OPEN
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Open Film Zone – January 2026 Newsletter

Welcome to a new year in the Zone. 🎬

2025 Founder's Circle

Founder: Nikolas Keskilammi

Co-Founder: Jani Kellomäki

Founding Creators (2025):

Alfredo Carnera Jr. · Aman Singh · Antony Voronov · Aijuka Tobius · Daniel Jasaui · Diosa Eikka · Fritz Aigner · Gettonen · Hoksi · Hobo Crew · Jena Jezmin · Kevin Banker · Klytseroff · Kotonen · Liza Derenchenko · Lucas Mesman · Michał Kurowski · Mina D · Mirosław Staniak · Niko Mäkinen · Nuori Jupe · Pedram Jopary · Piuha Bernard · Risto Räplääjä · Skidi · Thùy Đoan · Tohtori UG · Tommi Rautio · Tony One · Yukang Chou · Ula · UlaBula

Thank you for laying the foundation of Open Film Zone. OFZ exists because of your courage, experimentation, and belief in open cinema.

Open Film Zone 2025 Awards

🌟 Grand Recognition

🎖 2025 Visionary Filmmaker Award
Most voted creator overall
Alfredo Carnera Jr. (Acarnera) – Feed Me
🛠 2025 DIY Visionary Award
Most voted DIY film
Aijuka Tobius (Smart View Productions) – The Broken Truth
👥 2025 Audience Choice Award
Most voted project of the year
Feed Me – Alfredo Carnera Jr. (Acarnera)
🔥 2025 OFZ Spirit Award
Chosen by OFZ – originality, openness & fearless creativity
Tommi Rautio (Unipic) – He jäivät / Imago Chorus
"The choice stemmed from the overall depth and scale of the films shown in the 2025 OFZ Awards combined with the creator's captivating visual style."

🏆 Primary Category Winners

A.I. – Ñawi Kanki Tuche
Daniel Jasaui (dasjasaui)
Animation – MäGGi x Gettonen – Rantaan
Niko Mäkinen (Soul Entertainment Records)
Documentary – The Room of My Mom
Antony Voronov (TABOO)
Feature Film – He jäivät
Tommi Rautio (Unipic)
Music Video (Tie)
MäGGi – Pula-ajan Tuote – Niko Mäkinen
Samovolca live in Toruń – Mirosław Staniak (miri)
Short Film (Tie)
Feed Me – Alfredo Carnera Jr.
The Broken Truth – Aijuka Tobius
Video – RFO Commercial
Kevin Banker (Productions by Kevin B. LLC)

🎨 Artistic & Technical Recognition

Cinematography – Kertosäe (Chorus)
Tommi Rautio
Design (Tie)
Feed Me – Alfredo Carnera Jr.
Kertosäe (Chorus) – Tommi Rautio
Direction – The Broken Truth
Aijuka Tobius
Editing – In Outside
Michał Kurowski
Music – MäGGi – Pula-ajan Tuote
Niko Mäkinen
Performance – The Manifestation
Kevin Banker
Visual Effects – Reconfiguration
Mirosław Staniak
Writing – Rocks
Liza Derenchenko

🚀 2026 Monthly Competitions Are Now OPEN

🎞 How OFZ Competitions Work

Two Main Groups:

🏆 Yearly Categories (Always Active)

Primary Categories
Uploader selects one. Voters vote once per year per category.

Artistic & Technical Awards
Every film is eligible automatically.

Cinematography · Direction · Performance · Writing
Editing · Music · Design · Visual Effects

🕊 January 2026 Theme: "Metamorphosis"

Rebirth, transformation, paradigm shifts, fresh starts.

Promotional Categories:

Monthly winners are featured on the OFZ front page.

📅 2026 Monthly Themes (Full Year)

From "Enter the Matrix" in February to "Season of Shadows & Light" in December, 2026 will explore sci-fi, global voices, catharsis, action, love, fantasy, realism, surrealism, psychology, horror, nostalgia, and rebirth.

This is a full cinematic year — built by the community.

💬 Join the Open Film Zone Discord

We've opened the Open Film Zone Discord as an early gathering place for filmmakers, creators, and audiences who care about film as a shared cultural experience.

👉 Join Discord

Inside the Zone you can:

  • Talk film & storytelling
  • Share works-in-progress and ideas
  • Connect globally
  • Help shape an open, democratic film platform

This is a conversation space — for people who want to think, share, and build together.

Welcome to the Zone. 💡🌟😎

— Open Film Zone —