The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled the winners of its 52nd annual Student Academy Awards®, recognizing 14 emerging filmmakers from around the world. This year’s competition drew an impressive 3,127 entries from 988 colleges and universities globally, highlighting the growing international reach of the program.
For the first time in its history, the awards ceremony will take place in New York City. The event is scheduled for Monday, October 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. ET at the prestigious Ziegfeld Ballroom, coinciding with the New York Film Festival and presented in partnership with Rolex.
Since its inception in 1972, the Student Academy Awards have served as a launchpad for filmmakers who later became household names, including Spike Lee, Robert Zemeckis, Pete Docter, Patricia Cardoso, and Patricia Riggen.
This year’s winners represent a diverse global talent pool across four categories:
- Alternative/Experimental: Mati Granica (“flower_gan,” London College of Communication, UK); Xindi Zhang (“The Song of Drifters,” University of Southern California); Vega Moltke-Leth (“Without Perfection,” University of Copenhagen, Denmark).
- Animation: Sofiia Chuikovska, Loïck du Plessis D’Argentré & Maud Le Bras (“The Shyness of Trees,” Gobelins, France); Tobias Eckerlin (“A Sparrow’s Song,” Film Academy Baden-Württemberg, Germany); Lucas Ansel (“The 12 Inch Pianist,” Rhode Island School of Design, USA).
- Documentary: Rebeka Bizubová (“Confession,” Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, Slovakia); Jane Deng (“I Remember,” New York University); Tatiana McCabe (“Tides of Life,” University of the West of England Bristol, UK).
- Narrative: Meyer Levinson-Blount (“Butcher’s Stain,” Tel Aviv University, Israel); Jan Saczek (“Dad’s Not Home,” Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School, Poland); Zefan Wang (“Kubrick, Like I Love You,” Columbia University, USA).
Notably, this year marks first-time honors for students from the University of Copenhagen, Gobelins, Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School, Academy of Performing Arts in Bratislava, London College of Communication, and the University of the West of England Bristol.
Gold, silver, and bronze medal placements in each category will be announced during the ceremony. Winners will also benefit from career-building workshops, networking opportunities, and direct mentorship from Academy members.
In a significant boost, all winning films automatically qualify for consideration at the 98th Oscars®, competing in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, or Documentary Short Film categories. Historically, Student Academy Award winners have gone on to receive 69 Oscar® nominations and win 15 awards.
The Student Academy Awards continue to champion the next generation of filmmakers, offering a global stage for bold new voices shaping the future of cinema.