The judges wish to recognize the Award of Merit winners for notable
artistic or technical aspects of their project in the categories entered.
Aidan Kiyashka (USA), Torrent, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Brian Shakti (USA), Road to Terzetto, Ensemble Cast, Actor: Supporting (Eddie Vincent as Johnny)
Carlos Daniel Alvarado (Venezuela), Back to Maracaibo, Latin / Hispanic
Grace Samson and Barry Samson (USA), Cats and Husbands, Actress: Leading (Rae Cofsky as Fern), Actress: Supporting (Vanessa Simon as Marcie), Direction (Grace Samson and Barry Samson), Women Filmmakers
Jackson Hayes (USA), Coyote, Film Short (Student)
James Gossard (USA), Divine Instinct, Documentary Feature, Cinematography (Stewart D. Nash and Mauricio Ventura)
Joe Ronca (USA), One Last Glance, Film Short
Keith Leon S. (USA), The INside effects: How the Body Heals Itself, Editing (Theo Hall)
Naomi Shroff-Mehta (USA), Lovely, Asian (Student), Women Filmmakers (Student)
Nick Lyon (USA), The Surprise Visit, Actress: Supporting (Serah Henesey as Juliette)
Patrick Baucelin (Martinique), THE COLOR OF SLAVERY, Documentary Feature
Philip Gordon (USA), QUANTUM OF SALSA, Young Filmmaker – 17 and younger
Roy Medawar (USA), The Race of Our Lives, Documentary Feature
Sean Breitkreutz (USA), A House for My Family, Film Short
Stuart Pollack (USA), Obstacles Of The Heart, Script / Writer
Tony Tarantini (Italy), WISH, Music Video
“Olivia” Luying Wang (USA), Remember, Love, Film Short (Student), Cinematography (Student)
ACIMODUO (China), A Village Named Deng’ Er, Documentary Feature
Aidan Kiyashka (USA), Torrent, Disability Issues (Student)
Al Padilla (USA), Coney Island Cousins, Film Feature, Actress: Leading (Diana Sillaots as Val), Actress: Leading (Upa InSpace as Yulia)
Alan Rexroth, Angry Buddha Films (Germany), #WAY_Aurelio, Documentary Short, Contemporary Issues / Awareness Raising
Alexander McKee (USA), Gibberish, Music Video
Anton Juan (Philippines), Our Island of the Mangrove Moons, Asian, Ensemble Cast, Film Feature
Antonio Araujo (USA), DEVA, Latin / Hispanic, Creativity / Originality
Benita Vera von Sass (United Kingdom), The Yesterday, Film Short
Benjamin Hubert, Never 40 Production (USA), Open Guard, Television – Pilot Program, Concept
Carlos Arrieta (USA), Taking the Fight, Documentary Feature, Direction, Editing
Cédric Peyster – Le Roux (France), WOLFPACK, Film Short
Dani N. Thompson (USA), French Film, Music Video
Det Sporadiske Filmkollektivet (Norway), Woke?, Film Short
Evan Chapman (USA), Thus, the Night, Music Video
Guillaume Campanacci and Vesper Egon (France), Whenever I’m Alone With You, Direction
Hamid Saberi (Iran), Silver, Film Short
Harun Kazaz (USA), Rising Wings, Documentary Feature
Heidi Duckler (USA), I Will Remember What I Forgot, Experimental
James Gossard (USA), Divine Instinct, Editing (Bob Kanner and Matt Maddock), Direction
Janet Paxton Gardner, The Gardner Documentary Group (USA), QUAKERS: The Quiet Revolutionaries, Documentary Feature, Religion / Ethics
Jason Taglieri, Dayna Altman and Thea Touchton, Sueñito Media (USA), Bake It Till You Make It, Viewer Impact: Motivational / Inspirational
Jerri Iris Sher (USA), SMILES IN TECATE, Documentary Short
Jessica Koloian (USA), Christine’s Wager, Christian, Women Filmmakers, Script / Writer, Actress: Leading (Jessica Koloian as Christine Pascal)
Joe McNeal and Gerasimos Rozis (USA/Greece), Ancestors From the Stars, Script / Writer
Judy Mary Jackson (Canada), Where Can We Live In Peace?, Documentary Feature, Latin / Hispanic, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest, Women Filmmakers
Kevin Harris (South Africa), TRUE PATRIOT, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest, Documentary Feature
Leah Walker (Canada), Like Family, Film Short
Lilton Stewart III (USA), Getting Hit On, Film Short
Matthew A. Handal (USA), Nothing Will Ever Be the Same, Film Short
Max DeLeo (USA), The Ascension Program, Film Short
Miranda Allison (USA), SAIGU, Asian (Student), Film Short (Student)
Mouayed Zabtia (Libya), Story of Godia, Actor: Leading (Wasof Al Khweldi as Hassin), Actress: Leading (Basma Al Atrash as Noria), Editing
Nathan J. Lee (USA), Jeffrey King: The Legacy Tour, Documentary Short (Student)
Rudi Gohl and Hakima Alem (USA), What Happened to Jackson Avenue: A Story of Urban Renewal, Documentary Feature, Liberation / Social Justice / Protest
Ryan Parker (USA), Drink To You, Morgan Wallen, Music Video
Sean Breitkreutz (USA), mavi / willpower, Music Video
Sean Breitkreutz (USA), A House for My Family, Actor: Leading (Spencer Bang as Pence)
Shannon Dion (USA), Latasha Harlins, African American
Simon Stockdale (USA), The Softening, Film Feature, Ensemble Cast
Trevor McCann and Greg Chapman (USA), Darkroom, Film Short
Vireo Productions (USA), Precognito, Film Feature
Wan Ngo Long (Hong Kong), Oblivion, Asian
Will Scott (USA), The Volition of Thalmus DoQui, Film Short
Yisel Tapia and Carson Stringer (USA), Amongst The Myrtle Trees, Animation, LGBTQ+
Award of Recognition winners click below:
Award of Excellence and Best of Show winners click below:
