The BUFF Awards has announced its winners for 2025, with Tapped taking home two major honours.
Director Teoman Sayin received the award for Best Script Supervision sponsored by Lime Pictures, while Elijah Baker won Best Actor in a Feature for his moving portrayal of Ross, a young autistic man navigating love and trauma in South London.
The drama was praised for its authenticity, emotional depth, and nuanced exploration of resilience and connection in the face of adversity.
The awards ceremony, which took place at London’s Genesis Cinema, “underscored BUFF’s commitment to diverse storytelling, celebrating talent from short films to international features, and showcasing the power of independent and urban cinema”, the organisation revealed.
Heavyweight, directed by Christopher M. Anthony, won Best UK Feature (The Victor Adebodun Award) for its powerful depiction of masculinity, identity and redemption, cementing its place as one of the standout British dramas of the year.
Skategoat, co-executive produced by Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Falchuk, won Best Documentary for its exhilarating and heartfelt exploration of skate culture, creativity and personal freedom.
Other winners included Ronke Adekoluejo for Best Actress in a Short (The Launch), Karl Collins for Best Actor in a Short (The Last Dance) and Stella Damasus for Best Actress in a Feature (Water Girl).
Aml Ameen took to the stage to present the Honorary Award to Femi Oyeniran, recognising his outstanding contribution to film and television and his enduring impact on British screen culture.
The full list of winners is available below.
- Best UK Short Film
Softy (Joshua Reeves) - Best International Short Film
Rise (Jessica J. Rowlands) - Best Actress in a Short
Ronkẹ Adékọluẹ́jọ́ (The Launch) - Best Actress in a Feature (The Blessing Anyiam-Osigwe Award)
Stella Damasus (Water Girl) - Best Actor in a Short
Karl Collins (The Last Dance) - Best Actor in a Feature (The Anthony Adjekum Award)
Elijah Baker (Tapped) - Best International Feature
Letters to Goddo (Harry Bentil) - Best UK Feature (The Victor Adebodun Award)
Heavyweight (Christopher M. Anthony) - Best Documentary
Skategoat (Van Alpert) - Best Soundtrack
Lola (Johan Macaraeg) - Best Animation
Bubble Boy (Cameron Carr) - Best Script Supervision
Tapped (Teoman Sayin) - Best Live Scripts
Mailman (Robin Scovill)
Blood Enough (Saeid Ghasemi)
The Town (Al Mertens) - Honorary Award
Femi Oyeniran
