Top Shorts Winners - May 2026

Film of the Month

When The Moon Goes Down - Trever Riney

Best Narrative Film

Shadow of the Fighter - Alex Hramakouski, Yaroslav Savchak

Best Indie Film

HIEROPHANY - Alberto Martín-Aragón

Best Drama

When The Moon Goes Down - Trever Riney

Best Comedy

Musical Fears - Rohan Tare

Best Horror

Never Tell - Morgan Rosenblum

Best Experimental Film

Witchcraft: The Lanterne of Light - Carissa Pierson

Best Inspirational Film

Tears from the Clown - Ryan McChesney

Best Fantasy Film

HIEROPHANY - Alberto Martín-Aragón

Best Film Noir

Picture Taker - Joe Zappa

Best Western

When The Moon Goes Down - Trever Riney

Best AI Film

BAIT - Asa Movshovitz

Best Web Series

ISCL.TV: Black Digital Pioneers Before Podcasting - Paul Brian Franklin

Best Animation

To Wake in Gardens - Emma Renee Breslauer

Best Music Video

Renegades - Ryan J Koppelman

Best Student Film

Musical Fears - Rohan Tare

Best Director

Witchcraft: The Lanterne of Light - Carissa Pierson

Best First Time Director

Never Tell - Morgan Rosenblum

Best Indie Filmmaker

Walter, Jenny and the Christmas Carolers - Dean Attari

Best Actor

Picture Taker - David Andrew James

Best Actress

Shadow of the fighter - Lena Ovchynnikova

Best Duo

Witchcraft: The Lanterne of Light - Andrew Pierson & Kristina Lafser

Best Cinematography

Shadow of the Fighter - Yaroslav Savchak

Best Score

Picture Taker - John Zappa

Best Song

The Moon of Longing - Hua Zeng

Best Original Story

Picture Taker - Joe Zappa

Best Screenplay

The Encounter - Enrique R. Carrasco

Best Drama Screenplay

The Encounter - Enrique R. Carrasco

Best First Time Screenwriter

Somewhere Loud - KC Thomas

Best Television Script

Ben's Friends - Patrick Brady

Special Jury Award

Jun Jun & Xiao Yu – Be The Light - Che Ming Lin

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Shadow of the Fighter - Trailer