Best Short Film
Award winners, Spring 2026
Every award the season carried, and the writers and directors behind them.
Spring 2026
Award winners
Their work captured exactly what our festival exists to celebrate: bold vision, originality, and outstanding craft. The Spring 2026 Award Winners stand as a powerful reflection of the very best in independent cinema, and their achievements point to an exciting future for film.
Best Indie Short Film
Heroes Among Us: Kid Electric
Best Feature Film
White Wash at Ninety
Best Documentary Feature
Being Hipp - First Lady of European Jazz
Best Documentary Short
The Game of Tao
Best Experimental Film
The animal that therefore I am
Best Historical / Period Film
The Black Spider
Best Fantasy Film
Bat Diary
Best Drama Screenplay
Embrace of the Carp
Best Drama Film
a cambodian winter
Debut Director – Short
Nadia
Debut Director – Feature
I come from the fog（I am from the mist）
Best Comedy Screenplay
The Revenge Club
Best Comedy Film
WingMan
Best Web Series / Episodic
Gudrid the Fair
Best Actress
The Last Drop!
Best Actor
Common Law
Best Cinematography
Remember me, remember love
Best Student Film
Pioneer of Love
Best Sound Design
Atlas Of Uncertainty
Best Short Screenplay (11-30 pages)
Just Another Day
Best LGBTQIA+ Film
Cora (Bleistiftstriche)
Best Original Song
The Joy of Curiosity
Best Original Score / Soundtrack
Psalms
Best Music Video
Pisces Knockout
Best Micro Short (under 5 minutes)
La Transformation
Best Medium-length Script (31-60 pages)
The Color of the Evening Sky
Best Male Director
Plainspoken
Best Female Director
Sugarbabes
Best Indie Feature Film (Low-budget)
Land of the Mustaches
BEST Thriller Screenplay
Rez
Best Feature Screenplay
The Secret Notes
Best Thriller Film
Phoenix Incident - Festival Cut
Best Mobile/Vertical Film (Shot on Phone)
The YouTuber
Best Animated Film
War Bear
BEST Horror Film
Havenfall
Best Editing
Ground Swell: The Other Side of Fear
Best Ensemble Cast
The Silence of the World
Best Sci-Fi Film
Akashic Spheres
Best Director – Music Video
Gaddni
Best USA Film
Right in the Sight of God
Best Australia & New Zealand Film
Interference
Best Asian Film
Mysterious Pond
Best European Film
Spot. Less. Love.
Best African Film
Noise & Neighbours
Best UK Film
The Diener
Best TV Pilot (Script)
Windy
Best AI-Crafted Film
Sludge (The Water Barons' Show) - Synth Farmers
Best Action / Crime Film
Man
Best Production Design
Mysterious Pond
Ready to submit?
Every entry is read and scored by our selection committee, and every Official Selection is promoted through our showcase.