Kristen Stewart, Benicio Del Toro, Wunmi Mosaku, and Scott Cooper set for 2025 SFFILM Awards Night honors
SFFILM has announced the recipients of its 2025 Awards Night honors, a flagship San Francisco event recognizing exceptional achievements in film craft and artistry.
Honorees include filmmaker Scott Cooper, Oscar winner Benicio Del Toro, Emmy and BAFTA winner Wunmi Mosaku, and Oscar nominee Kristen Stewart.
“The work of our honorees will resonate for years to come, and central to our mission at SFFILM is nurturing the next generation of artists and audiences,“ Anne Lai, the executive director of SFFILM, says in a statement. “Along with our director of programming Jessie Fairbanks, we couldn’t be more thrilled to honor such notable talents as Scott, Benicio, Wunmi, and Kristen for their stellar contributions to film this year.”
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction: Scott Cooper
Cooper, known for character-driven films such as Crazy Heart, Black Mass, and Hostiles, receives SFFILM’s top directing honor — previously awarded to Denis Villeneuve, Greta Gerwig, Ryan Coogler, Jane Campion, and Chloé Zhao. His latest film, Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere, starring Jeremy Allen White and Jeremy Strong, is currently in theaters.
Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting: Benicio Del Toro
The Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting has been awarded since 1996 and honors a performer whose work in film exemplifies brilliance, independence, and integrity. Recent recipients include Demi Moore, Nicolas Cage, Margot Robbie, Oscar Isaac, and Glenn Close.
Del Toro adds another prestigious accolade to his long list of honors. The Oscar and BAFTA winner, whose credits range from Traffic to Che to collaborations with directors including Alejandro G. Iñárritu, Villeneuve, and Wes Anderson, is currently starring in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another. He will receive the award from his One Battle costar Regina Hall.
George Gund III Award for Virtuosity: Wunmi Mosaku
The George Gund III Award for Virtuosity is presented each year to one of world cinema’s outstanding visionaries, regardless of their craft. Recent recipients include Malcolm Washington, Cord Jefferson, and Stephanie Hsu.
Mosaku is being recognized for a body of work spanning Lovecraft Country, Loki, BAFTA-winning Damilola, Our Loved Boy, and her acclaimed turn in His House. She currently stars as Annie in Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, one of 2025’s most talked-about ensembles. Her Sinners costar Delroy Lindo will present the award.
Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling: Kristen Stewart
The Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling acknowledges the critical importance that storytelling plays in the creation of outstanding films. Recent honorees celebrated for their ambition, independence, and integrity include Jason Reitman, Roger Ross Williams, Sarah Polley, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Aaron Sorkin.
Following her Oscar-nominated performance as Princess Diana in Spencer, Stewart is being honored for her evolution as a filmmaker. Her feature directorial debut, The Chronology of Water, premiered at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and begins its limited theatrical run in December. Chronology star Imogen Poots will present.
Event details
SFFILM Awards Night is considered San Francisco’s premier awards-season celebration, drawing major industry figures while raising critical funds for the organization’s educational initiatives, artist development programs, and year-round festival and screening series. The annual celebration returns Dec. 8 at the Gateway Pavilion at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture.
