Cine Gear Expo Los Angeles 2025 at Universal Studios, had the 2025 Technical Awards- that honored excellence and innovation in filmmaking technology, and brought together over 13,000 attendees to experience the film industry’s the latest in production technology, creativity and storytelling, with more than 225 industry-leading brands on display. From hands-on gear demos to over 30 thought-provoking seminars and inspiring film screenings!
This awesome and gigantic sized Expo was focused on creating an immersive experience for professionals across the cinematic spectrum, with a vibrant mix of gear exhibits, film-making and career panels, tech showcases, and unforgettable networking opportunities!
This year it was held at one of the world’s most historic studios: at the famed Universal Studios Lot, in Universal City, CA on June 6–7, 2025. At Universal Studios they had so many historic movies filmed there on their back lot, and even now they have those same famous sets, stages, props, posters, furniture, clothing, statues and cars from those iconic movies on display- that we all have seen throughout our lives- so it was a real pleasure to go there once again this year.
where the time is still set to the same time when they went “Back to the Future”: 
and you could pose for photos right on this famous movie set: 
We were able to walk around on the New York Avenues, and visit all the Lot’s storied sound stages, like Stage 34 where the 3 “Back To The Future” movies were filmed, and where they had set up the time machine car used in all 3 movies: 
This was the original DeLorean car used in the “Back To The Future” movie series, that was on display, for the amazing VIP Party that we were invited to. The DeLorean is a car model and also the name of the company that produced it, known for its stainless steel body and gull-wing doors. It gained fame as the time machine in the Back to the Future films. As you can see in the below photo, the car’s time travel coordinates are still set to the same year, day, and time, as when they traveled back through time- 100 years, from their current year in the movie: 1985, to the old west in the year 1885, on September 20th, at 7:13 AM! So this display is still set at the exact same date & time as the 3rd and final Back To The Future movie: 
It was set up so that you can take photos with this iconic car: 
along with props:
and the clothing used in the movie: 
and of course the Dr. Emmett “Doc” Brown outfit: 
and Biff’s original 1951 classic car, when he was shitted on- in the movie:
And where we were able to experience a time-traveling tribute on Stage 34, complete with set recreations: 
Where you can see the stage for the band: Marvin Berry And The Starlighters, where Marvin Berry was the “cousin” of Chuck Berry- who was given “the new sound that he was looking for” from his cousin Marvin:
If you remember this band played the music right behind the lead character: “Marty McFly” with an award winning performance by actor: Michael J. Fox, who did all the singing! And if you look very closely at the below photo of Michael’s brown jacket: his hand is holding that photo of when time was changing and people were disappearing in the photo, and then reappearing. So, when Marty encounters the young versions of his parents (Crispin Glover, Lea Thompson), he must make sure that they fall in love or he’ll cease to exist! So then, he sings the song that made his parents kiss for the first time at this dance, and fall in love, to save history so that everyone still lives, and reappear in the photo:
This incredible party they had Rock & Roll music from the 1950’s, and a 1950’s style Cafeteria/Restaurant and “Shake Shop” with shakes, ice cream malts, fries, and delicious food! They served us expensive Wagvu Beef Sliders and Hot Dogs! The term “Wagyu” translates to “Japanese Cow,” and when prefixed with “A5,” it represents the highest grade of Japanese Wagyu beef. With intense intramuscular marbling, A5 Wagyu delivers a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth texture, often described as the pinnacle of steak experiences.The film industry’s top technology met creativity event, was in Los Angeles June 6–7, 2025, at the famed Universal Studios Lot, in Universal City, CA; Focused on creating an immersive experience for professionals across the cinematic spectrum, with a vibrant mix of gear exhibits, filmmaking and career panels, tech showcases, and unforgettable networking opportunities—amid one of the world’s most historic studios.
Cine Gear Expo is the premier event for thousands of professionals from all corners of the globe, who are engaged in the film and entertainment technology industry. Cine Gear featured over 300 exhibits, workshops, panel discussions, masterclasses, product demonstrations, virtual reality technologies, insights from industry experts, cinematographers, visual effects artists, and producers; new product and service introductions, complimentary seminars led by industry leaders, and ample opportunity to network with peers, all within an exciting studio environment. Cine Gear had everything you need to produce and distribute Motion Pictures, Films, Movies, Docs, Shorts, and TV shows. With booths, and tables- both outdoors and inside of the warehouses and movie studio stages, with large broadcast, movie, film, video and still cameras; filming gear, editing, video and audio equipment, mics, lighting, rigs, storage devices, and just about every accessory, part, add on, and expendable that you could ever need for your next production was there! All the major studios, reps, and equipment companies were there! This was a must event for anybody who is somebody in the Entertainment Business!
The results are in! Cine Gear Expo is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Technical Awards—honoring excellence and innovation in filmmaking technology.
