Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2023 Shortlist for the inaugural edition announced

Creo is delighted to announce the shortlist for the first edition of the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards. Established by Creo and sponsored by Sony as a serious new annual awards program for quick movies, the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards got down to elevate authentic voices from round the globe with a recent perspective on storytelling.

The inaugural competitors ran from July 26 by way of December 13, 2022, drawing an enormous response: over 4,000 movies by greater than 3,000 filmmakers in 140 nations. From this range of submissions, 30 movies have been shortlisted in six classes: Filmmaker Fiction; Filmmaker Non-Fiction; Filmmaker Environment; Student Filmmaker Fiction; Student Filmmaker Non-Fiction; and Future Format. The shortlisted tales vary from the transferring private account of a survivor of the brutal Pinochet regime, to an Afro-futuristic fairytale of affection, from an indigenous Mexican city threatened by prison teams, to an indigenous neighborhood in the threatened rainforest of British Columbia, from the magical realism of a scholar whose new eraser rubs out the strains that divide his nation to the horror-fantasy of a younger boy trapped inside the physique of a zombie. Representing a very international perspective on filmmaking, the shortlist contains movies from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Cuba, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Nigeria, Republic of Korea, Spain, Taiwan, UK, Uganda, USA, Venezuela, and Vietnam.

The 30 shortlisted filmmakers have been chosen by a panel of main trade specialists chaired by award-winning British theater, tv and movie director Justin Chadwick(Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, The Other Boleyn Girl, Tulip Fever). In addition to Chadwick, this yr’s jury comprised main and celebrated figures from the movie trade together with: Nicole Brown, President of TriStar Pictures (I Wanna Dance with Somebody, Matilda the Musical, Baby Driver); Jeremy Barber, Partner, Motion Picture Literary and Talent, United Talent Agency; and Sir Roger A. Deakins, Academy award-winning cinematographer (Blade Runner 2049, Skyfall, 1917).

The six winners will likely be announced on February 22, 2023 throughout a black-tie awards ceremony at the Cary Grant Theatre on the historic Sony Pictures Studio lot in Culver City, California, adopted by an unique three-day trade immersion expertise led by Sony Pictures executives for all the profitable and shortlisted filmmakers. The six winners may even be rewarded with money prizes and a spread of Sony’s Digital Imaging gear.

Justin Chadwick, award-winning theater, tv and movie director and Chair of the Jury, says: “The global response has been truly exhilarating. New voices from all over the world have sent in films in all categories in huge numbers. Films that are original, diverse and fresh, filled with passion and originality. It’s been a brilliant and inspiring honor to be a part of this and a totally enjoyable experience and one that gives me great hope for the industry. The films chosen are a wonderful window into the future of film making and storytelling and the discovery of a rich seam of talent.”

Scott Gray, Founder and CEO of Creo, says: “We have been blown away by the quality of the submissions to the inaugural Sony Future Filmmaker Awards and the final shortlist represents a group of exceptional talents from across the world. We are looking forward to welcoming the 30 filmmakers to LA in February where they will be able to take full advantage of the workshops and programming to really push their careers to the next level. We are grateful to Sony for their sponsorship and for providing this fantastic opportunity for the next generation of filmmakers, and to our wonderful panel of judges for lending their expert guidance.”

FILMMAKER

The Filmmaker competitors elevates authentic voices that deliver a recent perspective to storytelling.

In the Fiction class, the shortlist contains:

• Saul Abraham (UK), ENJOY – A touching, offbeat exploration of the methods during which despair manifests in males throughout completely different generations;
• Dumas Haddad (UK), Flowers – An Afro-futuristic fairytale of affection following a ceremony of a mom gifting away her son;
• Dan Thorburn (UK), Salt Water Town – With the risk of closure looming over a failing caravan park, the proprietor and his son conflict over their future with tragic penalties;
• Joy Webster (Canada), Menace – A drama a couple of girl searching for revenge in opposition to her ex-boyfriend, a well known TV presenter;
• Ka Ki Wong (Hong Kong), Fire Room – In a staggered time and house, an uncommon relationship unfolds between a pair of siblings – one an arsonist, the different a firefighter.

