Sony Future Filmmaker Awards

About the Open Call

The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards celebrate the filmmakers shaping the cinematic landscape of tomorrow. Free to enter and aimed at independent filmmakers worldwide, the program consists of five categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation, Student, and Future Format. The shortlisted filmmakers from the Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation, Student categories and the Future Format category winner are flown to Los Angeles for an industry-immersive program. Categories include: * **Fiction**: Awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 10. Submissions must be 5-20 minutes, narrative-led, conveying an original fictional story or event. Dramatized factual subjects belong here. * **Non-Fiction**: Awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 10. Submissions must be 5-20 minutes, predominantly factual. Archive, documentary, reenactments, and animation are eligible. * **Animation**: Awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 5. Submissions must be 2-20 minutes and include at least 75% animated footage. * **Student**: Awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 5. For filmmakers studying a film course at a registered institution worldwide. Submissions 5-20 minutes, any genre. * **Future Format**: Awards one winner and up to 4 commended entries. Brief calls for films created specifically for vertical viewing (9:16 aspect ratio), 2-5 minutes, any device, any genre.

What is Offered

Flights & Accommodation, Ceremony, On-site workshop program, Camera plus lens, Certificate, Trophy, Cash prizes, Online promotion.

Requirements

General requirements: Videos can be shot on any kind of device or camera. One submission per person per category (except Future Format, which is one per person). Submissions must be in English or include English subtitles. Audio must be mono/stereo, not 5.1 surround sound. Entrants must own full copyright. Entries can be produced from January 1, 2024, to December 16, 2025. Specific length requirements per category: * **Fiction / Non-Fiction**: 5 to 20 minutes. * **Animation / Student**: 2 to 20 minutes. * **Future Format**: 2 to 5 minutes, designed for vertical viewing (9:16 aspect ratio). Future Format submissions must not include repurposed horizontal content without clear vertical intent, social-media-style videos (e.g., TikTok edits, vlogs, trends), commercials, trailers, or branded content.

How to Apply

Before entering, applicants must have: a description of the submission (for the ‘series description’ field), a link to their short film on an online screener (e.g., Vimeo or YouTube URL) in 1080 pixels ProRes HQ MOV format, which must remain active until July 31, 2026. Submissions as files/downloads will be disqualified. Also required is a JPEG image illustrating the project (JPEG format, quality 10+, 1-5MB, sRGB color mode). Refer to category descriptions and entry boxes for specific requirements. If shortlisted or commended, applicants will need to submit high-resolution files (minimum 1080 pixels ProRes HQ MOV, minimum 24 fps), audio mix and stems, clean film versions with separate English SRT subtitles, separated graphics, a 30-60 second trailer, 3-5 high-res stills, a film poster, a portrait, a synopsis, a biography, and a cast/crew list.