Sony Future Filmmaker Awards

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 six categories: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation, Immersive, Student, and Future Format. 
 

The shortlisted filmmakers from the Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation, Immersive, Student categories and the Future Format category winner are flown to Los Angeles for an industry-immersive program. 
 

  • Fiction and Non-Fiction categories award a winner from a shortlist of up to 10.
  • Animation and Student categories award a winner from a shortlist of up to 5.
  • Immersive awards a winner from a shortlist of up to 3. 
  • Future Format category awards a winner from up to 5 commended entries.
     

For more information on category descriptions and this year's brief for Future Format, please refer to the entry boxes at the bottom of this page.

Category Winners Shortlist Commended
Flights & Accommodation x x
Ceremony x x
On-site workshop program x x
Digital equipment* x
Certificate x x x
Trophy x
Cash prizes x

Check our Rules for full prize information.

*Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation, Student winners receive a camera plus lens and a Meta VR device; the Immersive category winner receives a Meta VR device; the Future Format winner receives a camera plus lens 

If you’re shortlisted or commended:

If you’re shortlisted​ you will need to submit a high-resolution file for screening and distribution purposes with the following specifications:

  • A high-resolution version with a minimum resolution of 1080 pixels ProRes HQ MOV and a minimum of 24 frames per second

  • Your audio mix and stems as separate files

  • Clean versions of your film and separate SRT files containing English subtitles

  • Separated graphics

  • A 30 to 60-second trailer of your film

  • If your film is shortlisted or commended, you agree clips from your films will be used for PR and marketing purposes

  • You’ll also be asked to submit 3 to 5 high-res stills, a film poster, your portrait (all images will need to be 300ppi at 3508 pixels on the longest side). Additionally you’ll need to provide a synopsis, a biography plus a list of cast and crew

If you’re shortlisted in Immersive you will need to supply a high-resolution version with a minimum resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels (Ultra High Definition) ProRes HQ MOV and a minimum of 24 frames per second

Entry requirements

All categories 

  • Videos can be shot on any kind of device or camera

  • The length of your video must be the same as stated in the category description

  • One submission per person per category

  • Please make sure your submission is in English (or includes English subtitles)

  • Audio is delivered as mono/stereo and not 5.1 surround sound

  • Entries must have been released from January 1 2025 to December 15 2026

  • You must own full copyright of your entry

  • Please refer to category descriptions for specific entry requirements

Immersive

  • Submissions must be 5 to 20 minutes in length, utilise 180° monoscopic or stereoscopic video and can be of any genre 

  • Submissions must be a maximum of 25 GB per file

  • Submissions must be shared as both a downloadable direct file link (Google Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer, or similar) and hosted on an online screener (YouTube, YouTube VR, Vimeo or similar)

  • Submission files must be named in this format: *submission_id*_*film_title*.mp4

  • Submissions must be immersive video only (VR180), both standard and stereoscopic (3D) VR180 formats are accepted

  • Augmented Reality (AR) or Mixed Reality (MR) and Extended Reality (XR) techniques are not eligible for entry 

  • A limited fallback for standard flat video may be accepted, but priority is given to VR content

  • Content should be pre-rendered video files designed for headset playback (e.g. Meta Quest) 

  • Resolution (per eye):
    - VR180 stereoscopic: 4K per eye minimum (3840 × 3840 or 4096 × 4096). 5.7K–8K per eye preferred.
    - 60° stereoscopic: 4K per eye minimum (4096 × 2048 per eye, 8K total side-by-side).
    - Flat stereoscopic 3D: 3840 × 2160 per eye minimum.
    - VR180 metadata: Must be injected (Google's VR180 Creator tool or equivalent) so the file is recognized as immersive by playback apps

  • Frame rate:
    - 30 fps minimum
    - 60 fps is strongly preferred for any motion, sports, or action content

  • Codec & container:
    - Codec: H.265/HEVC (10-bit), MV-HEVC, or Apple ProRes
    - Container: MP4 or MOV

  • Bit depth: 10-bit preferred

  • Bit rate:
    - 100 Mbps minimum for 4K per eye
    - 200+ Mbps for 5.7K–8K per eye

Future Format

  • Films must be designed for vertical viewing (9:16 aspect ratio)

  • Your video must be between 2 to 5 minutes, including credits

  • Entries can be shot on any device – creativity in vertical storytelling is the focus

  • Entries cannot be repurposed horizontal content without clear vertical intent

  • Entries should not include social-media-style videos (e.g., TikTok edits, vlogs, trends)

  • Entries should not include commercials, trailers, or branded content

Before you enter, please make sure you have:

  • A description of your submission (add this to the ‘series description’ field)

  • A link to your short film on an online screener, for example a Vimeo or YouTube, that is 1080 pixels ProRes HQ MOV. The link must remain active until July 31 2027 or your submission risks disqualification.

  • For Immersive category submissions must be shared as a direct file link only (Google Drive, Dropbox, WeTransfer, or similar)

  • Submissions entered as files / downloads will be disqualified

  • A JPEG that illustrates your project

  • The image used needs to be:

    • JPEG format

    • Quality 10 or above

    • Between 1 to 5MB each

    • Set to sRGB color mode

Fiction

This category awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 10. Submissions must be between 5 to 20 minutes in length and be narrative-led to convey an original fictional story or event. Dramatized factual subjects should be entered into this category rather than Non-Fiction.

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Non-Fiction

This category awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 10. Submissions must be between 5 to 20 minutes in length and be predominantly factual in content. Archive footage, documentary footage, reenactments and animation are eligible, but dramatized factual subjects will not qualify and should be entered into another category.

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Animation

This category awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 5. Submissions must be between 2 to 20 minutes in length and include at least 75% of animated footage to qualify for this category.

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Immersive

Supported by Meta, this category celebrates short films that use immersive video to place audiences inside the story. Submissions must utilise VR180, be 5–20 minutes in length and can span any genre, from fiction to documentary, live action to animation. Welcoming approaches beyond traditional filmmaking, the category offers a platform for bold, experiential storytelling and new narrative possibilities.

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Student

The Student category rewards filmmakers studying a film course at a registered institution at a diploma or degree level worldwide. This category awards one winner and a shortlist of up to 5. Institutions that make up the shortlist are selected by continent to ensure a diverse range of global talent. Entries can be of any genre. Submissions must be between 5 to 20 minutes in length.

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Future Format

This year’s brief calls for films created specifically for vertical viewing (9:16 aspect ratio). The competition awards one winner and up to five commended entries. Entries can be shot on any device and can be of any genre. Submissions must be between 2 to 5 minutes in length

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