2025 Short Film & Branded Judging
- The Shark Awards
- Jan 30
- 3 min read
This week in the Sharks calendar is the judging of our 2025 Short Film & Branded Content awards, to be held in Brighton. Our panel of 6 experienced film-makers will spend 2 days reviewing the mass of entries totalling nearly 45 hours of film!
Being by the sea in January, Brighton as a venue destination, provides the judges with an inspiring, windswept, 'getaway from it all' where it is possible to fully focus on the challenging decisions ahead.
Harvey Ascott: "I’ve really enjoyed being part of the judging so far. The standard of work has been seriously strong, with loads of originality and proper craft across the entries. What’s stood out most has been the conversations with the other jurors open, honest, and all about backing the best ideas. I’m looking forward to getting to Brighton, where those discussions really come alive and we debate with each other, and land on the best winners. That’s the bit I love, great work, properly argued for, in a room full of creative people".
Donal Moloney: "I'm thrilled I kicked off judging the Shorts in late November instead of delaying it further. It's taken me six full weeks to thoughtfully evaluate and absorb all 250+ entries. I aimed for about five per day to make it sustainable and balance the effort. The overall quality was impressive, but I stuck to strict scoring to keep things objective. I also revisited a few to confirm my assessments were equitable. In the end, an award must be earned through authentic excellence".
Dulicie Cowling: "Dedicating so many hours of the dark winter months to watching these films has been a laughter-filled, tearjerking rollercoaster that I do not want to get off! Being moved to feel so many different raw emotions through other people’s stories has reminded me just what film has the power to do. I’m looking forward to sharing my experiences (and scores!) with the other judges who are the only other people who have been on this journey. I’m also curious to see just how harsh a critic I am"!
Louisa Connolly-Burnham: "Judging The Shark Awards has been a real full-circle moment for me. I had such a meaningful experience here last year as a filmmaker with my film Sister Wives, so it feels incredibly special to now be on the other side of the process. I’ve been continually impressed by the boldness, vulnerability and originality of the work, and by the care taken in how stories are told. I’m really looking forward to the conversations ahead with the other jurors, and to championing projects that feel brave, emotionally honest and truly distinctive".
Jeremy McWilliams: "For years I judged awards where the standard of entries were very patchy. On many I was wondering “Who thought this shit was award-worthy?” Eventually the preliminary judging became so painful I stopped being a juror – on one award in particular. But the overall standard of the films for these Sharks has been genuinely outstanding. So it’s going to be a real ding-dong to decide who wins. What have my fellow judges thought makes a winner? Art over storytelling? Craft over visceral authenticity? What constitutes a documentary? I predict some heated discussions".
Warren Berchie: "The judging process for the Shark Awards has been an incredibly insightful process. This has been a new experience for me, and I’ve been both pleasantly surprised and slightly overwhelmed by the exceptionally high standard of work that’s been submitted. It’s been a privilege to have access to such outstanding work, and the process has left me feeling genuinely inspired by the talent of this generation of filmmakers. I’ve laughed, cried, and had several films on repeat.
I’m excited to meet with the other judges and share our roller coaster of experiences and opinions"!
The Results
Shortlists will be published by 1st February, go to our Winners Search Page for the results.
Gold and Silver results will be revealed at Sharks Winners Screening Event to be held at the Everyman Cinema on 25th February. Tickets are available from our Shark Events Page, prices start from £50+vat.
Short Film Categories:
Best Short Film under 25 mins Best Short Film under 15 mins Best Short Film under 10 mins Best Short Film under 5 mins Best Animated Short Best Documentary Short
Best Creator Social Video Best Irish Short Film
Branded Content Categories:
Best Documentary under 5 mins Best Documentary over 5 mins Best Fiction under 5 mins Best Fiction over 5 mins Best Filmed Brand Experience/Stunts & Events/TV Shows etc under 5 mins Best Filmed Brand Experience/Stunts & Events/TV Shows etc over 5 mins
Craft Categories:
Best Acting Performance
Best Animation
Best Casting
Best Cinematography
Best Colour Grading
Best Direction
Best Writing
Best Editing
Best Original Music
Best Post Production/VFX
Best Production Design
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This is a really interesting insight into the Shark Awards judging process, especially with such experienced filmmakers reviewing a large and diverse set of entries. It’s clear that the discussions around creativity, storytelling, and craft are very intense and meaningful, with each judge bringing a unique perspective. What stands out most is how originality and emotional impact play a big role in deciding winners. In creative industries like this, strong branding and identity design also plays a key role in helping films and creators stand out and build recognition in a highly competitive space.
This post highlights how judging short films and branded content helps identify creativity, storytelling, and strong visual execution in the industry. It’s inspiring to see such talent being recognized. Even style like Charlotte Hornets Jackets reflects bold identity and creative confidence.