Dasha Khritankova is a commercial and film producer based in New York City.

Her films have earned awards and nominations at festivals worldwide, including Best Narrative Feature for The Daphne Project and Best Script for Dream Cafe. The Daphne Project had its theatrical release in 2022 and is now streaming on Fuse+.

Since 2021, Dasha has been working as the Lead Producer at Filmkraft, a creative video agency in NYC, where she produces commercials for TV and digital, as well as B2B videos and branded content. Her commercial work has earned multiple accolades, including five Telly Awards. She is especially proud of winning a Gold Telly Award for the Love Stories campaign for 1-800-Flowers and a Silver Telly Award for CBS News’ B2B video for Vizrt.

Beyond commercial production, Dasha has a deep passion for music videos. One of her most memorable projects was producing a music video for the Grammy-nominated album ONA by Thana Alexa, which premiered exclusively on Forbes in 2021.

How many years have you been a judge?

1-3 years

What project are you most proud to have worked on?

Oh, so many! I proud of some indie narrative films I’ve produced in the pre-commercial era of my career. Looking back at some of those projects, I wonder “How did we even pull that off with such a tiny budget and almost no resources?!” I’m thankful for those experienced, they really shaped me as a producer.

I’m also proud of many commercials I’ve produced as well, but one highlight is a Mother’s Day spot we did last year. We cast real mothers with their children across the U.S. and captured their genuine interactions and raw emotions. I love that spot! I loved being on set, witnessing the bond between each mother and child unfold naturally on camera. It’s one of the most heartfelt and authentic projects I’ve ever worked on.

What’s the most challenging part about your job and/or the industry?

The industry has always been cyclical, but now it feels more unpredictable than ever. It’s highly reactive to the economy and sensitive to what’s happening in the world. You never quite know when to expect a quiet period or when you’ll suddenly be swamped with work.

When it comes to my job, it’s a constant balancing act – keeping clients happy, ensuring the crew has a fulfilling experience with good working conditions, and making sure our agency remains profitable. On top of that, we always strive to overdeliver while maintaining the long-term success of our agency. Finding that equilibrium can be challenging, but it’s also what makes the job rewarding.

What are your current roles and responsibilities and what do you love most about your job?

As the Head of the Production department at Filmkraft, I oversee every stage of production, ensuring that our commercial content is both creatively compelling and strategically effective. What I love most about my role is that it goes beyond filmmaking: I get to contribute to the growth of our agency, play a part in our clients’ success, and help create fulfilling career opportunities for our team. Balancing these factors is a challenge, but it’s what makes every production, no matter the scale, meaningful on multiple levels. Seeing a project come to life and knowing it serves a greater purpose for both the client and our team is incredibly rewarding.

Another thing I’ve always loved about producing is the mix of creativity and logistics. I get to bring stories to life while solving complex production challenges. There’s never a dull day in the production department! 😃