The 2025 Australian Women’s Film Festival (AWFF), supported by M+C Saatchi Group, the lit up Sydney on Wednesday, September 16, with a celebration of female talent both in front of and behind the camera. The sold-out event was all the more special as it celebrated AWFF’s fifth year honouring women redefining the film industry and breaking barriers for future generations.
The event was hosted by Australian actor Chika Ikogwe, known for her roles in Heartbreak High and Land of Bad, with a panel of judges including Camilla Mazzaferro (producer, Academy Award–nominated 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), recognising the exceptional contributions of women in film.
Cinematographer, Mandy Walker, was honoured with the AWFF Trailblazer Award. Nadine Bates & Kristen Souvlis,co-founders of Like a Photon Creative, were given the AWFF Groundbreaker Award for their contribution to animation.
The Australian Women’s Film Festival Award Winners are:
- 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 the honour along with 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.
Five years on, AWFF continues to provide a platform for female storytellers and leaders, empowering them to showcase their creativity and impact in a historically male-dominated industry. AWFF co-founders, Kelly Tomasich and Tahyna MacManus, commented, “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.
“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.”
M+C Saatchi Group were proud sponsors of AWFF for the fifth year in a row. It was also supported by Screen NSW, Sony, Event Cinemas, Disney Studios Australia, and Amazon Web Services.
Cover image: Kelly Tomasich & Tahyna (Tozzi) MacManus. Photographer: Belinda Rolland
