The judges wish to recognize the Award of Merit winners for notable
artistic or technical aspects of their project in the categories entered.

Brice Blanloeil (France), SLOW DOWN, Music Video, Cinematography, Editing
Chris Fell (Austria), Lucky Strike, Script / Writer
Chris Mugford (United Kingdom), The Lost Shards of History, Documentary Short, History / Biographical / Travel, Religion / Ethics
Craig McCourry (USA), Hong Kong 1942, Film Feature
Craig McCourry (USA), Battlebox, Film Feature
Creative Heights (USA), Stories from the Road: With Jaswant Dev Shrestha – When the Mountains Turn Gold in Colorado, Nature / Environment / Wildlife, On-Camera Talent (non-acting) (Jaswant Dev Shrestha), Direction
Erol Metecan Duren (Germany), Pretty, Original Score (Metecan Duren)
Ilie Stepan (Romania), The Guardian Angels, Music Video, Editing
Jamie Adams (USA), Christmas & Chaos, Actress: Leading (Charlotte Kirk as Sadie Peters)

Jessica Bailey (Australia), Kayamatah, Direction, Film Short, Women Filmmakers
Jocelyn Robert (Canada), and so, it begins, Experimental
József Gallai (USA), The Black-Eyed Children 2, Film Feature, Script / Writer
Marco Calvise (Italy), THE MARIANAS WEB, Direction, Film Feature
Mari Bonnemaison (USA), Blessed Unrest, Documentary Feature
Matthew Solomon (USA), Seeds for Liberation, Documentary Feature (Student), Liberation / Social Justice / Protest (Student), Jewish Filmmaker (Student)
MJ McGalliard (USA), The Angel’s Toe, Script / Writer
Myungson Chung (South Korea), Coexistence, AI Film
Myungson Chung (South Korea), Codename Designed System, AI Film
Patrycja Dąbrowska (Poland), EXCELSIOR, Film Short
Peter Alessandria (USA), Every Soul Knows: The Joy of Remembering Who We Really Are, Documentary Feature

Philippe Verichoux (France), The Last Letter, Film Short, History / Biography / Travel
Rebecca Scott (USA), I’m With Trauma, Film Short
Rowan Walsh-Lebus (USA), Offerings, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Seth Cochrane (Canada), FCVK, Actress: Leading (Heather Dancey as Rose)
Soore Vahe (Iran), Between Two Words, Film Short
Surapong Wetsuwanmanee (Thailand), Flash Boy:RUN, Children / Family Programming
Suzanne Baily and Nick Baily (United Kingdom), Invisible Women, Documentary Feature, Editing, Women Filmmakers
Talya Lotan (Israel), The City Between Them, AI Film, History / Biographical / Travel
Talya Lotan (Israel), My Summer with Sam, Movie Trailer, AI Film

The Epoch Times (USA), Final Hours: Is Death Really the End?, Documentary Short
Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation (Taiwan), Love in Motion: 60 Years of Compassion, Viewer Impact: Motivational / Inspirational, Corporate / Employee Communication
Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation (Taiwan), SDGs Series – Everlasting Actions of Compassion by Tzu Chi, Use of Film / Video for Social Change
Yassine Marco Marroccu and Elisabetta Minen (Italy), THREE THE MOVIE, Film Feature, Ensemble Cast
Yiannis Spiliopoulos (Greece), The Mines of Kythnos: Tracing the History, Documentary Feature, Direction, History / Biographical / Travel
Zach Damon (USA), Resilience Revealed: Ann Arbor’s Disability Legacy, Disability Issues, Documentary Short

Alina Zheng (USA), Words for Mom, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger, Film Short (Student), Women Filmmakers (Student)
Andrés A. Parra (USA), Searching for the Light, Documentary Feature, Dramatic Impact, Editing
Andrew Dudek (Australia), I Am Markita, Direction, Experimental, Actress: Leading (Shelley Marshall as Syndi)
Barzin Salehi and Saeed Khodarezaei (Iran), Major Type, Actor: Leading (Amir Mohammad Atashi as Ashkan)
Bob Maddux (USA), I Am Living Proof, Christian Filmmaker
Caleb Lopez (USA), DUCK, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Camy De Mario (USA), MALIBU AND ROXIE – A Story of Second Chances, Animation
Chrisopher Easterly (USA), Maison, Film Short
Christina Georgiou (Cyprus), Lout, Film Short, Direction, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising
Dinesh Shukla (India), NEST VILLAGE, Nature / Environment / Wildlife, Asian Filmmaker, Cinematography
Doron Neeman (Israel), Kidney Trial, Jewish Filmmaker
Doug Clyde (USA), The Pit and the Pendulum, Film Short
Dušan Davidov (Slovakia), DAVID, Script / Writer