The Non-Fiction class shortlist consists of:

• Alfie Barker (UK), Hanging On – A docudrama about the struggles of a housing neighborhood confronted with eviction;
• Horacio Cabilla (Spain), This Is My Reason – The tales of three cyclists utilizing the sport to beat private losses and setbacks;
• Julianna Jimreivat (USA), Letting Go of the Grade – As 4 girls journey to Mexico for a climbing expedition, they discover their relationship to the apply and open up about their private challenges;
• Daniela Lucato (Italy), The Things You Don’t Know About Me, Mom – A survivor of the Pinochet regime in Chile imagines telling her mom all of the issues that she didn’t wish to know;
• Juan Vicente Manrique Gomez (Venezuela), No Te Agüites (Don’t Worry) – In an indigenous city threatened by prison teams, firearms have turn into a part of on a regular basis life for the native kids who’re compelled to assist watch over their neighborhood.

The Environment class is run in affiliation with Sony Pictures Television’s “Picture This” initiative, which champions creativity that communicates a constructive future for the planet. The shortlist includes:

• Pedro Furtado (Brazil), The Good Dolphins – Fishermen in Brazil struggle to avoid wasting a pod of dolphins who’ve helped them catch fish throughout generations;
• Austin Smock (USA), The Beauty Between – A wildlife photographer raises consciousness about the threats going through the ten million birds residing on the Great Salt Lake in Utah;
• Alexander Sworik (Canada), Seawolf – Two indigenous males look to protect their heritage and save the Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia;
• Joaquín Ezequiel Tucci (Argentina), Despertólogo Ambiental – A documentary following Gastón Caminata, a local weather activist who reminds us about the impression of people on the planet and that change that is dependent upon us;
• Thanh Tran (Vietnam), The Voice of the Wind – As humanity is dropping contact with nature, the wind is speaking to us… Is anybody listening?

STUDENT FILMMAKER

The Student Filmmaker competitors rewards the expertise quickly set to form the trade.

The Fiction class shortlist contains:

• Juan Pablo Daranas Molina (Cuba), New York University Tisch School of the Arts, USA, The Confirmation – A biologist opposes her daughter’s try and treatment her illness by way of religious therapeutic;
• Theo-Ziny Joel (Nigeria), National Film Institute, Nigeria, Read My Body – A father making ready for battle warns his son, who desires to be a warrior like him, about the impression of battle and teaches him to hunt peace as a substitute;
• Alisha Mehra (Australia), Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, Match Point – Two first-generation Australians compete at an annual badminton competitors – one for his mom’s approval, the different for the prize cash to assist pay his mom’s medical payments;
• Mateo Salas (Colombia, Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia), The Sun of the River – A household’s journey takes a troubling flip when they’re stopped by a gaggle of paramilitaries;
• Pietro Venier (Italy, University of West London, UK), The Hook – An Italian teenager is confronted with a dilemma: ought to he keep in his hometown together with his finest buddy and household, or settle for a job on a distant island fated to vanish underneath rising sea ranges.

The Non-Fiction class shortlist consists of:

• Catalina Fonseca Arango (Colombia), Corporación Universitaria Taller 5, Colombia, Stories of a Dancing Mind – A documentary a couple of dancer charting her ideas, experiences and deepest reflections;
• Shiao-ya (Maggie) Huang (Taiwan), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Farewell Chang Chun – In a constructing in Taipei as a consequence of be demolished, the household who made it their residence say goodbye by way of the sharing of tales, recollections and feelings;
• Seonghoon Eric Park (Republic of Korea), Boston University, USA, In Cod We Trust – A movie probing the endangered fishing commerce in the New England city of Gloucester, residence to certainly one of the oldest and largest fishing communities in the USA;
• Lubeera Saphina (Uganda), Kampala University, Uganda, Ghetto Fist – Faced with challenges and following a sexual assault, a feminine boxer trains and finds inspiration in her sport;
• Ishan Vaidya (India), The University of Salford, UK, Puffin Island – Every spring and summer time the island of Skokholm in the Celtic Sea is witness to certainly one of the biggest wildlife gatherings in Britain with the return of an enormous flock of puffins.

