UWL student nominated for Sony Future Filmmaker Awards

Pietro Venier has short brown hair, short stubble, and is wearing a black top outside, in front of an historic grey building.

UWL student nominated for Sony Future Filmmaker Awards

10 February 2023

For 2023, Sony is launching a new set of awards for short films, the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards, to showcase new work from around the globe. Its first competition drew a huge response: with entries from more than 3,000 filmmakers in 140 countries, among them Pietro Venier, who is studying for an MA in Directing at MetFilm School in Berlin which is a University of West London partner institution.

Pietro has been nominated in the category ‘Student Filmmaker Fiction for his 20-minute film - The Hook - which tells the story of Italian teenager Carlo, who must decide whether to stay in his hometown of Trieste or accept a job on the island of Tuvalu, which is fated to disappear under rising sea levels. 

One of 30 shortlisted filmmakers in six categories, Pietro will attend a black-tie awards ceremony on Wednesday 22 February 2023, at the Cary Grant Theatre on the Sony Pictures Studio lot in Culver City, California, where the six winners will be announced, as well as enjoying a three-day industry immersion experience.

Pietro said:

We are very excited to be nominated. This was my final project along with fellow MetFilm student Sanjeet Singh, who is director of photography.”

Both students are particularly happy to have been nominated for judging by a panel that includes Academy award-winning cinematographer Sir Roger Deakins, famous for his work with directors like the Coen Brothers and Sam Mendes.

Pietro added:

I think he is the best cinematographer alive so yes, we are all delighted he will see our film,”

The Hook was filmed in Trieste because it is Pietro’s hometown.

The story is quite personal and so it made sense to shoot it there. I like films that are for everyone. I would like to make movies that are able to speak to a wide European audience and not just to the specific nation of their production, something that is often rare in Europe.”

The process of producing and making a film is complex and costly, but Pietro says the key is to never give up, push yourself and take risks.

This nomination is also thanks to all the people who helped and supported me. At film school, you have nothing to lose. And who knows? You can even have a success like this. It is a nice place to be.”

MetFilm School has campuses in London, Berlin and Leeds and its courses are validated by the University of West London. Find out more about MetFilm School courses.