Creo has launched the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards, a new annual awards program for short films to provide a gateway for the development of creative excellence. Sponsored by Sony and free to enter, the awards set out to elevate original voices from around the globe with a fresh perspective on storytelling.
Thirty shortlisted filmmakers will be selected and flown to Los Angeles for the Awards ceremony, which takes place next February in the Cary Grant Theatre at the historic Sony Pictures studio lot in Culver City, California.
Winners from six categories will be announced then and rewarded with cash prizes and a range of Sony’s Digital Imaging equipment. Winners will be selected by a panel of leading figures chaired by award-winning theatre, television, and film director Justin Chadwick.
Following the Awards night, all 30 winners and shortlist will attend two days of workshops, screenings and panel discussions led by Sony Pictures executives and top experts in their fields. The two-day program will cover a wide range of topics from pitching to legal, to working with talent agencies and using cutting-edge technologies including animation and computer-generated imaging. The opportunity will help support the filmmakers’ career progression by providing them with exclusive access and unparalleled insight into the inner workings of the industry.
Chadwick said, “We are in a moment of great change in the film industry: where studios are looking for original new voices that can cut through the noise and find new ways of communicating with audiences. With the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards we are looking for the next generation of storytellers whose work can engage, inform, entertain, and excite. If you have something to say and you want your voice to be heard, we want to hear it.”
Kenji Tanaka, senior vice president, Sony Corporation said, “Sony’s Purpose is to “Fill the world with emotion, through the power of creativity and technology.” Working alongside our collaborators Creo to launch the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards, we are truly excited about what this new initiative offers to filmmakers, as it furthers our commitment to content creators and the stories they tell. From access to our world-class facilities and leading experts to the most advanced and innovative technology, we aim to break down all barriers to creativity and provide creators with the tools and the opportunities they need to propel them to the next level.”
Creo Founder and CEO Scott Gray said, “We are thrilled to launch the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards, with the aim of elevating and championing filmmakers from across the globe. The prize presents a unique opportunity to filmmakers and an exceptional boost to their professional development. This new initiative further builds on Creo’s strong track record of setting-up programs to support and advance the careers of creatives and we are grateful to Sony for their sponsorship and to Justin Chadwick for his expert guidance as jury chair.”
The deadline for all entries is December 13, 2022, at 07:00 a.m. PST. For more information and to submit to the awards visit www.sonyfuturefilmmakerawards.com.