Two Nigerian filmmakers, Faith Olaewe and Doyinsola Ajayi, have been shortlisted for the 2025 edition of the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards, joining a global selection of 30 emerging voices in film.
Their short film, “Angel in the Stone”, made while they were students at the EbonyLife Creative Academy in Lagos, is one of six projects recognized in the Student category.
Set against the backdrop of familial hardship, “Angel in the Stone” follows Shalewa, a reclusive autistic teenager who turns to her metalworking talent to help her family navigate financial ruin. The film marks the only Nigerian entry on this year’s shortlist and stands out for its portrayal of neurodivergence, a subject rarely explored in Nigerian cinema.
Now in its third year, the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards is an international initiative by Creo and Sony to spotlight exceptional short films across Fiction, Non-Fiction, Animation, and Student categories. The 2025 shortlist was drawn from over 11,750 films submitted by more than 7,500 filmmakers across 158 countries and territories.
Filmmakers selected for the shortlist will travel to Los Angeles for a five-day residency at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City from June 2 to 6. During the program, they will participate in industry workshops, masterclasses, and networking events designed to introduce them to the inner workings of Hollywood. The Awards ceremony will take place on June 5, where four category winners will be announced and awarded cash prizes and Sony equipment.
Also on the shortlist is “Before 16”, a harrowing documentary by Burundian duo Loic Niyonkuru and Floriane Kaneza. The film recounts a woman’s experience raising a child conceived through assault — one of several emotionally charged stories in this year’s selection.
The judging panel includes industry heavyweights such as Minhal Baig (“We Grown Now”), Elizabeth Gabler of 3000 Pictures, Oscar-nominated director Jason Reitman (“Juno”), and British filmmaker Justin Chadwick (“Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”), who also chairs the jury.
Reacting to this year’s line-up, Chadwick said: “These 30 filmmakers don’t only tell stories, they create whole new cinematic worlds.”
For Olaewe and Ajayi, who represent a growing wave of Nigerian filmmakers trained through new talent incubators like EbonyLife Creative Academy, the nomination reflects a significant step onto the global stage. It also underscores Nigeria’s evolving presence in short-form storytelling and festival circuits.
The winners of the 2025 Sony Future Filmmaker Awards will be announced on June 5, 2025