The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences honored the next generation of filmmakers at the 51st annual Student Academy Awards®, with a grand ceremony held at the iconic ODEON Luxe Leicester Square in London. The prestigious event, supported by longtime Academy partner Rolex, revealed the Gold, Silver, and Bronze placements across several categories, recognizing student filmmakers from universities and colleges worldwide. This year’s winners not only take home accolades but also become eligible for the 97th Oscars® in key short film categories.
Key Highlights of the 2024 Student Academy Awards® Ceremony:
- Date and Venue: Held in London, marking the continued partnership between the Academy and Rolex.
- Number of Submissions: A staggering 2,683 entries from 738 institutions across the globe.
- Trophies and Recognition: Gold, Silver, and Bronze placements were awarded across four key categories: Alternative/Experimental, Animation, Documentary, and Narrative.
- Eligibility for Oscars®: All winning films are now contenders for the 97th Academy Awards® in the Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, or Documentary Short Film categories.
Celebrating Emerging Talent: 2024 Award Winners
In a night filled with cinematic excellence, the following students were recognized for their outstanding achievements in film:
- Alternative/Experimental:
- Gold: Birdy Wei-Ting Hung, “A Brighter Summer Day for the Lady Avengers” (San Francisco State University)
- Silver: Dori Walker, “In Living Memory” (Brown University)
- Bronze: Akshit Kumar, “bonVoyage pour monVoyage” (National Institute of Design, India)
- Animation:
- Gold: Florian Maurice, Maxime Foltzer & Estelle Bonnardel, “Au Revoir Mon Monde” (MoPA 3D Animation School, France)
- Silver: Kei Kanamori, “Origami” (Digital Hollywood University, Japan)
- Bronze: Spencer Baird, “Student Accomplice” (Brigham Young University)
- Documentary:
- Gold: Hannah Rafkin, “Keeper” (School of Visual Arts)
- Silver: Aaron Johnson, “The 17%” (Chapman University)
- Bronze: Rishabh Raj Jain, “A Dream Called Khushi (Happiness)” (New York University)
- Narrative:
- Gold: Pavel Sýkora & Viktor Horák, “The Compatriot” (Filmová Akademie Miroslava Ondříčka v Písku, Czech Republic)
- Silver: Jens Kevin Georg, “Crust” (Film University Babelsberg KONRAD WOLF, Germany)
- Bronze: Robin Wang, “Neither Donkey nor Horse” (University of Southern California)
Global Representation and First-Time Honors
This year’s ceremony saw several institutions achieving recognition for the first time, including the National Institute of Design (India), Digital Hollywood University (Japan), and Filmová Akademie Miroslava Ondříčka v Písku (Czech Republic), marking their impactful entry into the world of international cinema.
A Legacy of Excellence
The Student Academy Awards have a distinguished history of recognizing emerging talent, with past winners going on to become major players in the film industry. Esteemed alumni include names like Spike Lee, Patricia Riggen, Pete Docter, and Robert Zemeckis. Over the years, winners of this award have garnered a total of 67 Oscar® nominations and secured 15 Oscar® wins, solidifying the importance of this platform in nurturing the future of cinema.
Conclusion
As the 2024 Student Academy Award winners join the ranks of industry legends, they also take a crucial step forward in their careers, with their films now being considered for the 97th Academy Awards®. This year’s ceremony, supported by Rolex, not only celebrated the creative vision of students but also underscored the global importance of fostering new talent in filmmaking.
For more information about the Academy and the Student Academy Awards, visit www.oscars.org.
To explore Rolex’s role in cinema, visit www.rolex.org.
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Discover the winners of the 2024 Student Academy Awards® as emerging filmmakers from around the world claim their Gold, Silver, and Bronze placements in a ceremony held in London. All winning films are now eligible for the 97th Oscars®.
