The judges wish to recognize the Award of Merit winners for notable
artistic or technical aspects of their project in the categories entered.
Cesar Eiji Nunes (United Kingdom), Within, Animation (Student)
Cole Lewis and Wambui Ndegwa (USA), Finding Hope Home, Documentary Short, Original Score
Fella Cederbaum (USA), Fear, Script / Writer, Creativity / Originality
Fella Cederbaum (USA), Racing To Enlightenment, Film Short
Fly on the Wall Productions and Mount Sinai Health System (USA), From Darkness to Light: The Peter Krueger Clinic, Documentary Short
Jennifer East (USA), Moving History, History / Biographical
Jeremiah Hayes (Canada), Dear Audrey, Documentary Feature, Editing
Kevin Schewe (USA), Bad Love Tigers, Script / Writer
Marisa Cohen and Peter Issac Alexander (USA), The Cloaked Realm “Tunnel 23”, Sound Editing / Sound Mixing
Michael Henry (USA), THE PIXIESTICK INCIDENT, Actor: Leading (John K. Hart as Eldridge Haas), Web Series
Peter Williams (United Kingdom), A CANTERBURY TALE: THE BATTLE FOR HILL 112, Direction, Documentary Feature
Sania Bhatia (USA), Coast, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Talia Keys (USA), We’re Here, Music Video, LGBTQ+
Adam Berardi and Clay Moffatt (USA), Sleep Paralysis and the Phenomenon of the Shadow People, Documentary Short, Viewer Impact: Content / Message Delivery
Adriel (Strenneth) Rosenfeldt and Robin Cisek (Canada), Memories, Music Video
Andrew Stadler (USA), Beacon, Animation (Student)
Austin Pope (USA), Girl of My Dreams, Music Video (Student)
Carter Stoudt (USA), The Liberty Bell Museum, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Charli Masson and Veronica Tullo (USA), Lovebug, Film Short, Script / Writer (Charli Masson)
Cleaver LeMar McLean (USA), Who’s Afraid, Film Short
Dalan McNabola (USA), Skinaffect – Monkeytruck, Music Video, Editing
Daniel Tupinambá (Brazil), ESTRO, Film Short
Darin P. Munnell (USA), Dying for a Living, Actor: Leading (Jed Bernard as Christo), Film Short
DeQwan Young (USA), Alchemizing Judgment: A Guide Back to Love, Documentary Short (Student)
Dr. Ramadevi Sekhar and Ebenezer Annadoss, Shasun Jain College for Women (India), B B Lal “Doyen” of Indian Archaeology, Documentary Short, History / Biographical
Eric Gauss, Dogs on the Run Film (South Africa), DISCONNECTED, Documentary Feature, Use of Film / Video for Social Change
Fahim Hamid (USA), County, Documentary Short (Student)
Fella Cederbaum (USA), Fear, Film Short
Hélène Goupil (USA), The Seed, Documentary Short, African American
HoodPuppy Productions (USA), Mercy’s Kennel, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising
Imad Jack Karam (United Arab Emirates), The Red Bond, Animation
Ivan Knyazev (Russia), My mother’s last dance, Experimental
Jack Settipane (USA), Remnants, Film Feature
Jack Settipane (USA), That Moon Show, Television – Pilot Program, Ensemble Cast
Jenielle Ramos Salarda (USA), Reyna, Animation (Student)
Jennifer East (USA), Moving History, Special Purpose Productions
Jesse Shore (USA), Stream of Consciousness, Film Short (Student)
Jon Michaelson (Canada), THE RIVER YOU STEP IN, Film Feature
Jordana Bleiwas (Canada), Lucy, Film Short (Student)
Kali Thomas (USA), Ace Date, Actress: Leading (Rodnesha Green as Sydney)
Karen Zipor (USA), Blessing On Your Head, Jewish (Student), Direction (Student)
Kyle Cowling (USA), WHO IS: Gunner Wright, Documentary Short
Kyle Kim Young-Woong Kim (USA), Between the Bars, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Lance Hoovestal, Casey G. Williams and Ian S. Williams (USA), America Boxed In, Documentary Feature
Leslie Dotson (USA), Power of Intimate Touch, Educational / Instructional / Training
Lindsey Ward (USA), Dominion, Documentary Short
Loren A. Roberts and Roberto San Luis (USA), Eliseo Art Silva: Finding the Wide American Earth, Documentary Short
Manfred Richard Schreyer (USA), The American Experience 2021, Documentary Feature
Marisa Cohen and Peter Issac Alexander (USA), The Cloaked Realm “Tunnel 23”, Concept
Matthew Cichella (USA), God’s Not Here, Christian, Viewer Impact: Motivational / Inspirational
Michael Henry (USA), THE PIXIESTICK INCIDENT, Television – Pilot Program
Michele Zousmer and Benjamin Huerta Cristobal (USA), Sounds Of The Sidewalk (A Journey Of Goodbye), Documentary Short
Nick LoBue (USA), Running on Empty, Documentary Short
Nicole Martinez and Anna Stacy (USA), Dead-Enders (season 2), Actor: Leading (Daniel Cabrera as Leo Solano)
Nicolò Riboni (United Kingdom), Doppelgänger, Film Short, Direction
Olesia Karpenko (Russia), Dance, Film Short
Ramesh Nicolas Iyer (USA), The Jenny Thing – “American Canyon”, Music Video
Randy Bernales (USA), Hidden Wings, Christian
Ronald Keith Salmon (Canada), Something about Sea Lions, Nature / Environment / Wildlife
Sam Cortez (USA), Call Sign Romeo, Latin / Hispanic, Viewer Impact: Entertainment Value
Stephen M. Coleman (USA), Unremarkable Escapades of Jenny and Jules: Plenty of Fish on the Freeway, Script / Writer (Student), Web Series (Student)
Susanne Deeken (United Kingdom), Mumpitz, Animation
Tara Veneruso (USA), Girl Unscripted – Season 1, Episode 1 – At-Risk Girl, Direction, Editing, Reality Programming, Script / Writer, Television – Program / Series, Women Filmmakers, Dramatic Impact
Thomas Brouns (USA), The Search, Documentary Short
Thomas Rolline (France), Vincent’s Awakening, Script / Writer
Tom O’Flaherty (Ireland), Secret Superstars the Hidden History of the Kennedy cup, Documentary Short, Direction
Tracy Walsh (USA), ALL WIGGED OUT, Women Filmmakers
Tyler Mann, Ruined Man Productions (USA), Lifecell, Direction, Editing
Willie Herath and Noah Richardson (USA), Bottom of the List, Documentary Short