The American Film Institute (AFI) proudly announced the Grand Jury Prize winners and Special Jury Mentions for AFI FEST 2025, with the event presented by Canva. This year’s top winners in Live Action Short, Documentary Short, and Animated Short are now eligible for consideration at the 2026 Academy Awards® in their respective categories. The jury was made up of filmmakers Sue-Ellen Chitunya and Katherine Propper, alongside film programmer, producer, and publicist Rachel Walker.
Grand Jury Prizes:
Live Action Short: MAJONEZË (Director: Giulia Grandinetti) – The jury praised this film for its compelling portrayal of a young woman’s journey to break free from life’s constraints, set against the backdrop of the Albanian countryside. They described it as a “cinematic punk rock fable.”
Documentary Short: SHANTI RIDES SHOTGUN (Director: Charles Frank) – This award was given for the film’s skillful storytelling and its heartfelt depiction of Shanti, a driving instructor in New York. The jury admired the film’s candor and the joy it brought to viewers.
Animated Short: FOREVERGREEN (Directors: Nathan Engelhardt, Jeremy Spears) – The jury highlighted the film’s stunning visuals and emotional depth, noting its moving story about the bond between an orphaned bear cub and a father-figure tree, exploring themes of friendship, sacrifice, and environmental awareness.
Special Jury Mentions:
- Craft: THE FISHERMAN (Director: Calvin Brown) – Recognized for its exceptional “animagic” style and poetic storytelling inspired by the Biblical tale of Job.
- Direction – Documentary Short: WELCOME HOME FRECKLES (Director: Huiju Park) – Honored for its sensitive self-directed narrative, capturing complex family dynamics and childhood memories.
- Bravery in Storytelling: COYOTES (Director: Said Zagha) – Commended for its courageous depiction of survival choices in war-torn regions.
- Direction – Live Action Short: POSTER BOY (Director: India Opzoomer) – Applauded for its precise storytelling and standout performances in a story about a 90s boy band hopeful.
- Vision – Animation Short: 9 MILLION COLORS (Director: Bára Anna) – Celebrated for its vibrant, dialogue-free stop-motion animation illustrating an unlikely friendship beneath the sea.
- Vision – Live Action Short: WATER SPORTS (Director: Whammy Alcazaren) – Noted for its energetic and apocalyptic vision with playful use of composition and form.
This year’s festival saw a record-breaking turnout, with ticket and pass sales increasing by more than 10% compared to last year.
Festival Highlights:
- 7 Red Carpet Premieres
- 12 Special Screenings
- 14 Luminaries selections
- 15 Discovery films
- 20 World Cinema selections
- 15 Documentaries
- 6 After Dark titles
- 44 Short Film Competition entries
- 23 AFI Conservatory Showcase films presented by AMC Networks
- 5 World Premieres, 5 North American Premieres, and 4 U.S. Premieres
- 39% of official selections directed by women; 29% by BIPOC filmmakers
- 56 countries represented, including 20 Oscar® submissions for Best International Feature
Among the featured international films were ALL THAT’S LEFT OF YOU (Jordan), EAGLES OF THE REPUBLIC (Sweden), FIUME O MORTE (Croatia), HAPPY BIRTHDAY (Egypt), KOKUHO (Japan), and many more from around the globe, showcasing the diversity and global reach of the festival.
AFI Conservatory alumni with films at the festival included Patrick Creadon, Frederick Elmes, Affonso Gonçalves, Patty Jenkins, Matthew Libatique, Lucy McKendrick, Williams Means, Charlie Polinger, Masanobu Takayanagi, Amy Vincent, and James Wilson. Returning filmmakers featured Bradley Cooper, Annemarie Jacir, Charlie Kaufman, Sam Pollard, Ben Proudfoot, Hong Sang-soo, Clay Tweel, and Thom Zimny.
Notable guests included Mahershala Ali, Will Arnett, George Clooney, Jamie Lee Curtis, Guillermo del Toro, Laura Dern, Rami Malek, Patty Jenkins, Spike Jonze, Hugh Jackman, Adam Sandler, Bruce Springsteen, Kristen Stewart, Taika Waititi, Jeremy Allen White, and many more stars and creatives from the film industry.
Canva served as the exclusive Presenting Sponsor, with FIJI Water as the Official Water Sponsor. Corporate partners included Apple Original Films, Northern Trust, AMC Networks, AT&T, Amazon MGM Studios, Netflix, and IMDbPro. The Envelope by The Los Angeles Times was the festival’s main media partner, with additional support from The Wall Street Journal, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and ABC7 On the Red Carpet.
For more details, visit FEST.AFI.com.
AFI, a nonprofit organization, champions the art of film through its Conservatory, annual awards, and a wide range of exhibition and educational programs. To support AFI and gain access to exclusive events, consider joining the Premiere Circle or email Advancement@AFI.com for more information.
Celebrating its 39th year, AFI FEST is an internationally renowned event that took place in Los Angeles from October 22-26, 2025. The festival featured an innovative lineup of screenings, panels, and discussions with master filmmakers and new voices, offering exclusive experiences for film enthusiasts. More info can be found at FEST.AFI.com and across AFI’s social media channels.
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