Take a glimpse at the next generation of filmmaking talent.
The American Pavilion is proud to announce the 2025 winners of the 28th Annual Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at Cannes, sponsored by Gold House. AmPav is the epicenter for American hospitality on the Croisette, bringing U.S. filmmakers together at the world’s most influential film festival. Ryan Coogler and Jeff Nichols are alums of the American Pavilion’s Cannes student program. And now, we have a clearer idea of what filmmakers attending this year may follow in their footsteps.
Gold House presented the inaugural Cultural Impact Award, which recognizes a filmmaker whose work exemplifies excellence in multicultural narratives or underrepresented perspectives, to Andy “Celeste” Diep for “Happy New Year, Ms. Luna.”
“It’s been wonderful to have almost all the 25 filmmakers with their teams attending the showcases and watching them network with The American Pavilion members these past days,” said Monika Skerbelis, Director of the Emerging Filmmaker Showcase.
“It’s more important than ever to champion bold, diverse storytellers. We’re proud to have returned to Cannes to celebrate the incredible talent shaping the future of film,” said Christine Yi, General Manager of Gold House Futures and General Partner of Gold House’s Creative Equity Fund. Gold House is the leading cultural nonprofit that brings together and invests in Asian Pacific creators and companies.
A team from Gold House joined a jury made up of producers, agents, managers, and other industry members to choose the overall winners. The Emerging Filmmaker Showcase allows upcoming filmmakers to have their works seen by Cannes Festival and Film Market attendees.
The full list of winners is as follows:
Student Short Film Award: “Before the Winter” by Juan Zuloaga Eslait
Student Documentary Award (Tie): “Handwoven” by Dasha Levin, Mason Cazalet, Mihika Das, Matthew Wisdom
Student Documentary Award (Tie): “Dancing in Tomorrowland” by Jakob Roston
Emerging Filmmaker Showcase Short Film Award: “Get Away” by Michael Gabriele
Emerging Filmmaker Showcase Documentary Award: “She is Us: The Story of Judge Songhai Armstead” by Samara Hutman, C. Lily Ericsson
Emerging Filmmaker LGBTQ+ Award: “Happy New Year, Ms. Luna” by Andy “Celeste” Diep
Cultural Impact Award: “Happy New Year, Ms. Luna” by Andy “Celeste” Diep
Gold House, Write Brothers Movie Magic Screenwriter, International Documentary Association, Screening Services Group, Simple DCP, Michael Wiese Productions Books, Cinelytic, and ESE Film Workshops Online sponsored the prize packages for these winners.
The showcase this year featured 16 female directors — over half of the selected films, which screened May 20 and May 21 at the American Pavilion, were directed by women.
Three films this year are directed by alumni students who participated in The American Pavilion Cannes Student Program in the past: “Ada and the Doc” directed by Matison LeBlanc (from the 2024 & 2025 class), “Miriam” directed by Josie Andrews (2017), “Happy New Year, Ms. Luna,” directed by Andy “Celeste” Diep (2015).
