Call for Nominations: Day One New Filmmaker Awards 2025
If you know someone under 30 who embodies the qualities outlined below, we invite you to nominate them for one of these awards! Please provide a structured nomination (up to 400 words) that addresses the specific criteria for your chosen award category. Selection will be based primarily on the person and their demonstrated qualities, with optional work samples providing additional context.
How to Structure Your Nomination
Choose ONE award category and address the scoring criteria below with specific examples and evidence. Focus on the 2-3 criteria where your nominee excels most, but try to touch on all areas where possible.
Include a brief anecdote that illustrates your nominee's character and helps us understand who they are as a person.
The Spirit Award
This award celebrates young filmmakers with a can-do attitude and a fearless approach to problem-solving challenges. We're looking for natural leaders who love rallying their peers, think outside the box, and have a knack for finding new ways to get things done. This person could work in any film-related field.
Address these criteria in your nomination:
Leadership Impact - How have they led projects, mentored others, or inspired teammates? Provide specific examples.
Problem-Solving Innovation - Describe times they found creative solutions to production challenges, budget constraints, or technical issues.
Collaborative Spirit - Give examples of how they work effectively with diverse teams, build consensus, or rally support for projects.
Initiative & Drive - How do they create opportunities, take on challenges, or motivate themselves and others?
Peer Recognition - Do others seek their guidance, want to work with them, or look to them for leadership? Include specific examples.
The Vision Award
This award is for young storytellers who bring fresh, original perspectives to life on screen. We're looking for creative voices who have a unique way of seeing the world and show strong potential to make a lasting impact with their ideas as future writers, directors, or creators.
Address these criteria in your nomination:
Unique Perspective - What makes their voice or approach distinctive? How do they see the world differently?
Storytelling Clarity - Provide examples of how they communicate ideas effectively and compellingly to audiences.
Creative Risk-Taking - Describe their willingness to explore unconventional narratives, themes, or filmmaking approaches.
Future Potential - What evidence suggests their vision could influence or shape the industry?
Audience Connection - Give examples of how they engage, move, or impact audiences with their ideas.
The Craft Award
This award honours young filmmakers who excel in the technical side of filmmaking. We're looking for emerging craftspeople passionate about hands-on work—camera, sound, lighting, art department, animation, post, and more—who bring dedication, skill, and attention to detail to their work on set.
Address these criteria in your nomination:
Technical Proficiency - What is their skill level and competency in their chosen craft area(s)? Be specific about their technical abilities.
Attention to Detail - Provide examples of their consistency, precision, and quality in technical execution.
Continuous Learning - How do they develop their skills and stay current with new techniques or technology?
Reliability & Work Ethic - Give examples of their dependability on set and commitment to delivering quality outcomes.
Cross-Discipline Knowledge - How well do they understand how their craft integrates with other departments?
Nomination Guidelines
- Word limit: 400 words maximum
- Focus: Provide concrete examples and specific evidence for each criterion
- Structure: Address the criteria most relevant to your nominee, but try to cover all areas
- Character insight: Include a brief anecdote that helps us understand your nominee's character
- Optional work samples: You may include a link to their website, portfolio, or social media to provide additional context (not mandatory - assessment is based primarily on your nomination)
- Self-nominations: Not permitted
- Suitable nominators: Teachers, lecturers, collaborators, fellow students, teammates, supervisors, or industry professionals who have worked with the nominee
Submission deadline: Sunday 28 September, 2025.
Prizes include cash, merch, subscriptions, and more 🤭
Ready to submit a nomination? Here's the link.
Thank you for supporting the next generation of filmmakers. We look forward to celebrating these inspiring young talents!
More information about Day One New Filmmaker Awards to come!