Previous Winners

2022 Winners!

Best Overall Short Film Award: Annabel Lee
(Dir. Amy Coop; UK)

Synopsis: "A young couple flee to the coast to await a boat that will take them on to a new life. As they wait, dark forces close in and their plan starts to unravel, with tragic consequences. Based on the poem by Edgar Allan Poe."

Learn more about the film:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnabelLeeFilm/

Best Director Award: Pierce Stephan
(for There After; USA)

Synopsis: "A young woman isolated by her fear of the inevitable finds solace in an unlikely digital companion, forcing her to reevaluate her life, her relationships, and herself."

Learn more about the film:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vitrus_studios/

Best Actor Award: Jay Jay Jegathesan
(for Catch & Release; Australia)

Synopsis: "A deeply reflective, charming man. Three dynamic women. A mystery that cuts to the heart of self-knowledge and transformation. Much has been said of the way to a man’s heart. But what of the path to his soul? Meet Brock Aloysius Chopra. Discover the women who changed his life. The healer, the rebel, the mentor. Join Brocky’s journey on a path you may find familiar. Relatable. Echoing your memories... yet utterly unknown."

Best Actress Award: Ilsa Askren
(for There After; USA)

Most Innovative Film Award: New Perspective
(Dir. Victória Momesso and Vitória Zamfolini; Brazil)

Synopsis: "New Perspective tells a simple story, the story of a mysterious woman with a classified mission. The film follows her journey from the entry bar where she meets with an adversary and steals a package from him, to her majestic espace by plane after being followed by an organization. Almost as a love letter to spy movies, New Perspective tells a thrilling adventure set in the 60s."

Learn more about the film:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/newperspective_collection/

Best Animated Film Award: Painting By Numbers
(Dir. Radheya Jegatheva; Australia)

Synopsis: "A child's encounter with classic masterpieces triggers a confronting epiphany."

Learn more about the film:
Website: https://www.radheya.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyaitsradheya
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radheya_j/

Best Female Filmmaker Award: SCREAM IN A WHISPER
(Dir. María Paola Ramírez Rodríguez; Mexico)

Synopsis: "Ava is a young woman who in the middle of her daily commute dreams about her first love. In her journey, she will face a part of her past in order to move forward."

Learn more about the film:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gensilencio
Instagram: www.instagram.com/gensilencio/

First Time Filmmaker Award: When the World Closed
(Dir. Ryan Range; USA)

Synopsis: "Amidst a global pandemic and in the middle of major renovations, Kearney's historic World Theatre finds itself struggling to stay afloat. A loving community came together to support its cherished movie house."

Fentress Fan Favorite Award: Letter from Bobeyan
(Prod. Stephen Cooke; Australia)

Synopsis: "Letter from Bobeyan is a fictional story, based on historical events that occurred on 24 June 1850 in the Bobeyan Valley, now Namadgi National Park, to the south of Canberra.
There is a lot of mystery surrounding the incident, and there is very little information about the details of what occurred on that day. Our film takes those events from 1850 and introduces Gracie, a modern day explorer who comes across a letter, and embarks on a journey to find the truth."

Learn more about the film:
Website: https://www.thewalkworldproductions.com

2021 Winners!

Best Overall Short Film Award: Ritu Goes Online
(Dir. Vrinda Samartha; India)

Learn more about the film:
Website: https://believefilms.in
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/believeproductions
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/filmsbelieve/

Synopsis: "In 2016, Ritu Kaushik, a homemaker from the fringes of New Delhi, started selling bags on Flipkart under her brand name Ritupal Collection.
Although it seems like one at first, this is not the story of an overnight success. Born and raised in a small village in Sonipat (Haryana), Ritu had to discontinue her studies at the age of 16. A year later, she was married off under familial pressure. Newlywed Ritu began cattle rearing and farming, and invested all her time on her family. As her children grew up, she felt a need to create an identity for herself. She waited 15 years to finish her education.
Ritu single-mindedly negotiated the patriarchal mind-sets of those around her in order to set up her own business. Today, Ritu returns to visit her school as a self-made entrepreneur; to share her journey with the hope of influencing a younger generation."

Best Director Award: Patricia Vidal Delgado
(for Caroline; USA)

Best Actor Award: T.K. Richardson
(for Caroline; USA)

Synopsis: "A professional artist is on the brink of failure as she struggles with self-doubt and the resignation of her new assistant just before her first solo show."

Learn more about the film:
Website: https://pvdelgado.com/films/caroline/

Learn more about T.K.:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tkrichy/

Best Actress Award: Rachel Rath
(for Caroline; USA)

Synopsis: "A professional artist is on the brink of failure as she struggles with self-doubt and the resignation of her new assistant just before her first solo show."

Learn more about the film:
Website: https://pvdelgado.com/films/caroline/

Learn more about Rachel:
Website: http://rachelrath.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachel_rath/

Most Innovative Film Award: Magic Play
(Dir. Natasha Cánepa; USA)

Synopsis: "A shy boy wizard-in-training is forced into a play date with a witch girl who is unpredictable with her magic."

Learn more about the film:
Website: https://www.tashanimation.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magicplayshortfilm

Best Student Filmmaker Award: The Quiet
(Dir. Radheya Jegatheva; Australia)

Synopsis: "When an astronaut ponders on the quietude of space, he comes upon a startling self-realisation.

The truth is written in the stars, but what will he uncover?"

Learn more about the film:
Website: https://www.radheya.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heyaitsradheya
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radheya_j/

Best Female Filmmaker Award: No Longer Perfect
(Dir. Virginia Blatter; Switzerland)

Synopsis: "A friendship is tested when two women are forced to deal with completely different physical conditions on opposite sides of fertility, that could potentially destroy their friendship."

Learn more about the film:
Website: https://www.nolongerperfect.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nolongerperfect/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nolongerperfect/

First Time Filmmaker Award: Sunday Morning
(Prod. Tina Riccio; USA)

Synopsis: "It’s Sunday morning and all Jordyn desperately wants is a little extra sleep... but it seems like that's not in the cards."

People's Choice Award: Dissimulation
(Tara Chakravorty; USA)

Synopsis: "A young woman struggles with her inner anxiety and how to portray herself to the rest of the world."