vincent de paul – Global Short Film Awards Cannes

Global Short Film Awards Marks Ten Years with Black-Tie Cannes Gala

Cuba Gooding Jr, Vincent DePaul and Andres Aquino at the Global Short Film Awards in Cannes, France — Academy® Award winning actor Cuba Gooding, Jr. with Vincent DePaul (l) and Andres Aquino (r). Photo: Alain Abi, @alagraphie

The 10^th Annual Global Short Film Awards gala was one of the most sought after events in Cannes in May 2025. Held concurrently with the Cannes Film Festival, the gala was a delightful evening celebrating film, fashion and beauty, with music, entertainment, and gourmet delights. The breathtaking view of Cannes harbor from the rooftop of the prestigious Canopy Hilton was the backdrop for the unforgettable occasion.

One of the highlights of the evening was the presentation of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Cuba Gooding, Jr. Mr. Gooding is a well-known major Hollywood actor and winner of an Academy® Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the hit movie Jerry Maguire. He has been in many other major films including A Few Good Men, Gladiator, As Good As It Gets, Norbit and Linewatch. He portrayed Dr. Ben Carson in the film Gifted Hands and OJ Simpson in the FX drama The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story. He has also appeared in several Broadway and West End theater productions, has been nominated for Emmy and Golden Globe awards, and has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented by Emmy-award winning actor and producer Vincent DePaul, who is appearing with Mr. Gooding in the upcoming film A Line of Fire.

A luxury fashion show by designer Andres Aquino – who is also the founder of the Global Short Film Awards – showcased an ethereal collection of luscious hand-printed silk designs celebrating nature and colorful birds from around the world. The collection was styled by Vietnamese fashion powerhouse Cory Couture Productions and featured exquisite hair and makeup styling by the Giuseppe Barra team from Italy. The models included top beauty queens and award winners from many countries, including a group from Prestige Models in Cyprus. This year’s Top Model Award was presented to Sarah Larissa Bruns, a rising star in the field and Miss Germany World 2024. Her experience was documented by RTL TV, one of Germany’s major media outlets.

GSF Awards Director Andres Aquino presents the 2025 Top Model Award to Sarah Larissa Bruns. Photo: Anita Nagypal, @anitanagypal

The fashion portion of the evening also included the showing of a curated selection of menswear creations by rising New York fashion designer Majid Desire.

“Over ten consecutive years, we have cemented our position in Cannes as the most significant short film awards event gala,” says Global Short Film Awards Founder and Director Andres Aquino. “The winning films were selected from dozens of great entries by talented filmmakers from more than 80 countries. We are proud to have achieved this milestone and to bring recognition to these exceptional projects.”

The 2025 Global Short Film Awards winners:
Best Film: Awake
Best Director: Rossano B. Maniscalchi, Nexus
Best Actor: Niklas Agild, Awake
Best Actress: Tind Soneby, Awake
Best Animated Film: Bo and Trash (Spain)
Best Dance Film: Paolo and Francesca (UK)
Best Documentary: It’s Not Dark Yet (Italy)
Best Drama Film: Awake (Sweden)
Best Fashion and Beauty Film: Nexus (Italy)
Best Music Film: The Crumpled (Iran)
Best Science Fiction Film: Triskaidekaphobia (USA)
Outstanding New Film: Echoes by Shubhra Goyal

GSF Awards Director Andres Aquino with Lorenza Desiata and Rossano B. Maniscalchi of the Best Fashion and Beauty Film "Nexus". Photo: Viresh Goerdin, @vireshgoerdin — GSF Awards Director Andres Aquino with Lorenza Desiata and Rossano B. Maniscalchi of the Best Fashion and Beauty Film “Nexus”. Photo: Viresh Goerdin, @vireshgoerdin

Wine for the evening was sponsored by Sip Channe, and the wine label’s founder Kavita Channe also co-hosted the event with Vincent DePaul. Ms. Channe is a multi-talented entrepreneur widely recognized for her role as an acclaimed TV host and producer across the sports and entertainment industries, including the NFL, Fox Sports, HBO, VH1 and TLC.

Enhancing the gala was entertainment by singers Yvonne Spark, Lubovnicca and tenor Massimo Cims. DJ Somnous provided the music vibe. International press covered the event.

