The judges wish to recognize the Award of Merit winners for notable
artistic or technical aspects of their project in the categories entered.
Abolfazl Sa’eiMehrabani (Iran), Khosrow 127, Film Short
Amir Raisian (Iran), Side by Side, Film Short
Anna Bawa (Sri Lanka), ANANASI, Animation, Children / Family Programming
Corlie Zhuang and Claire Zhao (USA), Unrecognized: The Artists of STEM High, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Dana Teen Lomax (USA), Pirate’s Ink, Actor: Leading (Nicholas Hoffman as the Pirate Tattoo Artist)
Dr. Vertna West (USA), The Butterfly & The Turtle, Animation, Women Filmmakers
Ettore Zito (Italy), Altrove – Elsewhere, Documentary Short
Hudson Hillin (USA), Instant, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Joseph Anthony Francis (USA), WINDY CITY: The Movie, Script / Writer
Justen Mann (USA), Normal, Film Short
Lin Zuo and Marlin Darrah (USA), Jade Earrings of the Last Empress, Documentary Short, Asian Filmmaker, Women Filmmakers
Martin Bastian (Canada), Destiny, Animation
Nilram Ranjbar (Iran), Cat & Fish, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Rahul Dhiman (USA), Mumbai X – The Prelude, Film Short
Ralph C. Schulz (Switzerland), Caesar’s Cache, Film Short (Student)
Robert Goc (USA), Highway 17, Music Video
Robert Goc (USA), Wildcard, Music Video
Robert Mcdannald (USA), THROUGH THE WINDOW, Script / Writer
Robert Mcdannald (USA), MAYHEM AT TRANQUILITY MANOR, Script / Writer, Concept
Sharvi M (India), Better Tomorrow, Asian Filmmaker
Sydney McCarthy and Finn Mascher (USA), Pretend and Serve, Film Short
Tom Seymour (USA), Video Dreams: A VHS Massacre Story, Documentary Feature
Xavier Ortiz (USA), The Odd Double, Actor: Leading (Marco Parra as Oscar)
Alexandra Maria Manda (Romania), Merry Christmas, Women Filmmakers (Student)
Amirabbas Hojabrosadati (Iran), Inherited, Asian Filmmaker
Birke Raymond Duncan (USA), Chicken, The Lunchroom, and Mr. Birke, Narration / Voiceover Talent (Mia McGlinn as Chicken), Children / Family Programming
Christal Kahles-Jones (USA), In The Garden, Christian Theme
Coco Bigles (USA), When You Love Me, Music Video
Corlie Zhuang and Claire Zhao (USA), Unrecognized: The Artists of STEM High, Asian Filmmaker (Student)
Curtis Harrison (USA), Zandaya, Script / Writer
Dana Teen Lomax (USA), Pirate’s Ink, Filmmaker with Disability
Grace Drury (USA), Ubiquitous, LGBTQ+ Filmmaker (Student)
Isabela Paiao, Ryan Rivera and Sophie Gould (USA), Capturada, Latin / Hispanic Theme (Student)
Iván David Nieves (Puerto Rico), Victoria: Triumph of Puerto Rican Theater!, Documentary Feature, History / Biographical / Travel
Ivan Francisco Barrera (Mexico), Penalty, Documentary Short
James Patrick Hoolan (USA), ELEMENTS, Animation (Student)
Jerónimo Tamez (USA), TinyMite, Film Short (Student)
JP Pullings (USA), Thank you for the Ride, Aileen, Direction, Film Short
Karen Snow (USA), MY FAIR MOTHER: A DANCER NAMED MAXINE BERKE, Documentary Short, Editing (Lee Mazzio)
Kumar Raj (India), TARA… the Journey of Love & Passion, Film Feature
Leila Akhbari (Iran), Face off, Women Filmmakers
Leonid Shmelkov (Sri Lanka), Shape of your Heart, Animation
Lisa Maciel (USA), Right Beside You, Film Short, Actress: Leading (Lisa Maciel as Isabel)
Mayedurimi Andrea Larotonda (USA), Borders, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest
Mehdi Ghanavati (Iran), The Lost Season, Documentary Feature
Mike Savuica (Romania), Planet of Broken Dreams, Original Score
Mohammad Abedi (Iran), Death in a Coat, Script / Writer
Nick Maltby (United Kingdom), Square Eyes, Documentary Short, Cinematography
Nicola Schafer (United Kingdom), Walking with Dadima’s Community, Asian Theme, Documentary Short, Original Score (Breaking Apart by Mike Duxbury)
Nilram Ranjbar (Iran), Cat & Fish, Animation (Student), Children / Family Programming (Student)
Nya K. Chambless (USA), My Guardian Angel, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Ryan Egypt El-Hosseiny (USA), THE INVENTORS, Direction, Documentary Short, Editing
Shahin Jabbarzadeh (Iran), Waking Prospects, Script / Writer
Xavier Ortiz (USA), The Odd Double, Actor: Supporting (Joél Octavius as Felix)
Yasser Mohamed Abdelsalam (Saudi Arabia), Al Rawdah, Islamic Theme, Islamic Filmmaker
Yiyun Bian (China), Beneath the Surface, AI Film
Yulian Martinez-Escobar (USA), Oneyda, Latin / Hispanic Filmmaker
Zahra Azadpour (Iran), Dark Orange, Animation
Award of Recognition winners click below:
Award of Excellence and Best of Show winners click below:
