Imagine a world where the subtle art of color grading gets its due – where the unsung heroes who shape the visual landscape of our favorite films and music videos are celebrated. Well, that world exists, and it's called the FilmLight Colour Awards! This year, two projects stood out from the crowd: Brady Corbet's thought-provoking film, 'The Brutalist,' and Bad Bunny's vibrant music video, 'Nuevayol.'
Máté Ternyik, the colorist behind 'The Brutalist,' and Dante Pasquinelli at Ethos Studio, who worked on 'Nuevayol,' were recognized for their exceptional contributions at the prestigious Camerimage Film Festival in Poland. But what exactly are the FilmLight Colour Awards, and why are they so important?
Now in its fifth year, these awards shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked craft of color grading across all forms of screen media. Think of it as the Oscars for colorists! The awards cover six categories, from big-budget theatrical features to eye-catching commercials and cutting-edge music videos. The winners are announced annually at Camerimage, a renowned festival celebrating the art of cinematography.
This year's ceremony kicked off with words from cinematographer Bradford Young, the 2025 Jury President, and a video message from film director Park Chan-wook, the 2025 Guest of Honour. And director Park's statement really underscores just how difficult it is to judge something so subjective. "This was one of the most difficult judging experiences I’ve ever had,” Park said. “I’ve participated in many film award juries, but there were so many outstanding works, each with such strong individuality, that ranking them felt nearly impossible.” He even wondered if it could be done!
Young echoed this sentiment, calling it an "honour and a privilege" to preside over the jury. He lauded the "unsung warriors and heroes of our form, our colourists," emphasizing the attention and love they deserve for their contributions to the films we cherish.
But here's where it gets interesting... Color grading can be a controversial subject. Some argue that it's purely technical, while others see it as a deeply artistic process that can completely transform a film's message and emotional impact. What do you think? Is color grading a technical skill, an art form, or a bit of both?
Full List of 2025 FilmLight Colour Award Winners:
Theatrical Feature
* Mickey 17 – graded by Damien Vandercruyssen at Harbor
* Nosforatu – graded by Adam Glasman at Goldcrest
* Sinners – graded by Kostas Theodosiou at FotoKem
* WINNER: The Brutalist – graded by colourist Máté Ternyik
* The Phoenician Scheme – graded by Gareth Spensley at Company 3
TV Series / Episodic
* Andor (season 2, episode 4, 9, 12) – graded by Jean-Clement Soret at Company 3
* WINNER: Disclaimer (season 1) – graded by Peter Doyle at PostWorks NY
* Severance (season 2) – graded by Tom Poole at Company 3
* The Studio (season 1) ¬– graded by Damien Vandercruyssen at Harbor
Commercial
* WINNER: Bluff Bounce, ‘Prologue’ – graded by freelance colourist, Franziska Heinemann
* Gucci, ‘We Will Always Have London’ – graded by Tim Masick at Company 3
* KFC, ‘Obsession’ – graded by Mark Gethin at Trafik
* Office Magazine, ‘Michael Shannon: A Reflection on Life, Art, Unity and the Divine’ – graded by Dylan Hageman at House Post
Music Video
* WINNER: Bad Bunny, NUEVAYoL – graded by Dante Pasquinelli at Ethos Studio
* Damiano David, Next Summer – graded by Valerio Liberatore at Frame by Frame
* Maggie Rogers, In the Living Room – graded by Jake White at Company 3
* Wren Evans, CỨU LẤY ÂM NHẠC – graded by Sam Howells at Ethos Studio
Spotlight
* Duchoň – graded by Ondřej Štibingr at PFX
* WINNER: Good Shot – graded by Connor Bailey at House Post
* La Hija Cóndor – graded by Leo Fallas at Fermento Color
* NAWI: Dear Future Me – graded by colourist, Marina Starke
Emerging Talent
* Bluff Bounce, ‘Prologue’ – graded by freelance colourist, Franziska Heinemann
* WINNER: Converse x Daily Paper, ‘Homecoming’ – graded by colourist, Marina Starke
* S Bahn, ‘A Century In Motion’ – graded by freelance colourist, Imri Agmon
* Timberland, ‘50 Years of Hip-Hop’ – graded by Connor Bailey at House Post
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees! Their work is a testament to the power of color in storytelling. Now, over to you: Which of these projects are you most excited to see, and how do you think good color grading enhances a film or video? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
