French Riviera Film Festival announces 2025 award winners

French Riviera

The seventh annual French Riviera Film Festival (FRFF), which celebrates excellence in short films and short-form content from around the world, has announced its 2025 award recipients.

This year’s festival spotlighted two special honorees: Tiziana Rocca, founder of Filming in Italy, who received the Industry Excellence Award; and filmmakers Mickael Abbate and Massimo Zanetti of Tre Colori Films, who were honored with the Rising Star Award.

The official 2025 FRFF winners are as follows:

Drama
MY PAWS ARE SOFT, MY BONES ARE HEAVY – Dir. Garry Christian

Documentary
TWISTED FATE – Dirs. Mike Horelick & Jon Carnoy

Micro Short
MI FUEGO – Dir. Quentin Feynie

Sci-Fi/Horror
SWIPE – Dir. Patia Prouty

Animation
TO BEND THE EAR OF THE OUTER WORLD – Dir. John Elefante

Music Video
CRESCENT HEIGHTS – Dir. Yiannis Margetousakis

Student
CHASE JUPITER – Dir. Linjie Huang

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
DOMINANT – Dir. Nik Kleverov

Comedy
PICKING A GUITAR – Dirs. Eddie Brannigan & Felipe Candido de Brito

Best Actress
Eugenia Kuzmina – HOW CAN I LIVE WITHOUT KILLING?

Best Actor
Zaya Fadhlillah – MY PAWS ARE SOFT, MY BONES ARE HEAVY

Best Director
Garry Christian – MY PAWS ARE SOFT, MY BONES ARE HEAVY

Special Honors:
Rising Star Award – Mikhael Abbate & Massimo Zanetti, Tre Colori Films
Industry Excellence Award – Tiziana Rocca, Filming in Italy

Launched in 2019, The French Riviera Film Festival spotlights innovative short-form content across film, television, digital, and web platforms. Held during the Festival de Cannes, the two-day event brings together global filmmakers for screenings, the 8th annual Global Entertainment Showcase, VIP receptions, and a gala awards ceremony.

Official 2025 Festival Partners

Eden Hotel & Spa, Bel-Air Fine Art, Entertainment Oxygen, Cardinal du Four, The Good Gin, VOGA Prosecco, Hive₂O, filmfestivals.com, Indie Entertainment Media, Just Cinema Magazine

Gift Bag Sponsors Include

Calessia Jewelry, Glass Veil by Oksana, Hive₂O, Velvet Eyewear, and more.


Festie Bestie: A festival lifeline for indie filmmakers


French Riviera

The seventh annual French Riviera Film Festival (FRFF), which celebrates excellence in short films and short-form content from around the world, has announced its 2025 award recipients.

This year’s festival spotlighted two special honorees: Tiziana Rocca, founder of Filming in Italy, who received the Industry Excellence Award; and filmmakers Mickael Abbate and Massimo Zanetti of Tre Colori Films, who were honored with the Rising Star Award.

The official 2025 FRFF winners are as follows:

Drama
MY PAWS ARE SOFT, MY BONES ARE HEAVY – Dir. Garry Christian

Documentary
TWISTED FATE – Dirs. Mike Horelick & Jon Carnoy

Micro Short
MI FUEGO – Dir. Quentin Feynie

Sci-Fi/Horror
SWIPE – Dir. Patia Prouty

Animation
TO BEND THE EAR OF THE OUTER WORLD – Dir. John Elefante

Music Video
CRESCENT HEIGHTS – Dir. Yiannis Margetousakis

Student
CHASE JUPITER – Dir. Linjie Huang

Artificial Intelligence (AI)
DOMINANT – Dir. Nik Kleverov

Comedy
PICKING A GUITAR – Dirs. Eddie Brannigan & Felipe Candido de Brito

Best Actress
Eugenia Kuzmina – HOW CAN I LIVE WITHOUT KILLING?

Best Actor
Zaya Fadhlillah – MY PAWS ARE SOFT, MY BONES ARE HEAVY

Best Director
Garry Christian – MY PAWS ARE SOFT, MY BONES ARE HEAVY

Special Honors:
Rising Star Award – Mikhael Abbate & Massimo Zanetti, Tre Colori Films
Industry Excellence Award – Tiziana Rocca, Filming in Italy

Launched in 2019, The French Riviera Film Festival spotlights innovative short-form content across film, television, digital, and web platforms. Held during the Festival de Cannes, the two-day event brings together global filmmakers for screenings, the 8th annual Global Entertainment Showcase, VIP receptions, and a gala awards ceremony.

Official 2025 Festival Partners

Eden Hotel & Spa, Bel-Air Fine Art, Entertainment Oxygen, Cardinal du Four, The Good Gin, VOGA Prosecco, Hive₂O, filmfestivals.com, Indie Entertainment Media, Just Cinema Magazine

Gift Bag Sponsors Include

Calessia Jewelry, Glass Veil by Oksana, Hive₂O, Velvet Eyewear, and more.


Festie Bestie: A festival lifeline for indie filmmakers