“DAD’S NOT HOME” BY JAN SACZEK WINS GOLD AT THE STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS
The short film “Dad’s not home”, directed by Jan Saczek and produced at the Krzysztof Kieślowski Film School in Katowice, has won the Gold Medal at the Student Academy Awards in the Narrative category. The accolade is one of the most prestigious honors for emerging filmmakers worldwide, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) - the organization behind the Oscars.
The official awards ceremony took place on October 6, 2025, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City, during the New York Film Festival. The Academy announced the winners of the 52nd edition of the competition, selected from a record 3,127 submissions from 988 film schools across the globe.
“Dad’s not home” tells the story of two underage brothers who conceal from the outside world that their father suffers from frontotemporal dementia. Determined to stay together, the boys take on the responsibility of caring for their father and managing the household, forced to face an early and difficult coming of age.
Established in 1972, the Student Academy Awards have, for over five decades, served as a gateway to international film careers. Each year, the Academy honors outstanding achievements in four categories - Animation, Documentary, Narrative, and Alternative - recognizing both U.S. and international film school students. Notable past winners include Robert Zemeckis and Spike Lee.
Winners of the Student Academy Awards become eligible for Oscar® consideration in the categories of Animated Short Film, Live Action Short Film, or Documentary Short Film.
The full list of this year’s winners is available on the official website of the Academy.
Press release