The Film Series Winners:
Student Films
• Jury Award: The Lights Above
• Audience Award: El bar de Hernando
Music Videos
• Jury & Audience Award: Giddy Up!
Indie Short Films
• Jury Award: Two Breaths
• Audience Award: Trending 
The Cine Gear Expo at Universal’s theater had a special screening of The Sugarland Express, which is based on a true story, specifically the 1969 kidnapping of Texas State Trooper Kenneth Crone by Ila Fae and Bobby Dent. The film fictionalizes and dramatizes the events, but the core incident of a couple kidnapping a state trooper in an attempt to reclaim their child from foster care is rooted in reality.
For the 2025 Cine Gear Expo they edited and produced a better digitally improved print of the movie, that was remastered, enhancing all the colors and quality of the film, and upgraded the film to 4K, for the 50th Anniversary of the “The Sugarland Express” ! The 26-year-old Steven Spielberg directed “The Sugarland Express” that came out March 31, 1974.
The story is about: Married small-time crooks Lou-Jean: played by a beautiful and very young Goldie Hawn– giving an amazing acting performance, and Clovis Poplin– played by William Atherton, who lose their baby to the state of Texas and resolve to do whatever it takes to get him back. Lou-Jean gets Clovis out of jail, and the two steal their son from his foster home, in addition to taking a highway patrolman hostage. As a massive dragnet starts to pursue them across Texas, the couple become unlikely folk heroes and even start to bond with the captive policeman!
Right after this movie was over they drove us by tram over to the courthouse square- just in time to catch some of the VIP After-Party! The also had given us VIP tickets to the exclusive VIP After-Party & Awards at Courthouse Square, where there was more great food and drinks, served Buffet style, and with a large In & Out Burger food truck that served us some amazing In & Out Burger meals!
At the VIP Party Awards they honored industry trailblazers whose work continues to inspire:
- George Mooradian, ASC – Karl Kresser Heart of the Community Award
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Alice Brooks, ASC – Visionary Award
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Dean Cundey, ASC, CSC – California Dreaming Award
Each year, a panel of expert filmmakers, cinematographers, and industry veterans rigorously tests and reviews new products and tools that make a real impact on production. These awards celebrate the standout gear that pushes boundaries and supports creative storytelling. People were able to explore the winners and see what gear made the biggest impression this year—from cameras and lenses to lighting, grip, and support equipment.
A special thank you to the dedicated panel of judges and all the incredible manufacturers who submitted their latest innovations: Dwight Campbell, Erin Franklin, Ted Hayash, Joe Lewis, Joshuah Pines, Sarah Priestnal, and Peter Santoro! These innovations are setting the standard for what’s next in storytelling.
Camera Bodies WINNER:
FUJIFILM X-M5 Mirrorless Digital Camera
from FUJIFILM North America Corporation
Camera Accessories WINNER:
cGate
by cmotion GmbH
Honorable Mentions:
by Flanders Scientific, Inc.FIZLock Universal Motor Mounting System
by LightWidow
Optics – Camera Lenses WINNER:
LAOWA PROBE ZOOM
from Geareach (Hong Kong) Company Limited
Optics – Other WINNER:
T-Stop Calibration Machine
from Optica Magnus, LLC
Honorable Mention:
65-Format Retrofit for Full-Frame Primes
by Zero Optik
Support Technology WINNER:
Honorable Mentions:
HELIX Stabilized Head
by ASCEND Specialty Camera
NU.TRON 4.0
by Cinetica
Lighting Technology WINNER:
Profoto LP2000C
by Profoto
Post-Production Technology WINNER:
Strada Agents
by Strada
Other Technology WINNER:
Gear Trak and PowerPod
by Conscious Integrations
Honorable Mention:
GigaCore 16tf
by AC Americas
Sound Technology WINNER:
LARK MAX 2
by Hollyland Technology
Filmtools always has a big presence every year at Cine Gear Expo. Filmtools is the go-to destination for creatives looking to source production equipment such as: camera support, lighting, studio carts, grip, electrical, recordable media, hard drive and memory card storage, audio equipment, and on-set expendables. They are a passionate company built by filmmakers, photographers, educators, animators, developers, and creative doers that love to share their experiences to help their customers achieve their goals.
Filmtools exists to advance filmmaking and creative content endeavors. Filmtools has been proudly serving the Hollywood film industry and worldwide filmmaking community for two decades. They have done it by listening to the changing needs of filmmaking creatives and communicating it to a global reach by means of education, community events, and by offering a vast inventory of tested and trusted products.
They are a small company driven by big service expectations. At Filmtools you’ll be assisted by humble team members and sales professionals that are committed to your success. They do so by listening to your needs, offering experienced advice, presenting quality products you can trust, at the best prices, and by going out of their way to ensure they fulfill or deliver your orders on time. Their promise to you is to offer you a personable experience that will earn your trust in them to be your creative community resource and partner. You can visit their Flagship store in Burbank, or easily shop online 24/7 at Filmtools.com for all of your film-making needs!
