CELEBRATING UNIQUE AND EXTRAORDINARY ACHIEVEMENTS IN FILM
SFFILM Awards Night
SFFILM Awards Night honors exemplary achievement in film craft and serves as a fundraiser to support SFFILM’s enduring mission to discover, nurture, and showcase the next generation of film artists. As the Bay Area’s leading film arts and culture institution since 1957, SFFILM sustains the full cycle of the cinema experience through its youth education initiative, artist development programs, and year-round film programming. Learn about all past SFFILM Awards Night honorees and the fundraiser’s impact below.
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
The Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction is presented each year to one of the masters of world cinema and is given in memory of the founder of SFFILM’s San Francisco International Film Festival. Past recipients include Scott Cooper (2025), Denis Villeneuve (2024), Greta Gerwig (2023), Ryan Coogler (2022), Jane Campion (2021), Chloé Zhao (2020), Marielle Heller (2019), Steve McQueen (2018), Kathryn Bigelow (2017), among others.
VIEW ALL PAST AWARDEES + SELECTIONS →
Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting
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. Past recipients include Benicio Del Toro (2025), Demi Moore (2024), Nicolas Cage (2023), Margot Robbie (2022), Oscar Isaac (2021), Glenn Close (2020), Adam Driver (2019), among others.
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SFFILM Award for Virtuosity
The SFFILM Award for Virtuosity is presented each year to one of world cinema’s outstanding visionaries, regardless of their craft. This honor calls attention to an artist who exemplifies excellence, integrity, and promise—all qualities epitomized by the award’s titular figure. Past honorees include Wunmi Mosaku (2025), Malcolm Washington (2024), Cord Jefferson (2023), Stephanie Hsu (2022), among others.
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Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling
The Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling celebrates the critical importance that storytelling plays in the creation of outstanding films and is presented annually to a filmmaker whose work exemplifies brilliance, ambition, independence, and integrity. Past recipients include Kristen Stewart (2025), Jason Reitman (2024), Roger Ross Williams (2023), Sarah Polley (2022), Maggie Gyllenhaal (2021), Aaron Sorkin (2020), among others.
VIEW ALL PAST AWARDEES + SELECTIONS →
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Drew Altizer
Photo by Devlin Shand for Drew Altizer Photography
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Tommy Lau
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
Photo by Pamela Gentile
2025 HONOREES
SFFILM’s Awards Night is a star-studded fundraiser celebrating unique and extraordinary achievements in film since 2017.
Full list of Past Awardees and Selections
Scott Cooper (2025)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Benicio Del Toro (2025)
Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting
Wunmi Mosaku (2025)
George Gund III Award for Virtuosity
Kristen Stewart (2025)
Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling
Denis Villeneuve (2024)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Demi Moore (2024)
Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting
Malcolm Washington (2024)
George Gund III Award for Virtuosity
Jason Reitman (2024)
Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling
Greta Gerwig (2023)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Nicolas Cage (2023)
Maria Manetti Shrem Lifetime Achievement Award for Acting
Cord Jefferson (2023)
George Gund III Award for Virtuosity
Roger Ross Williams (2023)
Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling
Ryan Coogler (2022)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Margot Robbie (2022)
Maria Manetti Shrem Award for Acting
Stephanie Hsu (2022)
George Gund III Award for Virtuosity
Sarah Polley (2022)
Nion McEvoy & Leslie Berriman Award for Storytelling
Jane Campion (2021)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Oscar Isaac (2021)
SFFILM Award for Acting
Maggie Gyllenhaal (2021)
Kanbar Award for Storytelling
Chloé Zhao (2020)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Glenn Close (2020)
SFFILM Award for Acting
Aaron Sorkin (2020)
Kanbar Award for Storytelling
Marielle Heller (2019)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Adam Driver (2019)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Lulu Wang (2019)
Kanbar Award for Storytelling
Steve McQueen (2018)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Amy Adams (2018)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Boots Riley (2018)
Kanbar Award for Storytelling
Kathryn Bigelow (2017)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Kate Winslet (2017)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Emily V. Gordon & Kumail Nanjiani (2017)
Kanbar Award for Storytelling
Mira Nair (2016)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Ellen Burstyn (2016)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Tom McCarthy (2016)
Kanbar Award for Excellence in Storytelling
Guillermo del Toro (2015)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Richard Gere (2015)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Paul Schrader (2015)
Kanbar Award for Excellence in Storytelling
Richard Linklater (2014)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Jeremy Irons (2014)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Stephen Gaghan (2014)
Kanbar Award for Excellence in Screenwriting
Philip Kaufman (2013)
Founder’s Directing Award
Harrison Ford (2013)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Eric Roth (2013)
Kanbar Award for Excellence in Screenwriting
Ray Dolby (2013)
George Gund III Award
Kenneth Branagh (2012)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Judy Davis (2012)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
David Webb Peoples (2012)
Kanbar Award for Excellence in Screenwriting
Oliver Stone (2011)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Terence Stamp (2011)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Frank Pierson (2011)
Kanbar Award for Excellence in Screenwriting
Walter Salles (2010)
Founder’s Directing Award
Robert Duvall (2010)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
James Schamus (2010)
Kanbar Award for Excellence in Screenwriting
Francis Ford Coppola (2009)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Robert Redford (2009)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Mike Leigh (2008)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Maria Bello (2008)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Spike Lee (2007)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Robin Williams (2007)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Werner Herzog (2006)
Irving M. Levin Award for Film Direction
Robert Altman (2006)
George Gund III Craft of Cinema Award
Clint Eastwood (2005)
Founder’s Directing Award
Peter Coyote (2005)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Agnès Varda (2004)
Founder’s Directing Award
Alfred Molina (2004)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
David Lynch (2003)
Founder’s Directing Award
Sean Penn (2003)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
Robert Altman (2002)
Founder’s Directing Award
Dustin Hoffman (2002)
Peter J. Owens Award for Acting
