The 2025 Film and Moving Image (FMI) Awards at Stevenson University was a night dedicated to honoring the imagination, hard work and passion of student filmmakers.
Held on Sunday, April 13, in the Rockland Banquet Room, the annual event drew a lively crowd of students and faculty. Hosted by the university’s FMI Club, the evening served as both a celebration and a showcase of the creative spirit thriving within Stevenson’s Film and Moving Image Department.
This year’s awards marked a milestone, with a record-breaking 15 student films screened and competing across eight diverse and highly competitive categories. The categories included Best Editing, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Documentary, and the coveted Best Picture. Each category highlighted the depth and range of talent present in this year’s cohort of filmmakers.
The films on display spanned a wide variety of tones and genres, offering something for everyone. From powerful dramas to insightful documentaries, the selection reflected not only technical proficiency but also bold storytelling choices.
One of the evening’s most talked-about films was Someone Should Know, a poetic piece by Lorenzo Richards. The film follows a lone survivor seeking purpose in a post-apocalyptic world. The film took home two of the night’s top honors: Best Editing and Best Picture.
“I think that everybody’s stories deserve to be told,” Richards said. “I thought it would be fun to do it in a sci-fi way.”
Among the standout entries were Hannah Sobieck’s heartwarming and emotional documentary The Lives and Love of My Childhood Dogs, which earned praise for its nostalgic and deeply personal tone, and Makayla Berth’s One Last Time, a tense and gripping thriller that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.
In the documentary category, it was Kai Cady’s deeply personal and inquisitive project that stole the show. His winning piece delved into the subject of his cousin’s adoption, exploring themes of identity and family.
“I was always curious about my cousin’s adoption,” Cady said. “I really wanted to know more about it and just pick his brain.”
The 2025 FMI Awards didn’t just honor outstanding work—it celebrated growth, courage and the willingness to take creative risks. With another year of bold storytelling behind them, Stevenson’s student filmmakers proved that the future of cinema is not only bright but brimming with heart, vision, and innovation.
To watch all of the nominated student films, check out the 2025 FMIs Vimeo playlist.
