AFIN 2025
Wrapped
71 recognised films. 24 countries. 20 awards. 14h of cinema. The story of AFIN 2025.
The year, measured
20 awards presented across 20 categories
18 winning films took home a trophy
24 countries represented on screen
14h of cinema 59 of 71 films timed
AFIN 2025 recorded its 71 recognised works - the winners and nominees. "Awards presented" counts the 20 categories judged, the figure that stays comparable across all seven editions.
The standout From the Judges Read the film page →
A MESSAGE TO THE AUTHOR
- Best Student Short Film
- Best Visual Effects
After a lonely 12 year old boy stumbles upon a book that gives him the power to control his life and make his wishes come to existence, he realises what is truly important about life and destiny.
A quietly magical story about a boy, a bookseller, and the pull of his own destiny, this short carries the warmth of the fantasy films many of us grew up watching. Its effects work and production design drew genuine admiration from the panel, from the handcrafted books holding people's stories to the small conjurings of wonder, while the lighting and composition give every frame a deliberate, glowing style. The score lifts and settles exactly where it should, adding that extra touch of magic to the images.
Still from A MESSAGE TO THE AUTHOR.
Every award, 2025
- Best Art Direction DISCO DOLLS AND CHIKO ROLLS
- Best Australian Performance MAN EATER
- Best Australian Short Film IN A PLACE LIKE THIS
- Best Cinematography IF YOU SHOULD LEAVE BEFORE ME
- Best Director A GUEST IN MY COUNTRY
- Best Documentary Feature WASHED AWAY
- Best Documentary Short Subject A BITTERSWEET ENDING
- Best Feature Film IF YOU SHOULD LEAVE BEFORE ME
- Best Feature Screenplay THE RED ZONE
- Best Film Editing ELASTOPLASTIC
- Best International Short Film PIERRE WEST
- Best Lead Performance THE REACH
- Best Music Video BEFORE THE DAWN
- Best Queensland Short Film THE CELEBRANT
- Best Short Screenplay READING OF THE WILL
- Best Sound & Music THE SESSIONS
- Best Student Short Film A MESSAGE TO THE AUTHOR
- Best Supporting Performance DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND
- Best Visual Effects A MESSAGE TO THE AUTHOR
- Best Youth Performance THE LITTER
24 countries on screen
-
Australia -
Austria -
Belgium -
Canada -
Denmark -
Eswatini -
Greece -
Hong Kong -
Iran -
Italy -
Japan -
New Zealand -
Poland -
Portugal -
Russia -
South Africa -
Sweden -
Thailand -
Tunisia -
Turkey -
UK -
Ukraine -
USA -
Vietnam
Filmmakers who returned
A rare thing across seven years - only a handful of filmmakers have appeared at AFIN more than once. These returned in 2025.
-
Adrian Powers first seen 2019 · 4 AFIN films -
John Gray first seen 2020 · 3 AFIN films -
Tracie Filmer first seen 2020 · 3 AFIN films -
Nipan Chawcharernpon first seen 2021 · 6 AFIN films -
Michael A Mclennan first seen 2022 · 4 AFIN films -
Eliza Allen first seen 2022 · 2 AFIN films - Shing Fung Cheung first seen 2022 · 2 AFIN films
-
Rasmus Callmer first seen 2022 · 2 AFIN films - Jesse Watt first seen 2022 · 2 AFIN films
-
Duncan Peake first seen 2023 · 3 AFIN films -
Paul Bird first seen 2023 · 2 AFIN films - Lisa Rufus first seen 2023 · 2 AFIN films
- Pablo Torroella first seen 2023 · 2 AFIN films
-
James Stapledon first seen 2024 · 2 AFIN films -
Shane Emmett first seen 2024 · 2 AFIN films -
Teagan Skye first seen 2024 · 2 AFIN films
How 2025 told its stories
- Films 41
- Documentaries 12
- Screenplays 12
- Music Videos 6
Shares of the 71 works recorded for 2025.