The Syracuse International Film Festival is moving to a new location this year and will honor a name long familiar in Central New York.
Stephen Baldwin will receive the 2025 Sophia Award at this year’s event on Oct. 19 at the Catherine Cummins Theatre in Cazenovia. It will be the first time the movie festival, now in its 22nd year, is held in Madison County.
“We couldn’t be happier to celebrate our 22nd anniversary in the welcoming and beautiful community of Cazenovia,” said Michelle DiBernardo, Executive Director of SIFF. “It is our hope that by showcasing bold, diverse, and independent voices in film here, we will inspire and encourage filmmakers from across the globe to discover Madison County as a creative hub for storytelling and production.”
The Sophia Award, the most prestigious prize from the Syracuse International Film Festival, is a lifetime achievement award recognizing outstanding contributions to the art of filmmaking and a commitment to excellence in the cinematic arts. Past recipients include Bobcat Goldthwait, Grace Jones, Giancarlo Esposito, Oren Lyons, Ron Perlman, Rob Reiner, Jerry Stiller, American High’s Jeremy Garelick and Will Phelps, and two of Stephen’s older brothers, Alec and Daniel Baldwin.
Stephen Baldwin is being recognized for his work as an actor, director, and producer, including roles in “The Usual Suspects,” “Bio-Dome,” “The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas,” “Fled,” “Celebrity Apprentice” and a number of faith-based and advocacy projects like “The Resurrection of Gavin Stone.” He also directed and produced the 2004 skateboarding documentary “Livin’ It” and currently hosts the podcast “One Bad Movie,” where he interviews industry professionals about their favorite so-called “bad movies.”
The Baldwin brothers, including Stephen, Alec, Daniel and Billy, are known for their acting credits as well as local ties and charity efforts for their late mother’s Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund of CNY. Stephen and Alec were scheduled to face off against each other in a pickleball match to raise money for The Baldwin Fund last month, but the Skaneateles event was postponed until next year due to a death in the Byrne family, who had partnered for the fundraiser.
Stephen’s family also includes his model daughter Hailey Bieber and her husband, pop singer Justin Bieber.
The 2025 Syracuse International Film Festival will run from Oct. 17-19 at the Catherine Cummins Theatre, located at 22 Linklean St in Cazenovia, N.Y. This year’s SIFF lineup also includes film screenings, panel discussions and a special Q&A event with “American Psycho” screenwriter Guinevere Turner.
Tickets are on sale at syracusefilmfest.com. Prices start at $15 for Friday, $25 for Saturday and Sunday screening events, and $50 for Sunday’s Sophia Award ceremony only; 3-day packages start at $100; VIP passes and packages are also available; and admission is free for students.
Syracuse International Film Festival: 2025 schedule
Friday, Oct. 17 at Catherine Cummins Theatre, Cazenovia
5:30 p.m. Doors open
6 p.m. Opening Remarks
6:05 p.m. Entertainment Panel with Kristen Bauer-Gross, Mac Cushing, Adria Dawn, Dean Lyons, Alex Méndez Giner, Robbins Stunt Team, David Tarleton, Guinevere Turner, Joann Yarrow
7:15 p.m. Industry Panel with Casting Buffalo, Jason Howard, Alex Korman, Stephen Long, Simone Palanker, Rod Wallenbeck
8:30 p.m. Film Screening: “A Tantalizing” – Katie Praei
Saturday, Oct. 18 at Catherine Cummins Theatre, Cazenovia
11 a.m.-1:05 p.m. Morning Short Films: Germaphobia, Huli, Massissippi, Tapir Memories, Father and Son, Gath & K’iyh, Morning Hate, Melodies of War
1:15 p.m. “Goddess of Slide” – Alfonso Maiorana + Q&A
3:11 p.m. “Pieces of Lilo”
5:06 p.m. “Video Ocean”
6:07 p.m. “Undeniable Evidence”
7:05 p.m. “Insane” – Sonia Blangiardo + Q&A
8:05 p.m. “American Psycho” – Q&A with Screenwriter Guinevere Turner
Sunday, Oct. 19 at Catherine Cummins Theatre, Cazenovia
11 a.m. “Exit Interviews”
1:03 p.m. “Inmates With Talent”
2:52 p.m. “The Christmas Letter”
4:51 p.m. “Martyr of Gowanus”
7 p.m. Award Ceremony
Honorable Mentions: Moses, Clear Sky, Just Kids, Ebenezer the Traveler, Tiananmen Tonight
Lumen Award: Tom Seeley
Sophia Award: Stephen Baldwin
*****
For more information, visit syracusefilmfest.com/october-17-19-2025/
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