AWARD WINNERS OF SPRING SEASON 2026

The Award Winners of Spring Season 2026 at our prestigious indie film festival have truly set a new standard for cinematic excellence. These winners embody the spirit of creativity and passion that our festival proudly supports, promising a bright future for the world of film.

White Mule

Best Short Film

Peter Dobson

United States

Together for Water

Best Documentary Feature

Eriberto Gualinga

Ecuador

California Scenario

Best Feature Film

James Takata

United States

Madeira Profunda – Porto Santo

Best Documentary Short

Saul Caires

Portugal

The Thief and the Gentleman

Best Indie Short

Shigeto Sayama

Japan

Glitch

Best Animated Film

 Andrew M Healy

United States

Origin

Best Experimental Film

Catherine Glynn

United States

Dinosaur Bowl

Best Comedy

Herbert Forrest McCollom

United States

Not a Love Story

Best Actress

Giulia Losi (directed by Francesco Massini)

Italy

SANTA AI

Best Comedy Screenplay

Stephanie Bourbon

United States

Walter’s Internal Battle

Best Actor

Dean Attari

Canada

Cuba es Mi Patria: The Homeland I Keep Inside

Best Debut Filmmaker (Feature)

 Rose Marie Perez

United States

I Promise You

Best Debut Filmmaker (Short)

Megan Corse, Alesha G

United States

Fig Tape – Miracle (Official Video)

Best Director – Music Video

Johannes Hålien, Jon Olav S. Gulbrandsen

Norway

Flammable Film

Best Director

Olivier van Malderghem

Belgium

The Rendezvous: Vendetta

Best Action / Crime

Fernando Lopez

United States

U S M S T

Best Film on Social Justice

Pacifica J Sauer

United States

Against our will

Best Drama Screenplay

Jean Michel Fages, Antoine Caulliez

United States

Eye Of The Dawn

Best Drama

Ernest Pick

United States

AnteApocalypse

Best AI Film

Ilie Stepan

Romania

Memoria Obscura

Best Sci-Fi

David Christopher Nelson, Connor Ryan

United States

Alfarida

Best Asian Film

Yasser Mohamed Abdelsalam

Saudi Arabia

Diary of a WoMan

Best European Film

Simon Aeby

Switzerland

Late Night Letter

Best American Film

Lorenzo Patanè, Alessandra Rucco

United States

RETURNEE

Best African Film

Prisca Ogouma

France

The Edge

Best Female Director

Jane Aroha Larkin

Australia

Don’t Look Away

Best Australian Film

Ashley Malcolm Morrison

Australia

Reparations

Best Production Design

Chrystal Rose

United Kingdom

Hey, You!

Best Mobile Shot Film

 Nicky Joe Perez

United States

Portae Infernales

Best Horror

Markus Wimberger

Austria

A Vote of Her Own

Best Historical / Period Film

Candace Rose Corrigan, Megan Pennington

United States

ENTER SANCTUM

Best Indie Feature (Low-budget)

Michael Budd

Australia

Hard Twisted

Best Feature Screenplay

Chuck Greaves

United States

Spot’s Day Out

Best Male Director

Tom Robert Sorem

United States

The Meet-Up

Best Short Screenplay

Enrique R. Carrasco

United States

Grow Together

Best Micro Short (Under 5 min)

 Susanne Frericks

Germany

Si tu

Best Music Video

Benjamin Fraser

Hatredless

Best Score / Soundtrack

Sara Demers

Canada

Shadows in your way

Best Original Song in a Film

Juan Alcaraz

Spain

Glad You Stayed

Best Cinematography

Ruslan Fradkin

Latvia

Gogo

Best LGBTQ+ Film

Sergio Alvarado

Canada

Casting Call

Best Student Film

Gabriel Felix Oliveira, Pedro Carvalho

Brazil

Take My Hand

Best Sound Design

Alan J. Levi

United States

INDIGESTION

Best Super Short (Under 1 min)

Alexis Krasilovsky

United States

The Language of Wolves

Best Thriller Screenplay

Nan Schmid

United States

Imbroglio

Best UK Film

Ian Sciacaluga

United Kingdom

The Good Lawyer Pilot

Best TV Pilot Script

Thomas Benigno, Diana Benigno, Peter McIntosh

United States

Attractor

Best Visual Effects (VFX)

Igor Kambarov

United States

In Our 20s Episode 1: The Ex-Factor

Best Web Series / Episodic

 Joey White, Abby Mondello

United States

Like A Willow Tree

Best Silent Film

S. Kyle Robinson

United States

The Rhythm Of Jamaican Art Feature

Best BIPOC Filmmaker

John Campbell

United States

An interview with a movie meta star

Best Film on Technology/Future

Claude Bouillin

Finland

The Huntress & The Horde: Blood of the Two Crowns | Part III

Best AI-Generated Film

Kenneth Dale Bryant Jr

United States

The ‘Love’ Game

Best Romance

Michael Mammarella

Australia

SCARLET

Best Thriller

 Pascal Franchot

United States

Mom’s Dating

Best Supporting Actress

Teri DeSalvo

United States

THE ARMCHAIR TRAVELLERS

Best Fantasy

Patricia Planck, Kelly E. Nine

United States

Raksha Girls

Best Editing

Cathy Brown, Liyana Mansor, Grainne Creighton United Kingdom