On 20 November 2025, the Windy City played host to a spectacular celebration of cinematic creativity as the winners of the 2025 Lev Awards were formally presented with their coveted trophies at the renowned AICP Awards ceremony. The event also paid tribute to the 2024 recipients, offering a unique opportunity to honour talent from consecutive years in a single, glittering evening.
The Lev Awards, a highlight of the Camp Kuleshov competition, were founded by the visionary Kathryn Hempel, who, alongside esteemed collaborator Robby Hurd, personally presented the awards to this year’s winners. Their dedication to recognising emerging talent in the film and media industry has helped establish Camp Kuleshov as a premier platform for creative innovation.
In addition to the trophies, each Lev winner was presented with a $1,000 gift card, generously sponsored by Musicbed and Filmsupply. Musicbed, renowned for its extensive music library, further supports Camp Kuleshov participants by providing complimentary access to a curated selection of tracks for use in their competition entries. This generous initiative enables filmmakers and editors to experiment and elevate their projects with high-quality soundscapes.
Camp Kuleshov remains committed to nurturing creative excellence. Aspiring entrants can find comprehensive details regarding competition rules, objectives, and source films at www.campkuleshov.org. The website serves as an essential resource for those wishing to partake in this celebrated contest and gain recognition within the international film community.
The 2025 Lev Awards winners span a range of disciplines, demonstrating the breadth of talent in editing, sound, graphics, and music composition. The full roster of winners is presented below:
| Award | Winner | Film/Project |
|---|---|---|
| Editing | Thomas Sheriff | About Time |
| Graphics | Waner Zhang | Inside Llewyn Davis |
| Sound Design | Lucas Hansa | Forbidden Planet |
| Music Score | Zoltan Monori | Cloverfield |
The evening’s festivities were more than a mere ceremony; they represented a celebration of artistic achievement and a reaffirmation of Camp Kuleshov’s mission to champion creativity in film and media. With the ongoing support of industry leaders and sponsors, the Lev Awards continue to inspire the next generation of filmmakers to push boundaries and realise their visionary ideas.