25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BEVERLY HILLS FILM FESTIVAL® WRAPS WITH
PROCLAMATION FROM MAYOR SHARONA NAZARIAN AT ANNUAL AWARDS GALA
Notable Attendees for the six-day fest included Kevin Smith, Jesse Metcalfe, Eric Roberts,
Haley Joel Osment, Ann-Margaret, Beau Bridges, Tricia Helfer, Frances Fisher, Amy Yasbeck,
Jack Wright, Tyler Posey, Alessandra Williams, Arielle Raycene, Emile Hirsch & more
BEVERLY HILLS, CA (APRIL 7 2025) The 25th Annual Beverly Hills International Film Festival® (BHFF) concluded its landmark season with a historic moment: a special proclamation bestowed by newly sworn-in Mayor of Beverly Hills Sharona Nazarian at the annual Awards Gala, held for the first time ever at The Beverly Hilton on Sunday.
“Beverly Hills, the city that’s known around the world for its stars, but it’s not just the stars on the screen, or the ones that light up Rodeo Drive, it’s the people who come together, create, inspire and build communities, like all of you that are here tonight,” remarks Mayor Nazarian.
“As we celebrate storytelling, film has a unique power to bring people together across cultures, backgrounds and beliefs. When I was an immigrant girl coming to America dreaming of freedom, film gave me hope that anything is possible, and look at me now.”
Nazarian recently made history as the first Iranian, Jewish woman mayor in the U.S., and took to the stage just days after her swearing-in on April 1, 2025 – coinciding with the festival’s Opening Night.
“As Mayor, it’s my honor and privilege to recognize someone who has made that connection possible for a quarter of acentury, ” she continued.
“His vision, passion, and heart helped keep Beverly Hills a home for filmmakers and dream-makers alike. Here’s to many more years of storytelling, celebration and unity. On behalf of the Beverly Hills City Council, it is my privilege to present this proclamation in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Beverly Hills Film Festival and to the extraordinary man and entrepreneur, Mr. Nino Simone.”
The 25th Silver(Screen) Anniversary edition of Beverly Hills Film Festival wrapped its six-day celebration with more than 350 films from over 65 countries, including the festival’s Best Foreign Film: How Kids Roll directed by Loris Lai, a co-production, 10 years in the making, between Italy, United States and Belgium – a story of two boys, one Palestinian and the other Israeli, who form an unlikely friendship due to their mutual love for surfing, amidst the war in the Gaza Strip during the Second Intifada.
In addition to world-class films, the Beverly Hills Film Festival hosted an educational POWER Panel for all festival attendees to make CINEMATIC CONNECTIONS in the courtyard of Ovation Hollywood, learning from literary managers and industry experts on how to get their stories produced and distributed outside traditional Hollywood pipelines. Sponsored by Neft Vodka, Voss Water, Wolfgang Puck Catering and Ovation Hollywood.
Beverly Hills Film Festival welcomed many celebrity guests, including Jesse Metcalfe and Eric Roberts, for the West Coast Premiere of The Comic Shop, directed by Jonathan Bowen. Roberts also starred in the short film, The Method. Iconic Ann-Margret, most notorious for Bye Bye Birdie and for being a sex symbol in the sixties, made a rare red carpet appearance, as the Executive Producer of the short film, WANDER WOMEN, directed by Drew Denny. Beau Bridges, alongside his son Ezekiel (Zeke) Bridges returned to the BHFF for the second year in a row, but for the World Premiere of Welcome to Klyde’s Kitchen, directed by Sonia Bajaj, starring the father and son, alongside actress Sana Saeed.
The Spotlight World Premiere film for the 2025 BHFF is Hello Beautiful, directed by Ziad Hamzeh, starring Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica) as Willow, a successful model whose life is shattered by a devastating breast cancer diagnosis. This film is based on the best-selling novel, Walk Beside Me, written by Executive Producer and self-proclaimed Cancer Disruptor, Christine Handy, who lived through this real-life story. “The Beverly Hills Film Festival has historically honored movies that spur conversation and creativity from creators that do impactful work, said Handy. “Hello Beautiful is a movie seeking to do important work in the world. It is truly a privilege to have won the Golden Palm award at the 25th Golden Anniversary of the Beverly Hills Film Festival. ”
2025 BEVERLY HILL FILM FESTIVAL AWARD WINNER
Golden Palm Award: Hello Beautiful
THE SIMON SIGNATURE SELECTION AWARD: Jacob deHaan, A Voice out of Time
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Golden Palm Screenplay: Daniel Talbot, Inferno
1st Runner-Up Screenplay: Maria Massei-Rosato, Lost in Control
2nd Runner-Up Screenplay: Andrew Koponen, Blue on Blue
2025 BHFF FILM AWARDS
Best Director: Manua Coleman, Engelstan
Best Actor: Steven Graham, Sheepdog
Best Actress: Sinem Koseoglu, Good Morning, Mom
Best Producer: Legend Has It
Best Cinematography: Miracles
Best Editing: The Blue Diamond
Best Foreign Film Award: How Kids Roll
Best Score Award: The Suit
Best Student Film: The Sitdown
JURY AWARDS
Best Feature Film: The Grand Strand
Best Documentary: Tears in Rain
Best Short Film: The Remaining Ones
Best Short Documentary: After the Bomb
Best Animated Film: Jus d’Orange
AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
Best Animated Film: The Illusionist Dilema, by Carolo De Togni
Best Short Documentary: Call Me Shamz
Best Documentary: I’m Only Blind
Best Short Film: Dizzy
Best Feature Film: All There Is
ABOUT BEVERL Y HILLS FILM FESTIVAL®
The 25th Annual International Beverly Hills Film Festival® took place April 1-6, 2025 with world-classvscreenings, industry events,vand the annual red carpet Awards Gala, held in partnership with The Beverly Hilton. The annual International Beverly Hills FilmvFestival® was founded in 2000 by award-winning filmmaker Nino Simone, in the backyard of the entertainment capital of thevworld. By linking the groundbreaking talent of international filmmakers and exposing the industry to the latest innovations in cinematic intelligence, the Beverly Hills Film Festival (BHFF) is considered among the most respected and influential film festivals across the globe. The 2025 Beverly Hills Film Festival is supported by Voss Water, Aix Rosé, San Bartolo Mezcal, Uncle Nearest, Fever Tree, Ovation Hollywood and Neft Vodka.
Website: beverlyhillsfilmfestival.com
Facebook: facebook.com/thebhfilmfest
Twitter: twitter.com/thebhfilmfest
Instagram: instagram.com/thebhfilmfest