Established by Creo and sponsored by Sony, the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards is a major annual awards program for short films devoted to supporting and elevating independent filmmakers and creators from across the globe.
Set apart by its exceptional prize, the Awards provide successful filmmakers with invaluable opportunities in the form of a trip to Los Angeles and to the historic Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California, where they gain exclusive access to experts and unparalleled insight into the inner workings of the industry.
Winners additionally receive cash prizes and a range of Sony Digital Imaging equipment.
Free to enter with a deadline of Thursday 12th December 2024, the Awards comprise 4 categories:
o Fiction: this category awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 10. Submissions must be between 5 to 20 minutes in length and be narrative-led to convey an original fictional story or event. Dramatized factual subjects should be entered into this category rather than Non-Fiction.
o Non-Fiction: this category awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 10. Submissions must be between 5 to 20 minutes in length and be predominantly factual in content. Archive footage, documentary footage, re-enactments and animation are eligible, but dramatized factual subjects will not qualify and should be entered into another category.
o Animation: this category awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 5. Submissions must be between 2 to 20 minutes in length and include at least 75% of animated footage to qualify for this category.
o Student: the Student category rewards filmmakers studying a film course at a registered institution at a diploma or degree level worldwide. This category awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 5. Institutions that make up the shortlist are selected by continent to ensure a diverse range of global talent. Entries can be of any genre. Submissions must be between 5 to 20 minutes in length.
Entries are judged by a panel of leading figures. By supporting talents in film, video and storytelling, the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards provides a gateway for the development of creative excellence.
Fiction, Non-Fiction and Animation category winners receive a $5,000 USD (£3,867) cash prize.
This includes flights and accommodation for the shortlisted filmmaker. Should the filmmaker have worked with a cinematographer / director on the selected film, and that individual be credited accordingly, they may also attend the four-day program, but their associated costs (including flight and accommodation) must be covered at their own expense.
Previous workshops have included topics such as casting, physical production, animation, legal, CGI, innovation at Sony, pitching process, sound and music mixing, post-production, talent agencies, TV and studio tours.
Student category winner and institution each receive Sony camera equipment.
Entry Requirements
o Videos can be shot on any kind of device or camera.
o The length of your video must be the same as stated in the category description.
o One submission per person per category.
o Please make sure your submission is in English (or includes English subtitles).
o Audio is delivered as mono/stereo and not 5.1 surround sound.
o You must own full copyright of your entry.
o Entries can be produced from January 1 2023 to December 12 2024.
Before you enter, please make sure you have
o A description of your submission (add this to the ‘series description’ field).
o A link to your short film on an online screener, for example a Vimeo or YouTube URL, that is 1080 pixels ProRes HQ MOV. The link must remain active until July 31 2025 or your submission risks disqualification.
o Submissions entered as files / downloads will be disqualified.
o A JPEG that illustrates your project.
o The image used needs to be:
> JPEG format.
> Quality 10 or above.
> Between 1 to 5MB each.
> Set to sRGB colour mode.
Further information and details about how to enter can be found on the Sony website.
