YOUNG HORIZONS INDUSTRY 2025 Awards
Young Horizons Industry announces its award winners
- Two projects emerged as the big winners, with the animated film Socks and the live-action feature Superception collecting multiple trophies amidst a diverse line-up
The ninth edition of Young Horizons Industry took place from 30 September to 2 October, with an awards ceremony held on 1 October. The event was hosted by Head of Young Horizons Industry Zofia Horszczaruk and Head of Young Horizons Maciej Jakubczyk, together with numerous industry partners. This year’s pitching and co-production forum featured projects spanning different formats and genres, with both feature films and series presented (read our news).
The Documentary Feature Film Studios (WFDiF) Award, worth €12,000 in post-production services, went to the Polish animated movie Socks. Presented by director Tomasz Leśniak and producer Ludwika Waszkiewicz, this project-in-development follows Bożenka, a lonely sock who sets out on a whimsical and perilous journey to find her missing sister, encountering quirky friends and dangerous foes along the way. The project also picked up the FIXAFILM Award, worth €7,000 in post-production and VFX services, the Animond Award, which offers an opportunity to join the Animond portfolio and to access secure gap financing through its platform, and one of the No Problemo Music Awards, providing a free music licence from Audio Network’s library for use in the film’s production and promotional materials.
Presented by producers Magdalena Zielska, Basia Palka, and scriptwriter Kamil Kwieciński, the Polish live-action feature Superception also stood out amongst the winners. The film follows three teenagers with heightened senses of touch, hearing, and taste who must join forces to save a family guesthouse from a ruthless developer and who find strength in their differences. The movie received the Wrocław Feature Film Studio Award, worth €10,000 in in-kind services, as well as the ATM Virtual Award, worth €21,000, which includes one day of shooting on an LED stage preceded by a day of pre-lighting for the production.
The other No Problemo Music Award was presented to the Estonian live-action feature Rise of the Water Fox, pitched by producer Johanna Maria Tamm and director Carlos Lesmes. The m:brane Exchange Award, providing direct access to the official selection during the m:brane event in Malmö, was awarded to the UK live-action series Headrush, pitched by producer Reece Cargan and writer Philip Wright. The CEE Animation Forum Award, granting the winning team direct access to the CEE Animation Forum’s Market, was won by the Danish animated series In Between, presented by creator and director Marie-Louise Højer Jensen and producers Irene Sparre and Metteline Ibsen.
A new Innovative Approach Award, worth €1,000 and sponsored by Geert Torfs in cooperation with Young Horizons Industry, was presented to Austrian filmmaker Shelly Gertan for the Austrian animated film project Reyn. Angel of Freedom, showcased in the Project Pool section. The PFX Award was given to writer Emilia Nędzi for the Polish live-action film project Rabbit Girls, also presented in the Project Pool line-up. The award offers tailored development support adapted to the project’s stage and specific needs.
Finally, the Audience Award for Best Pitch, supported by Votemo, went to the Czech live-action series 25 Percent, pitched by writer Matej Randar and producer Karolina Zalabakova. The prize includes free Young Horizons Industry accreditation for the pitching team.
The full list of award winners at the ninth Young Horizons Industry event is as follows:
Documentary Feature Film Studios (WFDiF) Award
Socks (animated film)
Producer: Page to Pictures (Poland)
Wrocław Feature Film Studio Award
Superception (live-action film)
Producer: Delta Film (Poland)
FIXAFILM Award
Socks (Poland)
ATM Virtual Award
Superception (Poland)
Animond Award
Socks (Poland)
No Problemo Music Awards
Socks (animated film)
Rise of the Water Fox (live-action film)
Producer: Stellar Film (Estonia)
m:brane Exchange Award
Headrush (live-action series)
Producer: Randan (UK)
CEE Animation Forum Award
In Between (animated series)
Producer: Sparre Production (Denmark)
Innovative Approach Award
Reyn. Angel of Freedom (animated film)
Director: Shelly Gertan (Austria)
PFX Award
Rabbit Girls (live-action film)
Director: Emilia Nędzi (Poland)
Audience Award for Best Pitch
25 Percent (live-action series)
Producer: Cinebonbon (Czech Republic)
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