Production Department Awards

The Production Department Awards celebrate the outstanding artistry, collaboration, and vision of our MFA students in Film and Television Production.

Award recipients will be announced at Picture’s Up! The LMU SFTV MFA Production Awards Ceremony on May 14, 2025—an evening dedicated to celebrating the creativity, craft, and community that define our department. Highlighting the artistry and craft across Cinematography, Editing, Creative Producing, and Directing—in both fiction and non-fiction storytelling.

Social Impact in Filmmaking Award

In keeping with LMU’s mission of fostering social justice, the Social Impact in Filmmaking Award supports students who are using cinema as a tool for meaningful change. This award honors emerging filmmakers whose thesis projects address pressing societal issues, reflecting the university’s values of justice, sustainability, and purpose-driven leadership.

Eligibility: 2nd-year LMU PROD Directing students

The Collaborative Filmmaking Award

Collaboration lies at the heart of great storytelling—and at the core of LMU’s creative philosophy. The Collaborative Filmmaking Award recognizes Directing students who build cross-disciplinary teams and engage talent from across the School of Film and Television, including Screenwriting, RECA, Theater, and Animation. The goal is to foster rich artistic partnerships and long-term professional connections that lead to powerful, collaborative work.

Eligibility: 2nd-year LMU PROD Directing students

Specialization Awards

These awards recognize outstanding student achievement across the core disciplines of the Production Department. Open to students who exemplify creative excellence in their area of specialization.

Eligibility: 2nd and 3rd-year LMU PROD students

Categories:

• Directing – Fiction
• Directing – Non-Fiction
• Cinematography
• Editing
• Creative Producing

Thesis Film Jury Awards

Selected by a panel of distinguished industry professionals, these awards honor the most exceptional thesis films in each of the five areas of Production. The jurors bring deep expertise and represent a range of cinematic disciplines.

Eligibility: LMU PROD Thesis Students

Categories:

• Best Director – Fiction
• Best Director – Non-Fiction
• Best Cinematography
• Best Editing
• Best Producing