In a media environment characterized by rapid cultural transformations and mounting demands for diversity, international award institutions are being reconsidered for their contribution to storytelling across borders. While numerous festivals and awards have traditionally embraced local hegemony, a fresh crop of recognition institutions has arisen to correspond to the scale of today’s art, film, and culture. These platforms are no longer measured by glitz or celebrity clout, but by the extent to which they speak for global voices. Who gets celebrated — and why — is being questioned more deliberately than ever before. And in that global discourse, those institutions that can attract worldwide engagement while remaining ethical and inclusive in their underpinnings are beginning to stand out.
Of these platforms, the Septimius Awards has become a noteworthy cultural event of global scope. Founded in Amsterdam, the awards aim to encourage global discussion between film, documentary, and television. The name of the event comes from the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, whose North African descent and European rule offer a symbolic connection between African heritage and European arts. This was a deliberate choice, set to create a tone of cross-continental blending from the very start.
Ever since its inception in 2022, the Septimius Awards has been gaining attention for receiving and attracting a culturally diverse set of entries and visitors. Filmmakers and industry people from several nations have sent in their work over the years. The festival has accepted submissions from Africa, Asia, North America, South America, Europe, and Oceania. The increasing number of submissions yearly reflects the festival’s steady expansion outside conventional film circuits, presenting new voices on a worldwide stage that might otherwise remain marginalized.
At the heart of this vision is Jan-Willem Breure, the Dutch media entrepreneur and documentary filmmaker who founded the Septimius Awards. Breure’s founding principles had been constructed on rethinking conventional award dynamics. His vision was not just to provide a competitive and talent platform but to reimagine how films and media from the various regions are deliberated and classified. Rather than catering to one aesthetic or market, the awards feature categories designed to capture international storytelling, from Best African Film and Best Asian Actress to Best European Director and Best American Short Film.
It is strengthened by the event’s ambassadors, including leadership guru Stedman Graham and Belgian film producer Glenn Roggeman. Graham, known for leadership education and his several decades-long partnership with media personality Oprah Winfrey, adds a focus on empowerment and representation. Roggeman, CEO of AED Group and one of Belgium’s wealthiest entrepreneurs with an estimated net value of over €300 million, contributes considerable industry clout and access to the networks of Europe in film production. Their involvement is symbolic; it is an endorsement of the integrity and structure of an event that attempts to reorient how recognition is allocated throughout the entertainment industry.
Actor Cuba Gooding Jr., an Academy Award winner, attended the awards, reflecting the platform’s increasing recognition in global circles. While celebrity attendance often adds to the red carpet presence, Gooding Jr.’s involvement highlights the event’s growing appeal within traditional creative circles. His participation, along with Graham and Roggeman’s contributions, suggests a growing convergence of creative, corporate, and cultural influences that are helping to support the event’s continued development.
Aside from the highlights and rites, the Septimius Awards also focus on equity, innovation, and intercultural appreciation themes. The body organizing the event has consistently expressed its desire not only to celebrate success but to provide a venue where industry players, up-and-coming talent, and international storytellers can join and co-work. Every year, its panels and networking events are structured to engage producers, writers, and directors in conversation across geographical and cultural divides.
The editions of the awards are held in Amsterdam in famous theaters like Pathé Tuschinski Theatre, which has been praised for its historic beauty and architectural importance. The venue itself serves the purpose of the event — a traditional European ambiance without losing its multicultural, modern appeal.
Since 2022, the Septimius Awards has been recording steady year-to-year increases, both in public turnout and submission numbers. Based on industry reports, globally focused film festivals that also value diversity have experienced a 27% increase in activity since 2020. This figure positions Septimius in an upward trend when considering the larger landscape of cultural events. With increasingly more international co-productions getting greenlit and platforms such as Netflix and Amazon investing in regionally produced content, the imperative for awards that better represent global storytelling is more pressing than ever.
In a nutshell, the Septimius Awards has emerged as an increasingly global platform grounded in the values of cultural exchange and fair recognition. Although it borrows from the symbolic heritage of an African-born Roman emperor, its contemporary basis is founded on the effort to rewrite the way creative brilliance is honored across borders. As the event picks up momentum year by year, supported by leadership names such as Jan-Willem Breure, Stedman Graham, and Glenn Roggeman, its international aspiration feels more like an ongoing journey than a finalized achievement.
