Over $125k in Prizes: 2025 ShotDeck Recreations Contest
Get ready to flex your filmmaking muscles! ShotDeck, the world’s leading cinematic image library, has officially announced the call for submissions for its 2025 Recreations Contest. This global celebration of cinematic creativity challenges filmmakers, photographers, and visual storytellers of all levels to meticulously recreate a shot from their favorite film, series, or music video found on the ShotDeck platform.
This is a chance to deconstruct the work of masters, hone your craft, and collaborate with your team to bring a single, perfect frame to life. And this year, with over $125,000 in prizes from the industry’s top brands, a new focus on student filmmakers, and a panel of world-renowned judges, the stakes—and the opportunities—have never been higher.
Submissions will be open from Monday, September 1st, through Tuesday, September 30th, 2025.
A CELEBRATION OF IN-CAMERA CRAFT
Founded by cinematographer Lawrence Sher, ASC (Joker, Black Adam), the Recreations Contest began in 2020 as a way for filmmakers to stay creatively engaged. It has since blossomed into a massive annual event, receiving submissions from over 100 countries.
The core challenge is a trial of pure filmmaking craft: recreate your chosen shot as creatively and accurately as possible, with a crucial rule—all visual effects must be achieved in-camera. No AI or computer-generated imagery is allowed. It’s a celebration of ingenuity, problem-solving, and the art of visual storytelling at its most fundamental level.
NEW FOR 2025: A FOCUS ON EDUCATION AND STUDENTS
For the first time, the contest is taking place in the fall, giving educators and film schools around the world the opportunity to integrate the competition directly into their curriculum. The new schedule also introduces exclusive prize categories available only to students, further cementing the contest’s mission to educate and inspire the next generation of filmmakers.
FILMMAKERS ACADEMY PRESENTS: THE HIGHEST DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY CHALLENGE
As a leading global resource for filmmakers, Filmmakers Academy is thrilled to partner with ShotDeck once again to present The Highest Degree of Difficulty Challenge. We believe that pushing creative and technical boundaries is essential to growth. We designed this challenge to celebrate the most ambitious and meticulously executed recreations.
We’re looking for entries that demonstrate exceptional craftsmanship in complex lighting, camera work, and execution. Did you recreate a massive-scale shot on a micro-budget? Did you nail a historically difficult lighting setup? Show us your skill and dedication!
Winners of our challenge will receive exclusive access to Filmmakers Academy’s world-class educational resources, designed to transform their passion into a sustainable career.
| GRAND PRIZE | A 1-on-1 coaching call with Shane Hurlbut, ASC, plus the Beginner Cinematography Career Path and a lifetime membership to Filmmakers Academy. |
| RUNNER-UP | The Night Cinematography Masterclass, the Cinematic Light Quality Masterclass, and the Cinematographer Template Pack. |
| HONORABLE MENTION | A bundle of essential courses, including Mastering the Image, How to Light Night Interiors Vol 1 & 2, Choosing the Right Lights, the Sony Cine LUT Pack, and the URSA Cine LUT Pack. |
MORE INCREDIBLE CHALLENGES FROM TOP INDUSTRY BRANDS
Filmmakers Academy is proud to be among a stellar lineup of sponsors, each offering unique challenges and incredible prizes.
| Sony (Hero Sponsor) | The Music Video Motion Challenge invites participants to recreate a motion clip from a music video for a chance to win a Sony FX6 or FX3 camera package. |
| Aputure | The Textured Lighting Challenge rewards creative use of light and shadow, with prizes including a STORM 1000c Cine Kit. |
| Blackmagic Design | The Large Format Challenge tasks you with recreating iconic IMAX shots for a chance to win Blackmagic gear, including the new PYXIS 12K camera. |
| Rosco | The Color Challenge celebrates bold and creative use of color, with the grand prize being a DMG DASH Octa Kit. |
| ZEISS | The Radiance Challenge is all about the dramatic use of lens flares, with winners receiving a free rental of a Supreme Radiance lens. |
| FilmLight | The student-focused Colour Precision Challenge puts color grading accuracy to the test, with winners receiving the industry-standard dailies platform, Daylight. |
| Arthouse Film Lab | The LA Film Challenge celebrates LA-based creatives with prize packages including 35mm film, processing, and exclusive merch. |
HOW TO PARTICIPATE & KEY DETAILS
“The Recreations Contest is about honoring the art of visual storytelling and the joy of collaboration,” says Lawrence Sher, ASC. “Every year, I’m blown away and inspired by the level of talent and dedication on display.”
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Ready to show your talent? |
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| Eligibility | Submissions are open worldwide to entrants 18 and over. Participants aged 13-17 are welcome with parental consent. |
| Gear is No Barrier | ShotDeck values creativity and vision above all else. Whether you’re shooting on a smartphone or a professional cinema camera, all entries are judged on their ingenuity and execution. |
| Unlimited Entries | There is no limit to the number of shots you can recreate and submit. |
Winners will be selected by a panel of world-renowned filmmakers and industry artisans (to be announced in mid-September), with final winners revealed in early November.
For full details on submissions, rules, and to find your inspiration, visit the official contest page…
Above all, this is your chance to learn, create, connect, and win career-changing gear. We at Filmmakers Academy can’t wait to see the incredible artistry you bring to the challenge!
JOIN FILMMAKERS ACADEMY AND SAVE $50!
Ready to take your filmmaking skills to the next level? Join the Filmmakers Academy community and gain access to exclusive content, expert mentorship, and a network of passionate filmmakers. Use code FABLOG50 to save $50 on your annual membership!
This video is proudly lit exclusively by Nanlux-Nanlite Lights and sponsored by B&H and Hollyland.
