the critically acclaimed documentary, 5B, about the heroic nurses who put their own lives on the line and founded the first AIDS ward in the world. Produced by Gaul and co-directed by Oscar winner Paul Haggis and Academy Award nominee Dan Krauss, the 100% Fresh film, which was commissioned by Johnson & Johnson and acquired and distributed by RYOT/Verizon Media, was the first brand-funded feature film to ever premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, and earned the Entertainment Lions Grand Jury Prize at Cannes Lions, which also marked the first time an agency has ever won the category. The movie also received a Clio Grand, a One Show Gold Pencil, and is now part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art.