FUTURE FORMAT

The Future Format competitors challenges filmmakers to reply to a brand new technical temporary annually.

This yr submissions have been to be completely shot on a smartphone. The shortlist is comprised of:

• Jose Jacob (India), My India – A motorbike experience on the border of India juxtaposed with a cellphone dialog about id and nationalism between two pals;
• Ria Nalavade (India), Magic Eraser – A schoolchild with a brand new eraser discovers that it rubs out all the strains that divide the nation of India;
• Ginna Parra (Colombia), Filtros (Filters) – A ten-year-old boy trapped inside the physique of a zombie feels ostracized, however by way of social media discovers a much less superficial world;
• Jacob Redman (UK), Subversive – An American artist residing in a disused vineyard in the South of France leads the viewer by way of his studio and his inventive course of;
• Pan Tianhong (China Mainland), Homework for Winter Vacation – A baby making candy dumplings in preparation for the Chinese New Year completes his activity in a really inventive method.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE 30 SHORTLISTED FILMMAKERS PLEASE VISIT SONYFUTUREFILMMAKERAWARDS.COM

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Sony Future Filmmaker Awards

Established by Creo and sponsored by Sony, the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards is a serious new annual awards program for quick movies dedicated to supporting and elevating unbiased filmmakers and creators from throughout the globe. Set aside by its distinctive prize, the Awards present profitable filmmakers with invaluable alternatives in the type of a visit to Los Angeles and to the historic Sony Pictures Studio in Culver City, California, the place they achieve unique entry to specialists and unparalleled perception into the interior workings of the trade. Winners moreover obtain money prizes and a spread of Sony Digital Imaging gear. Free to enter, the Awards comprise three competitions: Filmmaker, Student Filmmaker and Future Format, and are judged by a panel of main figures. By supporting skills in movie, video and storytelling, the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards supplies a gateway for the improvement of inventive excellence. www.sonyfuturefilmakerawards.com

Creo initiates and organises occasions and programming throughout three key strands: images, movie and up to date artwork. Established in 2007 as World Photography Organisation, Creo has since grown in scope, furthering its mission of growing significant alternatives for creatives and increasing the attain of its cultural actions. Today, its flagship tasks embody the Sony World Photography Awards, Sony Future Filmmaker Awards, PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai, Photo London and the forthcoming PHOTOFAIRS New York (Sep 2023). Working in partnership with Angus Montgomery Arts, Creo helps ship the group’s ventures, comprising a few of the world’s main artwork gala’s. Taking its title from the Latin for ‘I create’, it’s on this spirit that Creo units out to empower and provides company to inventive voices. www.creoarts.com

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation. SPE’s international operations embody movement image manufacturing, acquisition, and distribution; tv manufacturing acquisition, and distribution; tv networks; digital content material creation and distribution; operation of studio amenities; and improvement of latest leisure merchandise, companies and applied sciences. Sony Pictures Television operates dozens of wholly-owned or joint-venture manufacturing corporations round the world. SPE’s  Motion Picture Group manufacturing organizations embody Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, Sony Pictures International Productions, and Sony Pictures Classics. For further data, go to

www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions

About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a completely owned subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation and is accountable for the Entertainment, Technology & Services (ET&S) enterprise. With the imaginative and prescient of “continuing to deliver Kando and Anshin to people and society across the world through the pursuit of technology and new challenges,” Sony will create services and products in areas resembling residence leisure & sound, imaging, and cell communications.

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* Both Japanese phrases, Kando means emotion and Anshin has varied meanings resembling peace of thoughts, reassurance, reliability and belief.

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