The 2025 Australian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF) celebrated female talent both in front of and behind the camera at a red carpet event held at Hoyts, Sydney, supported by M+C Saatchi Group.
It marked AWFF’s fifth year honouring trailblazing women for their roles in redefining the film industry and breaking barriers for future generations.
“We’re so proud of the community that has grown around AWFF, a community of storytellers, visionaries, and trailblazers. This milestone belongs to all of them. It’s their passion and perseverance that continue to drive this festival forward and inspire the next generation of women in film,” AWFF co-founders Kelly Tomasich and Tahyna MacManus said.
Hosted by Australian actor Chika Ikogwe (known for her roles in Heartbreak High and Land of Bad), the night saw a panel of judges including Camilla Mazzaferro, producer of Porcelain War; Girls Can’t Surf, Charlee Fraser, actor, FURIOSA: A Mad Max Saga; Anyone But You, Lana Greenhalgh, head of scripted originals at Foxtel Group, and Louise Gough, director of narrative content at Screen Australia.
A highlight of the evening was honouring acclaimed cinematographer MANDY WALKER with the AWFF Trailblazer Award. Additionally, NADINE BATES & KRISTEN SOUVLIS (Co-founders of Like a Photon Creative) were bestowed with the AWFF Groundbreaker Award for their contribution to animation.
The Australian Women’s Film Festival Award Winners included:
Best comedic film – Not Russian Anywhere – Directed by Aimée-Lee Xu Hsien
Best documentary film – The Oldest Heart – Directed by Jessica Sherlock
Best animated film – Red Moon – Directed by Katherine Yuan
Best dramatic film – Bear – Directed by Rebecca Paker
Best cinematography – Maggie Makes a Cherry Pie
Best screenplay – Maggie Makes a Cherry Pie
Best actor – Tessa Rose – Bear
Best director – Rebecca Parker – Bear
Judges one to watch award – Katherine Yuan – Red Moon
M+C Saatchi Group Audience Choice Award, to Define Pretty
The major award for best film went to dramatic film Maggie Makes a Cherry Pie, directed by Maggie Grammatopoulos, who received a SONY ILME-FX6 Cinema Line camera, a $10,000 equipment rental package from VA Hire, a $10,000 rental package from Disney Lighting, and a $5,000 post-production package from Spectrum Films.
“Each year, we’re blown away by the depth, originality, and heart in the submissions, and this year was no exception. The talent and vision of these filmmakers continue to raise the bar and reaffirm why this platform matters,” AWFF co-founders Kelly Tomasich and Tahyna MacManus said.
M+C Saatchi Group were sponsors of AWFF for the fifth year in a row, also supported by Screen NSW, Sony, Event Cinemas, Disney Studios Australia, and Amazon Web Services.
