It takes great skill to tell a compelling story in under 60 seconds. These five directors have mastered the format, using their talent, craft and imagination to provide us with some of the most innovative filmmaking out there today.

In a departure from his earlier work from 1992–94 Apted ventured into China's rapidly-changing popular culture. In 1997 he explored the creative process in Inspirations through candid discussion with seven artists from diverse media including music painting dance sculpture and architecture. Apted and Rosenthal went on to collaborate on a number of popular television and film projects including the pilot episodes for The Dustbinmen and The Lovers.

Michael David Apted CMG (born 10 February 1941) is an English director producer writer and actor. On 29 June 2003 he was elected president of the Directors Guild of America. Apted directed Amazing Grace which premiered at the closing of the Toronto Film Festival in 2006.