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2025 Film Series Winners

Below is the list of 2025 Film Series Competition Winners. If you would like to see the complete list of 2025 Film Series Finalists please click the button below.

View 2025 Finalists

2025 Winners

Independent Short Film Winners

Jury

TWO BREATHS

DIRECTOR
Kateryna Kurganska

WRITER
Kateryna Kurganska

PRODUCERS
Timur Guseynov, Kateryna Kurganska,  C. Craig, Don John

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Timur Guseynov

SYNOPSIS

After a man-made disaster decimates an evergreen island, a stranded 11-year-old girl must find the tenacity to leave behind her home with the help of an unlikely friend.

Audience

TRENDING

DIRECTOR
Felix Martiz

WRITER
Felix Martiz

PRODUCER
Sergio Monserrate

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Emilia Mendieta Cordova

SYNOPSIS
Andres, disengaged and apathetic, finds himself in a physical altercation during school. When his older brother intervenes to protect him, Andres chooses to document the brutality on his phone, exposing the corrosive impact of social media on a desensitized and detached youth.

Student Film Winners

Jury

THE LIGHTS ABOVE

DIRECTOR
Luke J. Salewski

WRITER
Luke J. Salewski

PRODUCERS
Avo John Kambourian, Alex Chang

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Young Li

SCHOOL
University of Southern California

SYNOPSIS
Months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, a series of unidentified aircraft sightings over Los Angeles lead a determined journalist to reluctantly pair up with a Japanese American photographer to prevent another attack.

Audience

EL BAR DE HERNANDO

DIRECTORS
Andres Bernal & Maria Gomez

WRITER
Andres Bernal

PRODUCER
Andres Garcia

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Andres Bernal

SCHOOL
New York Film Academy

SYNOPSIS

Yiyo works at a salsa bar as a bartender, but tonight, he falls in love with a woman who has attended the venue. During the night, he must take a step out of his comfort zone when he realizes he might have a chance with this beautiful woman.

Music Video Winners

Jury

GIDDY UP! - Shania Twain

DIRECTOR
Marmo Films

WRITER
Justin "Marmo" Marmorstein

PRODUCERS
Mike Mihail, Joanna Delane, Masora Fukuda

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Cesar Withingham

SYNOPSIS
When working class people hear Shania Twain’s “Giddy Up,” it transforms their everyday activities into an impromptu party.

Audience

GIDDY UP! - Shania Twain

DIRECTOR
Marmo Films

WRITER
Justin "Marmo" Marmorstein

PRODUCERS
Mike Mihail, Joanna Delane, Masora Fukuda

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Cesar Withingham

SYNOPSIS
When working class people hear Shania Twain’s “Giddy Up,” it transforms their everyday activities into an impromptu party.

Gabriel Mays

AbelCine Director of Rental
As Director of Rental, Gabriel Mays oversees growth of Rental by nurturing business relationships and unifying the customer experience nationwide. In his previous role as the LA Rental Manager, Gabriel worked with producers, cinematographers, and assistant camera operators to provide the highest level of customer service possible. He also ensured that all their equipment needs are met on budget. Before coming to AbelCine in 2015, Gabriel previously worked as a Communications Instructor and Electronic Media Engineer at a private university. He taught various courses in electronic media, including film, broadcasting, and digital arts. Gabriel is an award-winning cinematographer, director, producer, and editor known for his innovative research and implementation of new film techniques. He was also one of the first to implement HDSLR cameras into filmmaking. He has been the cinematographer on dozens of independent films, documentaries, and music videos.