As advertising trends toward staying safe and budgets for production continue to shrink, Furlined Founder Diane McArter says one question weighs on the minds of her team: “Is there room for artistry in the industry today?” Judging from the company’s 2019 reel, the answer is a resounding yes.

Such was strikingly apparent in the work of directing duo team Martin + Lindsay, known for their award-winning documentaries “Undefeated” and “LA92.” The pair helmed Droga5’s “The Truth Is Worth It” for The New York Times, arguably one of the decade’s best campaigns and the first to earn both Film and Craft Grand Prix at the Cannes Lions. Through careful photography choices, deft editing and thoughtful sound design, the spots suspensefully trace the treacherous paths New York Times journalists take to report out their stories, culminating in the newspaper’s actual headlines.

The ever-imaginative Dougal Wilson gathered seven Elvis impersonators for a group crooning session in a delightful Facetime ad that feels oddly relevant in these pandemic times. He also delivered an especially entertaining addition to BBDO’s lineup of AT&T’s genre-crossing “More for Your Thing” campaign with his spot that combined a Spaghetti Western with kiddie-style animation.

Consumers’ imaginations ran wild with how their purchases could transform their lives in Speck and Gordon’s comedic spots for Amazon U.K. The duo also wrangled big celebrity talent for Pepsi’s Big Game ad starring Steve Carrell and Cardi B, via Goodby Silverstein & Partners. In a darker vein, Kristoffer Borgli was behind the lens to capture the not-so-deep thoughts of Twizzler eaters in twisted ads from Droga5.