The judges wish to recognize the Award of Merit winners for notable
artistic or technical aspects of their project in the categories entered.
Annique Kaljouw (Netherlands), Azart. Come Make Art, Documentary Feature
Brandon Young (USA), Haunted, Actor: Leading (Dennis Record as Eldon)
Camilla Almond (USA), Traffic, Film Short
Chenyang Zhao (USA), NEVER SAY GOODBYE, Women Filmmakers, Asian
Darlene Sellers (USA), Maureen, Actress: Leading (Darlene Sellers as Maureen)
David Moreton (USA), Do You Want to Die in Indio?, Actor: Supporting (Robert Kazinsky as Henry)
Ellie Torez (United Kingdom), Milo, Film Short
Emerald Hardy (USA), Wine, Whiskey and Lullabies, Original Score (Student) (Composed by Thomas Rankin)
Hazel Gurland-Pooler (USA), Storming Caesars Palace, Documentary Feature, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest, Women Filmmakers
Imogen Rose Russell (USA), Eurydice, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger, LGBTQ+ (Student)
Jacek Krawczyk (Poland), The Seventh Seal, Experimental
Jason Klein (USA), The Fall, Film Short
Mitch Allen (United Kingdom), Invasion, Film Short (Student)
Playmaker (USA), Nate Robinson: To Inspire, Documentary Short, Viewer Impact: Motivational / Inspirational
Shaun McLaughlin (USA), The Last Night of the TwiKnight, Actor: Leading (Shaun McLaughlin as Phil Prince/The TwiKnight)
Steve Boyle (USA), City Without A Subway 1986, Documentary Short
Tyler Waters (Australia), Unbroken, LGBTQ+, Use of Film / Video for Social Change
Andre Ben Birken and Takis Panas (Portugal), BETWEEN, Documentary Short
Ara Mnatsakanyan (Armenia), The American Good Samaritans, Documentary Feature
Bahareh Aghajari (Iran), Vina, Film Short
Brandon Young (USA), Haunted, Direction, Film Short, Cinematography
Camilla Almond (USA), Traffic, Direction
Carol Capomaccio (USA), ONCE UPON ANOTHER LIFE, Script / Writer (Carol Capomaccio)
Darlene Sellers (USA), Maureen, Women Filmmakers
David Moreton (USA), Do You Want to Die in Indio?, Actor: Leading (Joshua DeJesus as Salvador), Direction, Film Feature
Farid Elhami (Iran), Minstrels of the Sacred Mountains, Documentary Feature
Farid Tahmasebi (Germany), iFriend, Children / Family Programming
GBU & DJ Noj, Graven Image Films (USA), The Last Bullet, Animation, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising
Graham Northrup (USA), Stand Up, Film Short
Hamid Y. Najafli (USA), Surplus, Film Short
J Z Murdock (USA), Pvt. Ravel’s Bolero, Experimental
Jack Grinhaus (Canada), Elle’s Valley, Film Short, Actress: Leading (Lauren Brotman as Elle)
James Ault (USA), Machanic Manyeruke: The Life of Zimbabwe’s Gospel Music Legend, Christian
Jesse Velik and Lucy Velik (Australia), This Idea of Love, Ensemble Cast
Jil Guyon (USA), Rouyn Noranda, Experimental
Joana Adesuwa Reiterer (Austria), Voices Uprising, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest
Joey Min (USA), Rumble Riot, Film Short, Web Tube Length Video
Jonathan Baty (USA), Assisted Living, Film Short
Kenneth James Napier (USA), Rustle, Original Score (Composed by Joe Pearson)
Kit Wilson (USA), Something Behind The Walls, Film Short
Leigh Reddick (USA), 3:14, Direction (Student), Women Filmmakers (Student), Cinematography (Terrell Lamont)
Lisa Singletary (USA), Walking in the Wrong Direction, LGBTQ+, Women Filmmakers, Film Short
Mae Edwards (USA), I.M.L.A. ~ A Musical Graphic Novel, Experimental, Webisode, Web / Internet Programming, Web Series, Creativity / Originality
Marisa Cohen and Peter Issac Alexander (USA), The Cloaked Realm, Ep 1 – The Knight and the Queen, Animation, Television – Pilot Program, Sound: Overall Impact, Original Score (The Cloaked Realm composed by John Baxter), Script / Writer (Marisa Cohen), Direction, Concept
Matt Provenzano (USA), Welcome to the Theatre, Documentary Short
Max Fannin (USA), Key Lewis; Half Black, Half White, Looks MEXICAN!, Documentary Feature
Michael David Squier (USA), The Baja Bug Movie, Documentary Feature
Nadia Guo (China), Wish You Well, Direction, Film Short, Editing
Nelson Campbell (USA), From Food to Freedom, Documentary Feature
Paul Stewart (United Kingdom), More Than a Roll With a Hole, Documentary Short, Jewish
Poonam Basu (USA), My Dearest Elizabeth, Actress: Leading (MaryLynn Suchan as Elizabeth)
Robert Patriarca (USA), Life’s Better Protected, Direction, Ensemble Cast, Script / Writer
Robert Rollins (USA), The Friendship, Documentary Feature
Rocco Metzger (Switzerland), Catching the Sun, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Saryn Lisa Chorney (USA), Last Lions Left on Earth at Lionsrock Museum, Nature / Environment / Wildlife
Shanna Fujii (USA), Madame Hattori’s Izakaya, Asian, Women Filmmakers
Shaun McLaughlin (USA), The Last Night of the TwiKnight, Film Short
Sholom Ellenberg (USA), Running With Emilio, Documentary Short, Viewer Impact: Motivational / Inspirational
Steve Firkins (USA), The Filmmakers, Documentary Feature
T.J. Penton (USA), Generosity, Women Filmmakers
Terry Ross (USA), A Chateau in the Loire, Women Filmmakers
Timmy Walczak (USA), One Man Picture Show or: The Modern Tragedy of Creation, Actor: Leading (Timmy Walczak as Tom/Dick/Harry/Bert)
Yuxi Xing (USA), Smart Speaker, Film Short (Student), Cinematography (Student) (“Lance” Haoyuan Li)
Award of Recognition winners click below:
Award of Excellence and Best of Show winners click below:
