
OPENING NIGHT: SEPT. 17, 2026 - INDEPENDENT FILM FEST: 19-20, 2026
2025 AWARDS
Congratulations to all our nominees! Winners are noted in bold.
BEST DESIGN ELEMENTS
Close Encounter — Jeph Porter
Cutting Ties — Sarah Najera
The Pantone Guy — Patrick Creadon
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
PATH — Ian Eastwood
Run — Daniel John Harris
Styles Make Fights – “Mad” Max Metzgar — Spencer Merriss & Andrew Boylan
BEST ACTOR
John Pirruccello — Holiday Hold-up
Matt Dellapina — Park Life
Mike Green — Vince: The Punctual Vagrant
BEST ACTRESS
Cindy Clemens — Housecats
Kathleen McElfresh — Park Life
Courtney Abbott — Run
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE
Joyce Porter — Bat
Matty Ryan — Holiday Hold-up
BEST DIRECTOR
Abel Berumen — My Name Is Gia
Daniel John Harris — Run
Nathan Mitzenmacher — Slice
Patrick Creadon — The Pantone Guy
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Middle of Nowhere — Travis Shields
PATH — Ian Eastwood
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
Close Encounter — Jeph Porter
Cutting Ties — Sarah Najera
Run — Daniel John Harris
BEST DOCUMENTARY
Don’t Turn Your Back On Friday Night — Mike Schmiedeler, Michael O’Brien
How We Roll — Anthony Ciancio Winner
The Pantone Guy — Patrick Creadon
Shiners: Voices from Owsley County — Seth McClellan
BEST FEATURE
Holiday Hold-up — Michael Moreci, Francis Claudio, Robert Stern, Michele B. McGraw
Park Life — Tyler Haney
SPIRIT OF OAK PARK AWARD
Altruism: What’s in It for Me? — Kathleen Ermitage
HONORABLE MENTION: YOUNG FILMMAKER
The Dishwasher Quest — Lizz Kannenberg & the Beye Elementary School Green Team
