Vimeo Unveils 2024 Staff Picks ‘Best of the Year’ Awards and Breakout Creators List

Exclusive: "Best of the Year" alumni have become Academy Awards, Sundance Awards, and Cannes winners since 2008.

The coveted Vimeo “Best of the Year” awards have been announced.

In its 17th year, the annual awards celebrate the most outstanding shorts and video creators on the independent platform. Many “Best of the Year” alumni have later won Academy Awards, Sundance Awards, Cannes prizes, and more. The Vimeo Curation Team reviews thousands of films to select the winners based on originality, technical excellence, storytelling impact, and overall artistic merit.

“We’re proud to highlight the most iconic short films and branded content of 2024,” Ina Pira, Head of Curation at Vimeo, told IndieWire. “These films are the very best of those that received ‘Staff Picks,’ which in its 17th year is still curated by humans sifting through and handpicking the best work shared on Vimeo.”

Pira cited highlight films including Bill Morrison’s surveillance and body cam documentary “Incident” and Renee Zhan’s live action and animated film “SHÉ (SNAKE)” as standout originals.

“When it comes to criteria, there are a few pillars we pay attention to, with the first being originality. It’s a special skill for a creator to innovate and create a piece that makes us look at an issue or story in a completely new way,” Pira said. “While story is always a key factor for us, we also like to recognize creators who are experimenting and visually pushing the medium forward.”

In addition to the Best Videos of the Year winners, Vimeo also selected the Breakout Creators of 2024.

“We strive to identify individuals who we want to see more from — we want to know their story, what they’re working on, and what their future artistic plans and visions are,” Pira said of the Breakout Creators category. “I think this is an instinctual reaction of identifying someone who has a unique voice, whether it’s someone who is telling a story we’ve already seen before but differently or there’s a new nugget of information or a strategy used within their craft. Annie Ning and Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz, are just a few of the creators whose breakout work this year stopped us in our tracks.”

Vimeo CEO Philip Moyer credited the platform for supporting independent filmmakers.

“Vimeo has always been and will always be the home for the next generation of filmmakers,” Moyer said. “‘Staff Picks’ and ‘Best of the Year’ are ways Vimeo helps alleviate one of the biggest challenges filmmakers face today: getting their work seen. We recognize the obstacles that come with being a filmmaker, and our team is extremely passionate and grateful to be able to give a voice to those who deserve an opportunity to share their story.”

Moyer continued, “In 2025, we’re looking forward to continuing to spotlight and support creators throughout their journeys. We continue investing in the film community through our monthly screening series in major cities, our sponsorship of the Short Film Program at Sundance Film Festival, and our recent partnership with the European Film Academy. With technology advancing and the film landscape evolving, we can’t wait to see how creatives push the envelope with their skills.”

Check out the full list of Vimeo’s 2024 “Best of the Year” awards.

Best Videos of the Year

“A Crab in the Pool,” directed by Jean-Sébastien Hamel and Alexandra Myotte

“Bogotá Story,” directed by Esteban Pedraza

“Hardly Working,” directed by Total Refusal, comprised of: Susanna Flock, Robin Klengel, Leonhard Müllner, and Michael Stumpf

“Incident,” directed by Bill Morrison

“A Real, Sexual Relationship,” directed by Alex Bliss

“SHÉ (SNAKE),” directed by Renee Zhan

“Sierra,” directed by Sander Joon

“A$AP ROCKY – TAILOR SWIF,” directed by Vania Heymann and Gal Muggia

“Will You Look At Me,” directed by Shuli Huang

“Wildmen of the Greater Toronto Area,” Solund MacPherson

2024 Breakout Creators

Hao Zhou

Annie Ning

Musa Alderson-Clarke

 Sam and David Cutler-Kreutz

Alexandra Qin

Faye Tsakas and Enrique Pedráza-Botero

Rodrigo Goulão de Sousa

Michael Rees

Jela Hasler

Ward Kamel

Best Branded Videos

“109° BELOW,” directed by Nick Martini for Arc’teryx

“Anatomy of a Champion,” directed by Lana Senaoui for FIGS

“The Cassette,” directed by Catherine Prowse for Palliative Care Queensland

“Considering What?,” directed by Steve Rogers for Channel 4

“Daniel Really Suits You,” directed by Karimah Zakia Issa for Human Rights Campaign Foundation

“EYE SEE,” directed by Hoji Tsuchiya/土屋萌児 for Pagani Eyewear

“Jindal Steel – The Steel of India,” directed by early man film for Jindal Steel & Power

“The Last Barf Bag,” directed by Sunny Sixteen, comprised of: Niles Jeran, Taylor Pendleton, Joshua Martin, and Caleb Babcock, for Dramamine

“The Last Observers,” directed by Maja K Mikkelsen for Patagonia

“The One Under the Sun,” directed by Erin Murray for CeraVe