CATEGORIES & AWARDS

AWARDS & PRIZES

All our Official Selection films will receive the Official Laurel and will be screened at our 5-Day Annual Live Event. Winners will be announced at the end of the event as well as the Prix du Public (Cash Prize). Winning films will receive their Certificate of Achievement.

In addition, we will choose a selection of outstanding projects as semi-finalists who will be invited to participate in our Virtual Event and compete for the Cannes New Waves Grand Prix of USD 1000. All semifinalist films will receive their corresponding Laurel.

COMPETITIONS

Once you submit your film in any category, it will be reviewed by our screening team and the highest scored films will be selected to be part of our Official Selection and will be considered for all the winning categories.

Official Competitions

Technical & Performance

We are commited to bring the best of new Cinema. We want to hear new voices.

Meet the Jury

GEOFF BELL

Is a British actor recognized for his roles in film and television, often taking on characters with strong, impactful presences. His filmography includes notable appearances in Green Street, Kingsman: The Secret Service, The Business, War Horse—directed by Steven Spielberg—and Rogue Trader. Bell has also featured in popular British TV series such as Peaky Blinders and The Bill, contributing to a variety of productions across genres throughout his career. In addition to acting, he directed and wrote the short film Bacon, which won a first-time director award at the Venice Film Festival.

MAREN KLAKEGG

Is a passionate filmmaker, both as a director and DoP, with a strong love for both fiction and documentary. Her talent has been recognized through numerous achievements, including starting her career by winning the Student Academy Award. She has also been BAFTA shortlisted and won awards at different festivals around the world. This year, she proudly won the Norwegian version of the Emmys, Gullruten, with a documentary series. Maren strongly believes in the power of film to evoke emotions and make a lasting impact on audiences.

MARTIN STRANGE-HANSEN

Born in Denmark, is a filmmaker and screenwriter recognized for his work in short films. His notable films include On My Mind, This Charming Man, and Når Lysterne Tændes. In 2003, he won the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film with This Charming Man, which also earned the Audience Award at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and Aspen ShortsFest. His films are known for their emotional depth, often addressing themes such as relationships and self-identity.

DYLAN PLAYFAIR

Is an actor, director, and producer, best known for his roles on the Hulu original series Letterkenny and the critically acclaimed Disney musical feature series Descendants. He has garnered recognition for his work in both comedy and drama, particularly in films such as Whistle which premiered in 2022 in Cannes Indie Shorts Awards. Alongside his wife, Jen Araki Playfair, he co-owns Crystal Mountain Films and Media Button production companies, driven by their passion for storytelling and filmmaking.

JEN ARAKI

An award-winning filmmaker and actress. Some of Jen’s on-screen highlights include The Sopranos playing Tony Sopranos’ mistress as well as multiple independent features and TV appearances including in the award-winning feature film The Sinners. Transitioning to directing and producing, she has received acclaim for her short film Whistle, inspired by true events. Jen is currently in pre-production on several feature length narratives.
Through Crystal Mountain Films, both Jen and Dylan, are actively seeking projects for development.

MICHAEL CHEREAU

Finished his first film Barking Orders in 2021, which went on to win at the Student Oscars and qualified for the 94th Annual Oscars. He worked as a main animator on NETFLIX’s Ladybug & Cat Noir Movie until Spring 2023. Alexander is now working full time on his second film, La Maison des Hirondelles; A Home for Swallows, a 6 minute animated short set in 1970s France about a painter and his wife who have become distanced by their own passions and needs, with a team of 50 artists.

ALEXANDER TULLO

Is a director, screenwriter, and composer. A graduate of ESRA Paris in 2018, he directed his first short film Sandier, which won awards at over 35 festivals worldwide. He composed the original scores for around twenty short films before specializing in music videos. Today, he is working on his upcoming short and feature films.