Our news staff went over to the OWC booth to learn all about OWC’s latest storage, workflow, and expansion solutions built for the demands of modern creatives, like the new Thunderblade X12, their Jellyfish shared storage systems, purpose-built for video teams who need fast, reliable, and scalable collaboration, that make it easy to share media, accelerate post-production, and keep our team in sync on-prem or remotely! They had High-performance storage solutions perfect for everything from Time Machine backups to Hollywood film production.
They had developed and tested under the most aggressive settings, Atlas memory cards with our irreplaceable content while delivering the performance and reliability we have always expected from OWC. They also have great deals on new and used Apples, Macs, iMac Pros, accessories and so much more.
At Core SWX, they are a team of dedicated professionals with a passion for empowering creators in the ever-changing landscape of media production. They believe that the success of a project should not be limited by the availability of power and charging solutions, and that is why they are committed to providing the most innovative, reliable and comprehensive solutions to professionals in the broadcast, digital cinema, professional video, light, and grip industries.
They have developed a wide range of products that are trusted by some of the world’s top filmmakers, wildlife documentarians, and production companies. Their products, including the Hypercore line, the Helix Max line, the Maverick, and the innovative Renegade series and GT8 charger, are designed to provide the power and support necessary to bring even the most ambitious visions to life. Whether capturing stunning footage of nature’s beauty, documenting life’s most exhilarating experiences, or creating the next big blockbuster, they believe that every production deserves the power to succeed. Their brand represents their mission – to provide the power to create.
At Core SWX, they believe in the power of creativity and the transformative impact it has on the world. That’s why they are dedicated to providing reliable and innovative battery and charging solutions to professionals in the broadcast, digital cinema, professional video, lighting and grip industries.
As market leaders, they are committed to staying ahead of the curve in technology, offering cutting-edge products that meet the changing demands of these dynamic industries. Their flagship Hypercore line, cutting-edge Helix Max line, and industry staple Maverick block battery, are a testament to this commitment, providing customers with the power and versatility they need to bring their visions to life.
Their products are designed to be compatible with the leading professional and consumer manufacturers, ensuring that their customers have access to the best tools and technology available. Their newly released and innovative Renegade series and the GT8 charger reflect their dedication to excellence and showcase their relentless pursuit of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to provide the most complete and comprehensive mobile power solutions on the market:
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It is always a pleasure to visit the large sized booth at Anton/Bauer at Cine Gear! As productions look to reduce or eliminate diesel and move toward clean energy the Anton/Bauer Salt-E Dog 9kWh/6kW and EDEN 2.5kWh/2.5kW sustainable power systems are the tools to provide solutions during the energy transition. They have Power On Demand: Plug-and-play, quiet power for camera, lighting, DIT, communication systems, monitors, and ideal for off-location shoots and live production, with durability and Reliability: Rated IP55 (Salt-E Dog) waterproof and IP65 Rated (EDEN) dustproof and waterproof designed to withstand the harshest environments and temperatures. For safety: The EDEN is UL2743 certified meeting strict safety standards for portable power ensuring thermal protection to electrical safety; and for fast Deployment: Power up in seconds on demand with no noise pollution, heat exhaustion or carbon emissions. Ability to daisy chain units with a single cable to create infinite micro-grids on demand. For proven Performance: Anton/Bauer retains Oscars and Academy’s for technological advancements in battery technology and is a wide known industry standard used globally. 
SHOTDECK is The Industry’s best research tool. They are the largest library of fully searchable high-definition movie images in the world, and a portal to discover and watch the most beautiful films ever made.
At the Matthews Studio Equipment booth at Courthouse Square, they had Chimera Lighting showcasing gear: Air Climber Truss Plate – rig and raise truss up to 25ft/200lbs, Air Climber Mitchell Plate – lift your camera 25ft in minutes, and Litemover – universal remote head with new fixture adapters.
Featured in their booth (see photo above right) was the new MICROGrip Master Rigging Kit – 1000+ different rigging possibilities, developed for smaller lighting and camera rigs. Standard MICROGrip Plate: evenly spaced nail and screw holes for fixed builds. MICROGrip Nail-On Plate: features a unique T-Cutout for truss setups. MICRO Pin: 3/8″ undercut and 1/4″-20 threading, and MICROGrip Head: Dual 3/8″ rod holes and a low-profile knob.
This year marks Cartoni’s 90th Anniversary, and they had a Demo Inventory Sale with Transfilm to offer everyone the best deals on their gently used demo stock, with the best prices of the year on Maxima 30, Lambda 25, Lambda 50, Maxima 5.0, and more. Choose complete systems, or a-la-cart: 
So stay tuned and thanks for watching Entertainment & Sports Today TV and Entertainment Today on Time Warner/ Spectrum. To watch other shows go to: EntertainmentandSportsToday.com Celebrating 30 Years being Broadcast on TIME WARNER / Spectrum!
