Our annual award with a £1000 prize - Free to Enter
THE BRIEF WE SET.
This year’s short film script competition gave a LOT of scope for imagination, drama and creativity. The set-up could not be simpler.
Your story will begin…at the end, with a beautiful (but maybe slightly worn-looking) wedding dress, hanging in the window of a charity store or junk shop.
You can think of that shot as the punchline or reveal or payoff.
Your job, in a script of 5 mins or less, will be to tell the story of how/why the dress ended up there.
The genre is entirely up to you - comedy, horror, sci-fi, rom-com, anything you like.
We just want to see that you can come up with an engaging/memorable story and tell it well.
Tony: "Judging the Sharks screenwriting competition will be an opportunity to see what fresh writing talent exists outside of Hollywood. The creative brief, which will require a wedding dress to be an essential element of the story, provides both a constraint for writers and an opportunity to explore their imagination.”
The competition which is now closed, attracted 364 entries from 52 different countries.
The Final Shortlist of 10 will be revealed on Monday 24th February
Finalists
The judging for the 2025 competition is now over and the finalists have been chosen, (see the full list below)
'The Ballad of William Bloa'
Writers: Eoghan Heneghan, Emma McKernan
'Spinning a Yarn'
Writer David Power
'Stitched by a Sicilian'
Writer: Cara Gaynor
'Unveiled'
Writer: Niall McDonnell
'Easy Sell'
Writers: Ash Meshkati, Ken Abalos
'Don't Peek'
Writer: Elliot Wright
'For The Gram'
Writers: Ash Meshkati, Ken Abalos
'I Bet You He's A Serial Killer'
Writers: Ash Meshkati, Ken Abalos
'A Small Affair'
Writer: Richard Rippon
'One Of A Kind'
Writer: Zane Radcliffe
One winner and one runner-up will be announced w/c 24 February 25.
Judge - Tony Cane-Honeysett
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Tony Cane-Honeysett as the judge for our 2025 Short Film Scriptwriting Competition. Tony is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker based in Los Angeles, California. Tony was also one of this year's judges for our Short Film & Branded Content Awards
31 Jan 25, Tony: "Judging the short film category of the Shark Awards reinforced just how much filmmaking and acting talent exists outside of New York, London and L.A. —and that you certainly don’t need to be in any of those locations to produce great work. The same goes for screenwriting."
7 Feb 25, Tony: "Judging the Sharks screenwriting competition will be an opportunity to see what fresh writing talent exists outside of Hollywood. The creative brief, which will require a wedding dress to be an essential element of the story, provides both a constraint for writers and an opportunity to explore their imagination.”
21 Feb 25, Tony: "I enjoyed the variety of genres the writers chose, from comedy to drama, mystery, horror, and everything in between. Interestingly, the majority of entries leaned toward sentimentality which is perhaps understandable considering the wedding dress element. Writing a tight script with a clear beginning, middle, and satisfying ending within the five-minute time constraint is certainly a challenge, but many scripts managed to pull it off."
Born and raised in England, Tony began his career as a copywriter at leading ad agencies in London including BMP, J. Walter Thompson, and Chiat-Day. His success across the Atlantic led him to San Francisco, where he worked at BBDO, then moved on to Ogilvy, Stein Robaire Helm, and Dailey & Associates in L.A.
Transitioning into filmmaking, Tony has written and directed several short films and documentaries that have garnered critical acclaim. His work has been featured on PBS and screened at film festivals around the globe, earning Best Documentary Awards along the way. His ability to capture the essence of human stories and historical narratives is a testament to his depth as a filmmaker.
In addition to his work behind the camera, Tony is a gifted musician and composer. His musical talents have been showcased in several film scores, adding another layer of creative versatility to his profile. Having performed extensively on the vibrant Nashville club scene, Tony’s passion for music has fueled his unique approach to storytelling.
With a dynamic career that spans advertising, film, and music, Tony brings unmatched creativity, insight, and a wealth of experience to every project he undertakes.
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