A special afternoon of film and winning trailer screenings was held the day before at the Loho Auditorium at the Eden Hotel and Spa in Cannes, in partnership with a film project organized by Professor Karl Bardosh of New York University.

Global Short Film Awards Celebrate Excellence in Film, Fashion and Music at its Cannes Gala

The 9th Annual black-tie gala features exciting sponsors, performers and partnerships at one of the most iconic venues in Cannes, France.

The Global Short Film Awards will return to the iconic Carlton Cannes for its 9^th annual gala on 24 May 2024. Held concurrently with the Cannes Film Festival, the event will be a very special evening celebrating excellence in short films. The dinner gala also includes thrilling musical performances, a silent auction to benefit Pink Ribbon Monaco, and a luxury fashion show by designer Andres Aquino, who is also the founder and director of the GSF Awards. Guests will dance the night away with international DJ Somnous.

Global Short Film Awards 2024 winning films

The 2024 winning films in the popular competition include outstanding entries in multiple categories from the USA, Italy, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, the Russian Federation, Mexico, China and Canada. The Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress awards will be announced at the gala. The evening will be hosted by Emmy Award-winning actor and producer Vincent DePaul.

For 2024, the Global Short Film Awards gala will include exciting partnerships and sponsorships:

Pink Ribbon Monaco. Promoting breast cancer awareness and research support. The founder and President of this wonderful organization is Natasha Frost-Savio (Knight of the Order of Saint Charles), and the Honorary President is Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco.
Dorow Clinic. Founded by Dr. Andreas Dorow, The Dorow Clinic is the leading clinic for aesthetic surgery and dentistry located near Zurich and Basel, in the Black Forest area in the south of Germany.
Kerix Jad. Based in Lima, Peru, Kerix Jad is an international and innovative company spanning the sectors of mining, transportation, energy and cryptocurrency.
Coleg Gwent. Located in Cwmbran, Torfaen, Wales, Coleg Gwent will bring a group of photography students to gain valuable experience as an important part of the Cannes event.
Fashion for Futures. Under the leadership of CEO Ilyssa Wexler, and Professor at FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) in Florence, Italy, this program offers students a unique convergence of economics, backstage training, and business acumen within the fashion industry.
The Global Short Film Awards luxurious Maybach sedans and a Ferrari F8 will be seen by thousands of film festival attendees and visitors to Cannes for several days as they transport VIP guests to the gala and tour the world-famous Croisette promenade.
Giuseppe Barra Hair and Makeup Artistry. Based in Turin, Italy, Giuseppe Barra and his talented team of hair and makeup artists regularly create unforgettable looks at top fashion and entertainment events including Milan Fashion Week, the Venice Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival.
networkxTV (Germany) will film the event for a special media production.
RTL Media (Germany) will cover the event along with other international press.

Andres Aquino, fashion designer and founder of the Global Short Film Awards. — *Andres Aquino, fashion designer and founder of the Global Short Film Awards with fashion models.*

Performers at the gala will include:

Tenor Ricardo Marinello is a rising singing star with an extraordinary tenor voice. He is a winner of “Germany’s Got Talent” and has performed with major orchestras around the world.
Yola Nash is a twice Grammy-considered and award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, radio host, philanthropist and visual artist.
Mia Wallace is a talented pop singing sensation.
Beatrice Turin, an Austrian singer, model and recording artist. She also was named Miss Europe in 2021, and serves as ambassador for various charity organizations.
Lubovnicca is a Ukrainian pop singing sensation, beauty queen and influencer, who has performed in cities around the world.
Cecilia Herrera is a singer, songwriter and recording artist, and one of the most captivating voices on the Italian music scene today.

Please visit GlobalShortFilmAwards.com for tickets and more information.

Acclaimed Soprano Nicola Said Sings at the Global Short Film Awards Cannes Film Festival 2021

Maltese Soprano Nicola Said recently delivered an electrifying performance at the Global Short Film (GSF) Awards Gala during the prestigious international Cannes Film Festival 2021. The festive gala event was organized by entrepreneur, producer and fashion designer Andres Aquino and held at the luxurious Villa Forbes (Villa Elegance) in Cannes, France.

