We’re excited to announce the winners of the 2025–2026 Blackmagic Design Pitch Competition, presented in partnership with Blackmagic Design.

This year’s competition invited student filmmakers to pitch original short film concepts, showcasing their creativity, vision, and storytelling ability. We received an impressive range of submissions from across the country, making the selection process incredibly competitive.

After careful review, we’re proud to recognize the following winning projects:

Winning Pitch Selections

“The Ship of Theseus”
Nathan Phillips
Prosper High School — Prosper, TX

“Finding You Again”
Riley Madison Bockhol & Stuart Quang Son Nottke
North Ed Career Tech — Interlochen, MI

Each winning team will receive an all-new Blackmagic Design PYXIS 6K camera package, empowering them to bring their winning concepts to life over the coming months.

The completed films will premiere as Official Selections at the 2026 Festival, screening on the big screen in New York City.

We’d like to thank all of the student filmmakers who submitted pitches this year. The quality, ambition, and originality of the ideas made this one of our strongest competitions to date.

Prizing

  • The winning teams will each receive the following prize package.

  • A Blackmagic PYXIS 6K – An advanced digital film camera with an incredibly versatile design that lets you build the perfect camera rig for your production.

    • Will include Blackmagic URSA Cine EVF, Blackmagic PYXIS Rosette Plate and Blackmagic URSA Cine Handle

  • OR: a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K G2 - More advanced 6K model featuring a larger 6144 x 3456 Super 35 wide dynamic range sensor and EF lens mount. Features tilt adjustable LCD and a larger battery.

    • Will include Blackmagic Pocket Cine EVF, and Pocket Battery Grip.

  • DaVinci Resolve Studio – Blackmagic Design’s professional editing, color grading, VFX, and audio post production solution. (https://www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve) 

    • Note: the prizes will be given to the team advisor/mentor. It is then up to the team advisor/mentor to determine how the prizes will be distributed within the team or school production program. The prizes must not be resold and they must be used to create the film (as outlined in the contest requirements above.)  

Contest Judging 

  • A panel of Blackmagic Design representatives, AAHSFF staff and industry professionals will review the submitted pitches and deliberate to select the winning teams.