Women in Film

Ava Ferrera wins gold award at Hollywood Gold Awards for documentary short “Echoes of the Past” in Los Angeles, California 

Portuguese director Ava Ferrera has been honored with the Golden Award for Best Documentary Short Film at the April 2025 edition of the Hollywood Gold Awards for her evocative film “Echoes of the Past.”

Written and directed by Ava Ferrera, “Echoes of the Past,” filmed on Madeira Island, delves into the complexities of memory, identity, tradition and cultural preservation. The documentary was praised for its lyrical storytelling and striking visual composition, marking Ava Ferrera as a rising voice in contemporary European cinema.

The Hollywood Gold Awards, known for highlighting bold and original voices in global filmmaking, recognized “Echoes of the Past” for its resonant narrative and masterful visual storytelling.

“Receiving this award is an incredible honor,” said Ava Ferrera. “Echoes of the Past” is a deeply personal project, and I am grateful that it resonated with the audience and the jury. I hope it encourages more conversations about the legacies we carry and the stories we inherit. This short film is the opening to the feature-length documentary “The Art of Fermentation” which will be released this year.”

Ava Ferrera, based in Madeira, Portugal, has already been recognized for her work in narrative short films and experimental cinema. With this latest tribute, she continues to consolidate herself as a filmmaker to watch on the international scene.

“Echoes of the Past” is currently screening at select festivals and will be available for wider distribution later this year.

https://hollywoodgoldawards.com/april-2025 | Ava Ferrera 

Ava Ferrera is an independent Writer & Director based in the subtropical island of Madeira, Portugal. Known for her evocative, experimental & unorthodox vision and style.A lover of 'French New Wave' cinema, her style reflects the spirit of the movement by rejecting traditional filmmaking conventions, in favour of experimental and unconventional storytelling. Through her writing she is experimental and unorthodox, often delving into complex emotional landscapes. Through her cinematography Ava owns her creative realm - commanding direction, visuals, and narratives with precision, yet constantly seeking new terrain through uncharted stories and visual languages. Through her directing she brings to life emotionally resonant and aesthetically rich films that connect deeply with audiences.

She has multiple feature film and short film projects in pre-production and in production such as “Moth”, “The Last Sacrament”, “Saudade”, “Noite Azul” and “A Lebre Branca”. The feature length documentary “A Arte da Fermentação” is currently in post-production.

Women in film still face many challenges, including under-representation both front and behind-the-camera roles, as well as getting funding for projects. Ava Ferrera wants to break these barriers by ensuring uncompromising vision, ethos and elevated production values. She strives to support and collaborate with creative communities, fellow artists and production crew — fostering and championing growth and expression. Untamed and unbound by convention, she refuses to be pinned down by creating form-bending narratives, genre experimentation and aesthetic risk. Her vision is one of rebellion yet rooted in wisdom, expressed in emotion and directed with command.