KODAK NAHEMI STUDENT COMMERCIAL AWARDS 2025: THE WINNERS

The 2025 Kodak/Nahemi student commercial awards were held at the historic Regent Street Cinema on Friday 30th May, with an enthusiastic audience of 180 student film makers from around the UK, film teachers, and advertising industry professionals.

After a screening of all 61 entries from 18 film schools from the UK and Ireland, the awards presentation was hosted by the inspirational Gémina Gil Flores & Jemma Burgess, also known as The Gems, who are an award-winning creative team at McCann’s; this was followed by a drinks reception sponsored by Kodak.

Students had to devise and make a 30 second commercial using one ten-minute roll of 16mm film provided free-of-charge by Kodak. They were provided with live briefs by the advertising agencies McCann, Libertine and TBWA, for Xbox, Ginsters, Alliance Witan and the sexual health charity Brook. The competition is judged by a panel of representatives from the agencies that supplied the briefs, together with representatives of Nahemi and Kodak.

This year’s winner, ‘Eros – The Myth Maker’, was made by students from Anglia Ruskin University for the sexual heath charity Brook, which promotes sexual health and well-being. The judges described the commercial as “a film that really stood out with its original storytelling and bold, funny approach. The sharp writing had us laughing throughout, and it felt more like an entertaining story than an ad, in the best possible way.” In second place was ‘Sheath It’ from the University of Westminster, again for Brook, which the judges said: “grabbed our attention with its playful, weird, and wonderfully original metaphor. With standout costumes, spot-on acting, and strong storytelling, it was truly memorable.” In 3rd place from Arts University Bournemouth was ‘This One First’ for Xbox, which “pulled on the judge's heartstrings, using genuine emotion to draw us in. Its sweet story and simple, strong message left a meaningful and lasting impact.”

The competition has been running for nearly 40 years and is organised by Peter Hort from the University of Westminster, with financial support from Kodak, Nahemi and the University of Westminster. At the 2025 Oscars, the winners of Best Film (Anora), Best Cinematography (The Brutalist) and Best International Film (I’m Still Here) were all shot on Kodak film, and Kodak were represented at the event by Julie Taylor-Butt (Senior Manager, Marketing and Film Sales) and Sam Clark (Director of Sales, Europe).

Past winners of the competition have gone on to distinguished careers in film, television and commercials.

This year’s winners were: 

OVERALL WINNERS

1st        Eros, the Myth Buster, Anglia Ruskin University

2nd       Sheath It, University of Westminster

3rd        This One First, Arts University Bournemouth

WINNERS of each BRIEF

ALLIANCE WITAN

2nd =    Knife Edge,   University of Salford

2nd =    Finding a Home,  University of the West of England     

3rd        Pirates, Arts University Bournemouth

BROOK

1st - Eros, the Myth Buster, Anglia Ruskin University

2nd - Sheath It , University of Westminster

3rd - Care, University of Greenwich 

GINSTERS

1st - Bon Appetit, Arts University Bournemouth

2nd - Ginsters on Mars, University of Westminster

3rd - Just Like Mum Used to Make, University of the West of England

XBOX

1st =   This One First, Arts University Bournemouth

1st =   Who Hired Grandma?, London Film Academy

2nd - Xmas Came Early, University of Westminster

3rd  Someone’s Always Online, Leeds Arts University

CRAFT AWARDS

Writing: Care, University of Greenwich

Cinematography: Just Like Mum, Univ. of the West of England

Animation: Who Inspires You, Leeds Arts University             

Editing: Stop the Swimmers, Falmouth University

Costume & Design:  Bon Appetit, Arts University Bournemouth

Sound: A Controller for Every Player, Univ .of the West of England

Check out some images from he award ceremony (all photos by Hasan Matar)