Soprano Nicola Said and Global Short Film Awards founder and director Andres Aquino — Nicola with Producer, Entrepreneur and Fashion Designer Andres Aquino.

Nicola performed Je Veux Vivre from the French opera Romeo et Juliette by Charles Gounod and Quando Me’n Vo from Puccini’s 1896 opera La Bohème. Both were specifically chosen to accompany the theme of life and love, and beauty and love. Also performing at the event was world-renowned violinist, Edmond Fokker van Crayestein. Nicola sang in front of a number of distinguished guests from the entertainment world, including Dr. Olympia Gellini, founder and president of the Family Film Awards, The American World Film Awards, Olympia Awards City Of Lights and member of the GSF Awards jury; Karl Bardosh, New York University associate professor, screenwriter, director, producer, pioneer in the field of mobile phone cinema, and member of the GSF Awards jury; and award-winning actor and producer, Vincent De Paul.

Nicola Said and Emmy Award-winning actor Vincent De Paul.

Nicola was first introduced to producer and designer Andres Aquino by award-winning Hollywood composer William Camilleri, and then asked to sing at this prestigious event held to coincide with the iconic Cannes Film Festival. “Nicola, you came, you sang and you conquered Cannes, transporting us to a magical and delightful world where you rule with your powerful voice,” said GSF Awards Founder and Director Andres Aquino, adding ” …I am looking forward to seeing you at our next event in New York.”

Soprano Nicola Said with world-renowned violinist Edmond Fokker van Crayestein

In a nod to her Maltese heritage, Nicola wore a stunning gown generously sponsored by top Maltese designers Charles & Ron, while her travel was supported by the Malta International Airport. Upon her return from Cannes, Nicola said “taking part was an amazing experience. I met fantastic people in the entertainment industry and have just been invited to sing at Couture Fashion Week New York!”

Nicola is the Malta Airport Foundation Ambassador and a Joseph Calleja BOV Foundation Scholar. She has been supported by the DrakeCalleja Trust, Janatha Stubbs Foundation, and the Ian Tomlin Scholarship. She is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Opera Course, for which she was granted a full scholarship.

Nicola, who is represented by The Music Partnership, has given recitals for HRH The Earl of Wessex at an event presented by the Duke of Edinburgh, at St. James’s Palace and Kensington Palace in the UK. She won Second Prize in the Strauss Competition at the Mozarteum in Salzburg and First Prize and Audience Prize for the Fulham Opera Robert Presley Memorial 2017.

Aside from Malta and the UK, Nicola has performed internationally, including in France, Italy, USA, Cyprus, Germany, China, Poland, Hungary and other countries. She is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Malta.

Visit Nicola Said on her website, Facebook or Instagram.

‘Matty Boy’ Named Best Drama Comedy at Global Short Film Awards

The delightful short film Matty Boy was named the Best Drama Comedy Film at the 2021 Global Short Film Awards. The announcement was made by the GSF Awards founder and director Andres Aquino during the prestigious event’s 6^th annual awards gala in Cannes, France.

“Matty Boy” named Best Drama Comedy Film at the 2021 Global Short Film Awards in Cannes, France.

Matty Boy has won 134 awards to date at international film festivals including Rome International Movie Awards, Oniros Film Awards, Hollywood Gold Awards, Across The Globe Film Festival, New York Movie Awards, Cult Valley Global Cinefest, Wales Film Festival, Onyko Film Awards, Istanbul Film Awards, New York Cinematography Awards, Cooper Awards, French Riviera Film Festival, Gona Film Awards, Los Angeles Film Awards, and more.

Matty Boy is about a highly suggestible man who mistakenly marries a second wife, thinking that his first wife is about to die. But he then realizes that his first wife has been given a misdiagnosis and his second wife doesn’t want to leave. He then has to face the consequences of having two wives on a journey which takes him on a twisting and turning comic roller coaster of a ride beyond anything he could have ever imagined.

Matty Boy was co-written and directed by Dr. Shahid Kamal (Cinnamon, Take the Chocolate) and co-written and produced by Dr. Samir Srivastava from the UK, and stars double Emmy award-winning actor Vincent De Paul (Poseidon, Hitch, Hairspray).

Visit the film on Instagram and Facebook.