An encouraging increase in submissions this year has prompted the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards (SFFA) to set up a brand-new prize for animated short films.

The SFFA’s second edition will now honor winning projects in six categories: fiction, non-fiction, environmentally focused, student-made, future format (e.g. shot on a smartphone) and animation. 

Sponsored by Sony, this newbie awards program was launched in 2023 by event organizer Creo, and it received an impressive 8,400 entries from nearly 5,000 filmmakers around the world this year—more than doubling last year’s total.

The SFFA will announce 30 selected finalists at the end of April, and all of these shortlisted filmmakers will have an opportunity to attend the awards ceremony and a four-day workshop running from May 28 to 31 in LA. This year’s winner in the student category will receive a collection of Sony camera equipment, with cash prizes up for grabs in the other five categories (US$2,500 for formats, and US$5,000 for the rest).

There is no submission fee to enter the SFFAs, and eligible entries can be two to 20 minutes long, depending on the category. Detailed entry rules are available on the SFFA website.

Last year, two kid-friendly shorts were recognized in the future format stream. Pan Tianhong’s Homework for Winter Vacation (pictured) was the winner, focusing on a child who makes sweet dumplings for Chinese New Year. And Ria Nalavade’s Magic Eraser short about a young boy who tries something unique during a classroom map activity made the shortlist. 

In other short-form awards news, Washington’s Aspen Institute has unveiled the inaugural winners of its Planet Media initiative to break down climate science for tweens through entertainment. Three concepts were chosen this week at the Aspen Ideas: Climate pitchfest by a jury that included engineer/TV personality Bill Nye and music icon Nile Rodgers.

A US$40,000 top prize went to Young Park and Nak Yong Choi from LA/Seoul-based Park Star Media. Their winning entry is an anime sci-fi project called Yo Zeno, which follows along as a rebellious prince explores space and learns eco-lessons. Park noted in a release: “Anime can be fun and light-hearted, but [it] also tackles deep subjects and issues—so this is a great way to reach kids and make a brighter future for the next generation.”

Two US$20,000 prizes were also awarded to creator Lindsey Owen’s Solar Punks toon about a group of time-traveling heroes who solve eco-challenges, and Erica Rabner and Robby LeDoux’s Cold Sweat, featuring a tween climate vlogger in Texas.