Directors’ Choice Awards 2026:
Best Feature – Drama: Mr. Burton
Best Feature – Comedy: Ethan Bloom
Best International Feature: The Marching Band
Best Humanitarian Feature: Muganga
Best Indie-Spirit Feature: The Fallow Few
Most Impactful Film: Shambhala Story
Most Inspirational Film: Mistake
Best Family Film: The Secret Floor
Best Documentary Feature: Sons of Detroit
Non-Fiction New Visions Award: Room to Move
Best Indie-Spirit Documentary: Creede U.S.A.
Best Non-Fiction Storytelling: Natchez
Most Inspirational Documentary: Dream Touch Believe
Best Documentary Short: A Sacred Pause
Best Indie-Spirit Documentary Short: Exodus
Best Humanitarian Documentary Short: Rovina’s Choice
Best Short Non-Fiction Storytelling: On Healing Lands, Birds Perch
Best Short – Comedy: Daniel Van den Berg is Dead
Best Short – Drama: The Art of Inflation
Best International Short: The Reach
Best Humanitarian Short: Fundbox – A Love Story
Best Student Short: The Demon Core
Best Animated Short: WildKind
Best Indie-Spirit Short: Two People Exchanging Saliva
Programmer’s Choice Best Short: Emergency
Audience Choice Winners 2026
Best Short – Drama: The Ride
Best Short – Comedy: (TIE) First Time and Fitted Sheet
Best Student Short: The Demon Core
Best Animated Short: Forevergreen
Best Documentary Short: Icebreakers
Best Documentary Feature: Dream Touch Believe
Best International Documentary Feature: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Best Feature Drama: The Secret Floor
Best Feature Comedy: Switch & Bait
Best International Film: The Fallow Few
BEST OF FEST DOCUMENTARY: André Is an Idiot
BEST OF FEST NARRATIVE: The Marching Band
Screenplay Awards
Best TV Pilot Screenplay: “Sally White” by Katrina Jaxson
Best Feature Screenplay: “Burgirlry” by Evan Laughlin
Best Short Screenplay: “Burning Hammer” by Dylan Wilson
Special Awards 2026:
Lifetime Achievement: Amy Irving and Peter Riegert
Marion Herrman Award for Excellence in Filmmaking: La Orquesta
Heart of the Festival Award: Rose Borne
Mercury Out of Retrograde Award: Nikita Hattangady, “The Other Side”