The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2025 honours visionary storytellers across Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation, and Student categories from over 150 countries.
Dubai: The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2025 unveiled its winners during a prestigious ceremony at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City. Hosted by Denny Directo, the third edition of this global short film competition, founded by Creo and sponsored by Sony, attracted 11,750 entries from 7,500 filmmakers across 158 countries, spotlighting bold, original storytelling from emerging talent worldwide.
The 2025 winners are:
- Fiction: Rossana Montoya (Colombia) for My Demon
- Non-Fiction: Juliet Klottrup (UK) for Travelling Home
- Animation: Santiago O’Ryan & José Navarro (Chile) for Hermanos Casablanca
- Student: Hayder Hoozeer (UK) & Franz Böhm (Germany) for Rock Paper Scissors
Judged by an esteemed panel including Jason Reitman, Minhal Baig, Elizabeth Gabler, and Justin Chadwick, the winners were praised for their fresh perspectives and mastery of cinematic craft.
Each winner received Sony Digital Imaging equipment and a $5,000 prize, alongside participation in a four-day industry programme at Sony Pictures Studios from June 2–5, 2025. This immersive experience included workshops on cinematography, scriptwriting, production deals, tech innovations, and sound design, providing a crucial platform for career advancement.
Among the standout films:
- My Demon captured intimate conflict in a single take as a couple rushes to the hospital.
- Travelling Home explored Romany traditions using rich 16mm visuals.
- Hermanos Casablanca used stylised animation to revisit Chile’s dark political history.
- Rock Paper Scissors, based on true events, heightened emotion through stark settings and powerful performances.
The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards continue to elevate emerging voices by offering global exposure and industry access. With entries for the 2026 edition opening in July 2025, the awards reaffirm Sony’s commitment to storytelling innovation.
For more on this year’s winners and shortlisted creators, visit: sonyfuturefilmmakerawards.com
