The 2025 SFFILM Awards Night honored acclaimed directors and actors, including Kristen Stewart and Benicio Del Toro, at the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture. The event on December 8 brought together hundreds of industry professionals and supporters to celebrate outstanding achievements in film.
Kristen Stewart received the Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling for her directorial debut, The Chronology of Water. The film, adapted from Lidia Yuknavitch’s memoir, offers an intimate exploration of trauma and grief through the metaphor of water. Stewart dedicated over eight years from funding to production, highlighting her commitment to authentic storytelling.
Benicio Del Toro was recognized with the Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting for his extensive and diverse body of work. Recently starring in One Battle After Another, Del Toro’s roles often emphasize the importance of community in creating social change, a theme celebrated by SFFILM for its brilliance and integrity.
Honoree Scott Cooper received the Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction for Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. Cooper’s work is noted for its candid portrayal of grief and depression. He emphasized the significance of community, citing the Bay Area as a powerful center for justice and activism.
Wunmi Mosaku earned the George Gund III Award for Virtuosity for her performance in Sinners, where she portrayed Annie, a character embodying fierce loyalty to family and values. Mosaku reflected on the differences between herself and Annie, showing the nuanced understanding she brings to her roles.
The ceremony featured a red carpet attended by stars such as Richard Gere, Boots Riley, and Odessa Young. Presenters like Imogen Poots and Regina Hall helped honor the recipients, reinforcing the event’s celebration of cinema’s vital role in storytelling and community.
Jessie Fairbanks, SFFILM’s Director of Programming, stressed the importance of communal film-watching experiences. She stated, “Watching a film with other people is not the same thing as watching it on your couch. I laugh more when I’m around other people. I cry harder when I’m around other people.”
The 69th annual SFFILM Festival is set to return in April with 11 days of handpicked films, world-class talent, and engaging festival talks. This ongoing commitment to cinema reflects the awards night’s central message: stories and communities are essential to keeping film culture vibrant.
Read more at: www.theoakleafnews.com-
-
-
-
