A jury of industry experts will select winners in 6 categories from over 8,400 film submissions received from more than 5,000 filmmakers across 148 countries and territories; awards to be presented May 30.
Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2024 revealed its jury of leading industry experts, with award-winning director Justin Chadwick returning again to serve as chair. Now in its second year, the annual competition elevates original and diverse voices with a fresh perspective on storytelling, offering filmmakers career-defining opportunities and access to the inner workings of the industry. This year’s competition received over 8,400 films from 5,000+ filmmakers across 148 countries and territories. Entries for the program closed earlier this month.
The 2024 edition introduced a new competition format with a total of six categories for filmmakers to enter: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Environment, Student, Future Format – welcoming films shot exclusively with a smartphone – and a new Animation category.
Jury members joining Chadwick this year are as follows:
- Michael Barker and Tom Bernard, co-founders and co-presidents of Sony Pictures Classics
- Rob Hardy ASC, BSC, BAFTA award-winning cinematographer
- Kate Reid BSC, British cinematographer
- Robert Primes ASC. Emmy-award winning cinematographer
- Unjoo Moon, Australian filmmaker
"It is such a pleasure to return as chair of this new prestigious panel of decorated creatives,” said Chadwick. “Last year, we brought to the forefront 30 exceptionally talented filmmakers from across the world, each of whom had the unique chance to access the inner workings of the industry in Los Angeles, opening doors to career-launching opportunities. From my own experience, the art of the short film is by no means one to be underestimated, and I look forward to discovering more brilliant, talented individuals through this upcoming selection."
In the first stage of judging, Primes and Moon will select the top 30 films to comprise this year’s shortlist. The second stage judges are Barker, Bernard, Hardy, and Kate Reid, who will choose this year’s category winners, awarding creative excellence and original approaches to narrative. Chadwick will chair both stages of judging. The 30 shortlisted filmmakers will be announced April 23, 2024.
Shortlisted filmmakers will be flown to Los Angeles to participate in an extensive workshop program and to attend the May 30, 2024, Awards ceremony. The ceremony will take place at Cary Grant Theater at the historic Sony Pictures Studios lot in Culver City, California. The six winners receive cash prizes and Sony camera equipment.
This year, winners and shortlisted filmmakers can attend an expanded four-day workshop program in Los Angeles, which provides behind-the-scenes industry access covering a range of topics from pitching to legal to working with talent agencies and using cutting-edge technologies.
Beginning with this edition, the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards moves to spring with the four-day workshop program and Awards ceremony taking place at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California from May 28 - 31, 2024.
In addition to attending the workshop program and receiving Sony camera equipment, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Environment, and Animation category winners also receive a $5,000 (USD) cash prize. The Future Format category winner receives a $2,500 (USD) cash prize. The student category winner and institution each receive Sony camera equipment.
Additional information is available here.
Source: Sony Future Filmmaker Awards
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
