The countdown is officially on for one of the most exciting competitions in the professional filmmaking calendar — the MPB Filmmaker of the Year 2025 Awards. With the final entry deadline set for 30 May, filmmakers and small production teams from across the industry have just a few weeks left to showcase their talent in a competition that celebrates originality, creativity, and the craft of real-world content creation.
Now in its latest edition, the MPB Filmmaker of the Year awards are an initiative from Pro Moviemaker, sister title to Definition, and serve a crucial role in spotlighting the often unsung heroes of modern visual storytelling. While many awards tend to favour glossy scripted dramas or feature films, this competition turns its lens on the filmmakers shaping the commercial and branded content space — a sector that’s growing rapidly and evolving with digital-first platforms.
The scope is broad, with entries welcome from professionals, students, and emerging filmmakers alike. Whether you’re a lone creator or part of a compact production team, there’s room to participate. The categories are tailored to celebrate content that drives modern marketing, including branded films, promotional videos, sports and events coverage, documentaries, wedding films, music videos, and social-first content. There’s also an open category for projects that don’t fit into neat boxes but stand out for their impact and innovation.
Importantly, entry is straightforward — no need for purpose-built content or complicated production bibles. Filmmakers simply need to submit a link to their existing work, hosted on platforms like YouTube or Vimeo, or via a file-sharing service such as WeTransfer. The organisers only ask that entrants provide essential viewing credentials, note whether the video can be shared online, and supply the necessary credits.
Judging will be based not on budgets or view counts, but on originality, creative execution, and the effectiveness of the idea in context. Entrants are encouraged to include a short write-up to explain the goals of the project, their own role in the production, and any notable challenges or milestones during the shoot. This context helps the judging panel understand not just what was made — but how and why.
For those creating for clients — whether paid, voluntary, or charitable — the awards provide an opportunity to get professional recognition that could significantly elevate their profile. The event continues to carve out a name for itself as a genuine barometer of emerging talent and evolving trends in filmmaking beyond the big-screen narrative space.
Backed by MPB, the world’s largest platform for buying, selling and trading used camera equipment, this year’s awards also align with broader conversations around sustainability and smarter production. MPB’s sponsorship brings extra weight to the event, reinforcing its commitment to accessible, high-quality filmmaking at every budget level. With global operations in the UK, EU and US, and a reputation for excellence in used cinema gear, MPB is a natural partner for a competition that champions the ingenuity and resourcefulness of today’s content creators.
Filmmakers eager to enter should visit promoviemaker.net and follow the prompts for Filmmaker of the Year. With a few clicks and a little context, entrants could find themselves in the spotlight of a growing, vibrant creative community — one where innovation, not just budget, takes centre stage.
As the deadline fast approaches, the message is clear: don’t wait. If you’ve produced standout content in the past year, now’s the time to share it. Recognition — and possibly the title of Filmmaker of the Year — awaits.
