The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2025 celebrated its latest cohort of global filmmaking talent in a special awards ceremony hosted by Emmy-winning presenter Denny Directo (Entertainment Tonight) at the historic Scenic Arts Building on the Sony Pictures Studios lot. Now in its third year, the international short film competition, founded by Creo and sponsored by Sony, continues to provide a launchpad for bold new voices in cinema.
Chosen from more than 7,500 filmmakers across 158 countries and territories, this year’s winners were honoured for their originality and craft in four categories:
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Fiction: Rossana Montoya (Colombia)
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Non-Fiction: Juliet Klottrup (United Kingdom)
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Animation: Santiago O’Ryan & José Navarro (Chile)
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Student: Hayder Hoozeer & Franz Böhm (United Kingdom / Germany)
The awards were adjudicated by an esteemed panel of industry leaders, including filmmaker and writer Minhal Baig (We Grown Now, Hala), 3000 Pictures President Elizabeth Gabler (Where the Crawdads Sing), Academy Award® nominee Jason Reitman (Juno, Ghostbusters: Afterlife), and acclaimed director Justin Chadwick (Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom), who served as Chair of the Jury.
In a joint statement, the jury praised the winners’ boundary-pushing work:
“It is truly exciting to look toward the future of filmmaking through the eyes of this incredible group of winners. As new custodians of the craft, each of them brings a particular vision that challenges the status quo as well as breathing new life into the stories we tell. The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards are not only about recognizing this talent — they’re about supporting and empowering those who will shape the industry for years to come, and we are eager to see how they continue to redefine the cinematic landscape.”
As part of their prize, all winners and shortlisted filmmakers took part in a four-day immersive industry programme at Sony Pictures Studios from June 2–5. The experience included masterclasses with Sony Pictures executives, in-depth workshops on cinematography, sound design, screenwriting and legal aspects of production, and exclusive behind-the-scenes studio tours. The initiative aims to give filmmakers the knowledge, tools, and networks to develop sustainable careers in the global film industry.
In addition to the development programme, the winners each received a cash prize and Sony Digital Imaging equipment, designed to support their next creative steps.
The awards, increasingly seen as a barometer for emerging talent in short-form filmmaking, continue to grow in reach and reputation. With the 2025 edition marking another successful milestone, organisers confirmed the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards will return for a fourth edition in spring 2026. Submissions for next year’s competition will open in July 2025.
