2025 Film Award Winners

Best Documentary: Our Journey To Pride

OUR JOURNEY TO PRIDE

Experience the story of Thurrock's inaugural Pride in a captivating documentary featuring interviews with friends, allies, funders, supporters and group members. An unforgettable cinematic experience that celebrates courage, diversity, and love. "The Journey of Thurrock's First Pride" is a poignant documentary capturing the vibrant spirit and remarkable stories behind the inception of Thurrock's inaugural Pride celebration.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UNITED KINGDOM / RUN TIME: 68MINS

Directed by Benjamin Thomas Scarsbrook

Best Short Film: Running to Christmas

RUNNING TO CHRISTMAS

AKA: Chay toi Giang Sinh

On Christmas Eve, at a small bar, Nam is lost in thought, trying to understand why his relationship with Nhi fell apart. At the same time, Trang is rushing around, searching for a drunken man who mistakenly took her coat. Inside the coat lies a precious keepsake tied to her and her lover. Nam decides to help Trang retrieve it, and in the process, he gradually uncovers the true reason why Nhi left him

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: VIETNAM / RUN TIME:23MINS

Directed by Hoang Minh Nguyen

Best Comedy: Stalk This Way

STALK THIS WAY

Alaina has never been great at getting a date the usual way. When she sets her sights on Matt, a charming yet awkward dentist, she takes an unconventional route to win his heart. Matt thinks he’s in for a dream date with a blonde bombshell, but is he ready for the reality? In this playful rom-com, attraction meets deception, and sparks fly in the most unexpected way.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: AUSTRALIA / RUN TIME: 15MINS

Directed by Zachary Boulton

Best Thriller: The Bag

THE BAG

We follow the activities of Chris, a deep shadow operative who uses manipulation and cunning whilst developing relationships and bonds with unwittingly knowing everyday people. Chris employs the use of his special relationships to engage in espionage and subversion which result in world changing events. Trust nobody.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: UNITED KINGDOM / RUN TIME: 23MINS

Writer / Director Martin J.Thomas

Best Horror Comedy: Oceansiders

OCEANSIDERS

Oceanside Properties offers a home away from home. It's a vacation for all of one's senses whether you buy the Elite Emerald plan or the premium platinum plan - as long as you buy...But for attendees Javi and Starlet, a routine timeshare pitch quickly transforms into a harrowing journey where 'no' is a forbidden word. They must navigate treacherous waters, where dangers lurk in every corner. As they uncover the sinister truths of Oceanside, they realize that nothing is as it seems in this chilling psychological thriller.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA / RUN TIME: 26MINS

Directed by Angel Castro & Joaquin Camilo

Best Drama: A Knife in the Moonlight

A KNIFE IN THE MOONLIGHT

Story of 16 year old Avanthika, survivor of sexual abuse from a rural village in Kerala, India

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: INDIA / RUN TIME: 25MINS

Directed by Manoj Koloth

Best Animation: Roxie

ROXIE

A young swordfighter must prove her skills in the arena in front of a live audience.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA / RUN TIME: 2MINS

Directed by Kylie Fitzgerald

Best Stop Motion Animation: Panic Switch

PANIC SWITCH

Stop motion animation of a standup performance telling the story of the speaker, a highschool teacher, managing his class when a student finds a bag of weed. His class gets excited and speculates about who the drugs could belong to until the culprit returns to try and find the bag.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA / RUN TIME: 5MINS

Directed by Cameron Red Howe

Best Actor: Connor Leong

CONNOR LEONG

Connor Leong (also known as Liang Jingkang) is a Chinese actor and model. He is best known for his breakout role as Feng Meizuo in the 2018 adaptation of the popular television series Meteor Garden.

2025 CAST & CREW AWARD WINNERS

Official Results

(FEATURE FILM) For: Don’t Forget Me

The Lightbox Film Festival is delighted to reveal the winners of the 2025 Cast & Crew Awards.
These awards recognise the exceptional talent, creativity and technical excellence demonstrated by the individuals who bring each film to life. All nominations and winners were determined exclusively by our independent judging panel, with no involvement from festival organisers or technical staff.

Results were publicly announced on 30th November 2025 following the completion of the judging process.
Each award reflects the judges’ professional evaluation across performance, craft, and artistry.

Below you will find the complete list of Cast & Crew Award winners, presented with their official award titles and associated film credits.

Best Actress: Ciara A. Lyons

CIARA A. LYONS

Ciara A.Lyons is a British actress and singer. Born in West Sussex to Irish parents. She developed a love for acting and singing very early on, attending many Youth Theater groups including Stage Coach, West Sussex Youth Theater and Acttoo. It was in 2010 when her passion and dedication was noticed, which resulted in her winning a 3 year acting scholarship.

(FEATURE FILM) For: The Underdog

Best Actor: Andrew Hamrick

ANDREW HAMRICK

Hamrick studied in New York City with the legendary William Esper and has enjoyed a successful career as an artist and director. In recent years, he has also expanded into the voice-over industry, lending his voice to animation, documentaries, audiobooks, video games, and commercials. His vocal style is versatile, ranging from authoritative tones to various regional accents, including Southern and New Yorkese.

(SHORT FILM) For: Oceansiders

Best Actress: Winnie Mzembe

WINNIE MZEMBE

Winnie Mzembe is an African-Australian actress and writer known for her work in film, theatre, and voice-overs. She has appeared in various TV series and films, including notable roles in projects likeIrreverent (2022) andIn Our Blood (2023)

(SHORT FILM) For: Stalk This Way

Best Director: Lee Akehurst

LEE AKEHURST

Award-winning producer, as well as writer and director, with feature credits including Dark Rage, Night Call and The Underdog. Lee has also worked as a freelance consultant

(FEATURE FILM) For: The Underdog

Best Director: Hoang Minh Nguyen

HOANG MINH NGUYEN

HOANGF is a filmmaker hailing from Hanoi, Vietnam. Growing up in a city steeped in history and contemplation, he believes that Hanoi's atmosphere played a crucial role in shaping his creativity and storytelling perspective.

(SHORTFILM) For: Running to Christmas

Best Cinematography: Peng Zhe

PENG ZHE

Zhe Peng. Cinematographer: Good Morning Beijing. Zhe Peng is known for Good Morning Beijing (2003), River of Salvation (2020) and The Fever (2019)

(FEATURE FILM) For: Don’t Forget Me

Best Cinematography: Thanh Chi Nguyen

Thanh Chi Nguyen

As of late 2025, Thanh Chi Nguyen is known as the cinematographer for the 2025 film Chay toi Giang Sinh (Running to Christmas)

(SHORT FILM) For: Running for Christmas

Best Music: Lauren Finch

LAUREN FINCH

Lauren Finch is a media composer based in the UK. Her experience spans a range of forms from narrative and documentary films, to theatre and audiovisual exhibitions - with award-winning projects screening at BIFA, BAFTA, and OSCAR qualifying festivals worldwide. Her music was performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra at the London Soundtrack Festival Gala Concert

(FEATURE FILM) For: The Underdog

Best Music: Brett Morreau

Brett Morreau

Brett Morreau is an award-winning Canadian composer, sound designer/editor, and re-recording mixer of Métis descent, specializing in music for film, television, and video game projects.

(SHORT FILM) For: Mint in Box