Elionor Buholzer (Switzerland), Aleksandre – A Thievish Life, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising
Erol Metecan Duren (Germany), Pretty, Film Feature
Federico Raúl Bongiorno (Argentina), THE HOUSE OF THE MINOTAUR, Actress: Leading (Paula Almerares as Laura/Antonia), Actress: Supporting (Ana María Haramboure as Leticia)
Holger Klussmann (Germany), The Eternal Love of Jesus Christ, Christian Filmmaker, Direction, Narration / Voice-Over Talent (acting) (Kimberly Colegrove)
Imbi Männik (Australia), My Proudest Moment, Women Filmmakers, Cinematography (William Day-Sharman), Disability Issues
James Kahn (USA), Cold Dawn, Music Video, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising, Use of Film / Video for Social Change
James Mellor (United Kingdom), Karate Dreams – Empty Hand, A Sensei’s Story, Documentary Short, Sports / Fitness, Direction
Jane Centofante (USA), Saffron Robe, Asian Theme, Documentary Feature, Cinematography
Janos János Tari (Hungary), Mary’s Eternal Ways, Christian Theme, Filmmaker with Disability, Documentary Feature
Joavany Alvarez and Rafael Pedroza (USA), My Lucky Day, Film Short
Kelly Galindo (USA), 26 Seconds – USA Border Crisis, Women Filmmakers, Documentary Program / Series, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest

Kevin Irvine (USA), MR. POLO LOUNGE: A COMEDY, PART II, Script / Writer
Kris Armstrong (USA), An Inconvenient Study, Documentary Feature
Lisa Monde (USA), Dali’s Dream. An Experimental Art Film, Experimental, Women Filmmakers
Lynn Geyer (USA), The Love Movement: The Bernadette Scott Story, Documentary Short
Malcolm A. Velazco (Philippines), TCCON Philippines, Direction, Documentary Feature, Editing, Cinematography, Script / Writer
Manijeh Hekmat and Faeze Azizkhani (Iran), Fear & Trembling, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising
Marcelo Lagreze (Argentina), Where Time Breathes, Documentary Short
Marco F. Correia (Canada), Zoë, Film Short
Maria Springis and Mykyta Glushenko (United Kingdom), The Summit of Freedom, Documentary Short
Marie-Hélène Panisset (Canada), Coming Home: Beyond A Moonless Night, Documentary Feature
Matt Rasch (USA), Marfa, Music Video
Michael Shaw (Australia), Living in the Time of Dying, Documentary Short
Mohsen Khodabandeh (Iran), Sue, Film Short
Mohsen Panahandeh (Iran), And the Shadow Dances, Cinematography (Student)

Molly Vernon (USA), I/O, Movie Trailer, Women Filmmakers
Morgan Mead (USA), Together, Christian Theme
Nikhil Bharadwaj Vanamamalai (India), LOL – Legally Obligated Love, Film Short
Patrycja Dąbrowska (Poland), EXCELSIOR, Actor: Leading (Giorgio Jozef Varipapa as Excelsior)
Philippe Verichoux (France), The Last Letter, AI Film, Experimental
Rana Sajjadi (Iran), The Dots of a Case, Direction
Riker Lynch (USA), Stakeout, Actress: Leading (Bella Martinez as Sydney)
Ronald Wilson (USA), 33 Isole, Documentary Feature
Ruoshui Zhu and Yiyang Xu (China), Amidst Clouds, Unseen, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Sean James Spencer (USA), Summit, Documentary Feature
Sean Martin (USA), The Golden Age, Film Short (Student)
Seth Cochrane (Canada), FCVK, Actor: Leading (Malik Suleman as Rivers)
Shams Saki Belal (USA), Call Out To You, Original Song (Student) (Call Out To You composed by Upasak Mukherjee)
Shoun A. Hill and Waymon Hinson (USA), I’m Just a Layman in Pursuit of Justice –  Black Farmers Fight Against USDA, African American Theme
Simon Donovan Stewart (USA), All Lit Up, Music Video, Viewer Impact: Entertainment Value

Simon Stewart (USA), Synchronicity, Music Video, Viewer Impact: Entertainment Value
Sumaiya Jannat Prema (Bangladesh), A LETTER NEVER DELIVERED, Script / Writer (Student)
Sumaiya Jannat Prema (Bangladesh), Inside the Broken Mirror, Script / Writer (Student)
Susanne Layla Petersen (Denmark), Fuga, AI Film
Tejas Namdev Dhhanraj (India), ROLL CAMERA…Beneath The Glitz, Actor: Leading (Mohaq Kansara as an aspiring film director), Direction, Film Feature, Original Score
Tilmann Boegel (Germany), NO BEGINNING – NO ENDING, Experimental, Arts / Cultural / Performance / Plays
Tim Kohn and BK Lyon (Australia), Sidd and Nance, Script / Writer
Timothy Kohn and BK Lyon (USA), Bob Dough Self Proclaim Sexy Monster, Script / Writer
Travis Mills (USA), Don’t Forget Me Tomorrow, Actress: Leading (Charlotte Kirk as Dakota Cooper)
Tristan Fraise (USA), Sophie, Film Short (Student)
Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation (Taiwan), SDGs Series – Everlasting Actions of Compassion by Tzu Chi, Public Service Programming / PSA, Nature / Environment / Wildlife
Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation (Taiwan), Sharing the Same Sky, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising, Documentary Program / Series, Documentary Short
Tzu Chi Culture and Communication Foundation (Taiwan), My Grandparents, Children / Family Programming, Asian Theme
Víctor Peceño (Spain), Way to North, Original Score (David Miralles)

Award of Recognition winners click below:

Award of Excellence and Best of Show winners click below: