27th October 2022

Creo is delighted to reveal the judging panel for the inaugural edition of the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards; a major new annual programme for short films, providing a gateway for the development of creative excellence and free entry for anyone.

Chaired by award-winning director Justin ChadwickThis year's jury includes important and famous figures from the film industry, including: Nicole Brownpresident of TriStar Pictures; Jeremy Barber, Partner, Literature and Film Talent, United Talent Agency; and Mr Roger A. DeakinsAcademy Award-winning director of photography.

Justin Chadwick, award-winning theatre, television and film director and president of the jurysaid: 'I am honoured to chair this panel of highly distinguished individuals and look forward to working with my fellow jury members to discover new talent from around the globe. It was through short films that I made my directorial debut and began to receive recognition for my work. I'm excited about the unique opportunities this new awards programme offers young and emerging filmmakers.'

Further details were also announced about the three days of workshops, screenings and panels, led by Sony Pictures executives. This exceptional opportunity offers winning and shortlisted filmmakers exclusive access and an unrivalled insight into the inner workings of the industry through first-hand knowledge of the crucial stages of the filmmaking process - from initial presentation to casting, editing and theatrical marketing.

Josh Greenstein, president of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, said'The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards is an exciting new initiative to help support new talent from around the world. Sony Pictures is looking forward to welcoming the winning and shortlisted creators to the studio here in Culver City, California, where, through our carefully curated programme of workshops, led by our roster of experts, they will be able to gain a new understanding of the business to help them take the next steps in their filmmaking careers.'

The Sony Future Filmmaker Awards ceremony will take place on 22 February 2023 at the Cary Grant Theatre on the historic Sony Pictures Studio lot in Culver City, California. Thirty shortlisted filmmakers will be flown to Los Angeles to take part in the ceremony and workshop programme. The winners of six categories will be announced on the night and rewarded with cash prizes and a range of digital imaging equipment from Sony.

JUDGES 2023
Justin Chadwick is an award-winning British theatre, television and film director. He is best known for critically acclaimed films including the Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013), AFI and IFTA nominated The Other Boleyn Girl (2008); Tulip Fever (2017) and The First Grader (2010). His films have won numerous awards, including the Audience Award at the Durban International Film Festival, the Audience Award for Best Film at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, the Best Director and Audience Choice awards at the Sedona Film Festival and Best Feature Film at the Palm Beach. Film Festival 2010. His award-winning short films include Boy (2011), Shakespeare Shorts (1996) and Family Style (1993).

Nicole Brown is president of TriStar Pictures. Her oversight of Sony Pictures' speciality label includes all film development and production. In 2019, Brown was named head of TriStar Pictures, making her the first black woman to run a live-action label at a major studio. Brown has been instrumental in securing several major deals and overseeing projects for the studio, including Gina Prince-Bythewood's acclaimed The Woman King, starring Viola Davis. The film opened in cinemas on 16 September 2022 and has grossed over $ 75 million worldwide to date. The label's next releases are the highly anticipated Whitney Houston musical biopic, I Wanna Dance With Somebody, and Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical, a partnership with Netflix based on the award-winning West End musical. During his tenure at TriStar, Brown oversaw films such as Marielle Heller's Oscar-nominated A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, starring Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers; Happiest Season, which was licensed by Hulu in the United States and took the top spot on the streamer, as the LGBTQ+ romantic comedy was the most-watched film across all acquired and original Hulu films during its opening weekend; Edgar Wright's smash hit Baby Driver; Danny Boyle's sequel to Trainspotting; Jodie Foster's Money Monster, starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts; and Jonathan Demme's Ricki and The Flash, starring Meryl Streep. as the LGBTQ+ romantic comedy was the most-watched film across all acquired and original films on Hulu during its opening weekend; Edgar Wright's smash hit Baby Driver; Danny Boyle's sequel to Trainspotting; Jodie Foster's Money Monster, starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts; and Jonathan Demme's Ricki and The Flash, starring Meryl Streep. as the LGBTQ+ romantic comedy was the most-watched film across all acquired and original films on Hulu during its opening weekend; Edgar Wright's big hit Baby Driver; Danny Boyle's sequel to Trainspotting; Jodie Foster's Money Monster, starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts; and Jonathan Demme's Ricki and The Flash, starring Meryl Streep.

Jeremy Barber is a partner in the literary and film talent departments at United Talent Agents (UTA). Prior to UTA, Barber helped found and served as president of Catch 23 and Catch 23 UK. During his tenure, Barber was executive producer of One Hour Photo and King's Ransom. Barber was also head of production and acquisitions at Artisan Entertainment, where he oversaw films such as Requiem for a Dream, The Blair Witch Project and Buena Vista Social Club. Barber began his career in entertainment as a lawyer at Loeb & Loeb. Before Hollywood, Barber had a career in politics, where he worked on the Dukakis/Bentsen campaign, for Congressman Chuck Schumer, Senator Herb Kohl and Bill Clinton's Chicago Convention. Barber serves on the: Georgetown University Law School's Board of Visitors, Telluride Film Festival's esteemed Board of Advisors, the board of The People Concern, UTA's Advisory Board and Leadership Council, Campbell Hall's Advancement Committee, and served as Chairman of the Board of UCLA Lab School - where he now holds an emeritus position. Jeremy holds a law degree from Georgetown University and master's and bachelor's degrees from Cambridge University. He is a member of the Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Mr Roger A. Deakins is one of today's most awarded directors of photography, known for his vast and varied body of work. He has been nominated for an Oscar 15 times, winning twice with Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and 1917 (2019). His other Oscar nominations include: Denis Villeneuve's Sicario (2015); the Coen brothers' Fargo (1996), O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) and No Country for Old Men (2007); Frank Darabont's The Shawshank Redemption (1994); Martin Scorsese's Kundun (1997); and Sam Mendes' Skyfall (2012), among others. Deakins' many accolades include five BAFTAs, five American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), seven British Society of Cinematographers (BSC), two Independent Spirit Awards and several critics' prizes. He has also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the ASC, the BSC and the National Board of Review. In 2013, Roger Deakins was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and in 2021 he received a knighthood, the only director of photography to receive both honours. More recently, Sir Roger Deakins has also published a book of his photographs entitled BYWAYS (published by Damiani), revealing another side to his visual talent.

SONY PICTURES WORKSHOP PROGRAMME
Also announced today was a list of topics covered during three days of workshops, panel discussions and screenings (23-25 February 2023) to be led by Sony Pictures executives and held at the Sony Pictures studio. Specifically tailored to support filmmakers' career progression, the programme represents a unique opportunity for all 30 winning and shortlisted creators to gain the necessary insight into the film business and the key divisions of a major film studio. The full programme includes:

The Presentation Process Theatre Marketing
Cast and Talent Sony Pictures Classics
Production: Physical and Post-Playstation Productions
Filmmaker Process Commercial Affairs
Editing - CGI/VFX Sony Innovation Studios
Sound Acquisitions and Sound Mixing Soundtrack
and Music Rights Sony 3000 Pictures

Theatre Marketing
Sony Pictures Classics
Playstation Productions
Commercial Affairs
Sony Innovation Studios
Acquisitions
Sony 3000 Pictures

In addition to the workshop programme, the winners of the six categories will also receive exclusive access to Sony's state-of-the-art Digital Media Production Centre (DMPC), a unique resource for everything related to cutting-edge technologies and production, where they will learn how to operate their newly acquired Sony equipment in a live and virtual production environment.

DEADLINE AND PRIZES FOR THE 2023 COMPETITION:

The first edition of the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards opened for entries on 26 July 2022. It comprises six categories in three competitions:

Filmmaker competition in three categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction e Environment. The Environment category is organised in association with Sony Pictures Television's "Picture This" initiative, which advocates creativity that communicates a positive future for the planet.

Student Filmmaker Competition including two categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction .

Future Format CompetitionThe programme includes a technical brief that changes every year. For 2023, filmmakers must submit entries filmed exclusively on a smartphone.

The full competition and category descriptions and requirements can be found at www.sonyfuturefilmmakerawards.com .

The deadline for all registrations is 13 December 2022, 07h00 (CT) .

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Inbal Mizrahi / Hugo Ximenes
media@creoarts.com

Margaret PR
Grace Gabriele-Tighe
grace@margaretlondon.com

Emma Pettit
emma@margaretlondon.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

Sony Future Filmmaker Award
Established by Creo and sponsored by Sony, the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards is a major new annual awards programme for short films dedicated to supporting and elevating independent filmmakers and creators from around the world. Set apart by their exceptional prize, the awards offer successful filmmakers invaluable opportunities in the form of a trip to Los Angeles and the historic Sony Pictures Studio in Culver City, California, where they gain exclusive access to experts and an unrivalled insight into the inner workings of the industry. Winners also receive cash prizes and a range of Sony Digital Imaging equipment. Free to enter, the Awards comprise three competitions: Filmmaker, Student Filmmaker and Future Format, and are judged by a panel of leading personalities. By supporting talent in film, video and storytelling, www.sonyfuturefilmakerawards.com

Creo A
Creo initiates and organises events and programming in three main strands: photography, cinema and contemporary art. Founded in 2007 as the World Photography Organisation, Creo has since grown, extending its mission to develop meaningful opportunities for creatives and expand the reach of its cultural activities. Today, its major projects include the Sony World Photography Awards, PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai, Photo London and the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards. Working in partnership with Angus Montgomery Arts, Creo helps deliver the group's endeavours, including some of the world's leading art fairs. Taking its name from the Latin for 'I create', it is in this spirit that Creo sets out to empower and give agency to creative voices. www.creoarts.com

Sony Corporation A
Sony Corporation is responsible for the Entertainment, Technology and Services (ET&S) business of the Sony Group. With a vision to "continue to provide Kando and Anshin* for people and society around the world through the pursuit of technology and new challenges," Sony will create products and services in areas such as home entertainment and sound, image and mobile communications. For more information, visit: www.sony.net

* Both Japanese words, Kando means emotion and Anshin has various meanings, such as peace of mind, security, reliability and trust.

Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo. SPE's global operations encompass film production, acquisition and distribution; television production acquisition and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. Sony Pictures Television operates dozens of wholly owned or joint venture production companies around the world. SPE's Motion Picture Group production organisations include 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 more information, visit www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions

About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a creative entertainment company with a solid technology foundation. From games and network services to music, images, electronics, image sensors and financial services - Sony's goal is to fill the world with excitement through the power of creativity and technology. 

For more information, visit: http://www.sony.net/