Matchbox Film Awards 2025: A Night of Big Ideas, Bold Filmmakers and Career-Launching Insights

The Matchbox Film Awards, founded by Tom Staniford at Gusto Film, is fast becoming a must-watch platform for emerging talent. Now in its second year, the awards champion the next generation of filmmakers 16 to 23 year olds, giving them a space to be seen, heard, and celebrated.

This year’s theme, "Comfort", was anything but predictable. In just 30 seconds, entrants stretched the concept in ways that surprised, moved, and made the judges sit up and take notice.

The sold out awards ceremony took place on 28th January, Park Village played host to a packed house of finalists, industry heavyweights, and supporters of young talent. Screenings, career-shaping conversations, and a few big surprises made for an unforgettable night.

The Gold Award went to Louis Sheldon, whose take on the theme captivated the room. Joshua Shea and Razik Darji secured Silver and Bronze, proving that big impact doesn’t need big budgets.

Gold: Comfort - Louis Sheldon

Silver: The Void of Comfort - Joshua Shea

Bronze: Crescendo - Razik Darji

Beyond the awards, Matchbox is about opening doors. The night was full of real talk from industry pros, with judges from production, agencies, and brands offering hands-on advice for up-and-coming filmmakers.

Here are the insights, advice & career-building wisdom take-aways from the night:

The Power of Storytelling in Short-Form; A tight time limit doesn’t mean you skip the story. Judges looked for clarity of concept and emotional punch, both of which defined the winning films.

Making the Most of Limited Resources; Innovation beats budget every time. From framing to lighting to smart editing choices, the judges encouraged filmmakers to push creativity over cash.

Getting Noticed & Building a Portfolio; Shiny and Young Creators UK shared practical ways for young talent to get their work in front of the right people, from competitions and networking to making the most of social platforms.

Matchbox isn’t just about handing out trophies, it’s about giving young filmmakers what they need to take their next steps. Thanks to sponsors Blackmagic Design, Epidemic Sound, Shiny, Young Creators UK, and Park Village, winners walked away with software, music subscriptions, mentorship, and studio time, all tangible tools to help turn talent into careers.

The initiative is entirely non-profit, it’s funded by us, Gusto Film, and supported by our fantastic sponsors. We do it because we believe in breaking down barriers for young creative people, helping them find their way into what can be a very tough industry to get into," says Tom Staniford, Creative Director and Founder at Gusto Film.

Caroline Bottomley founder of one of the sponsors, Shiny, was impressed by the event saying: ‘Loved it! They created such a lovely night for new talent and so stuffed full of excellent advice. Brilliant panel, with so many usable insights.’

With an overwhelmingly positive response from both attendees and industry professionals, Matchbox Film Awards continues to cement its reputation as an essential space for emerging talent. 

The winning films are now available to view on the Matchbox Film Awards Instagram, showcasing the fresh perspectives that are shaping the future of filmmaking. As Matchbox continues to grow, one thing is clear, this is just the beginning.

For more details visit https://www.matchbox.film