Winners for various genres and categories are selected by our screening committee each month. Winners for each month are announced on the first day of the proceeding month and posted on our website and social media outlets. To view the winners of a specific month, choose the corresponding accordion link below. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Good luck!
Adam S. Gelles
Best Actor
Little Green Bastards
Russell Emanuel
Best Movie Poster
Staycation
Shamnas PP
Best Mobile Short
Beyond the Wall
Brigid Turner
Best Female Filmmaker
Wounds
January 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Film
Monument to Love
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Drama Short
A Thief’s Turmoil
Best Comedy Short
This Way To The Egress
Best Horror Short
Dream Slasher
Best Thriller
Mycelium
Best Sci-Fi Short
Buzzle and Twit
Best Animation Short
Drone Runner II
Best Experimental Short
Get Out of Your Head Jack
Best Documentary Short
Streams of Heritage
Best International Short
Returning Steps
Best Microshort
Where Am I…?
Best College Short
Jeremy’s Obsession
Best Trailer
Jeremy’s Obsession
Best Movie Poster
Dream Slasher
Best Concept
Were-Flutter: Darkest Desire
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor
Ryan Erro (Jeremy’s Obsession)
Best Actress
Jackie Smith (Dream Slasher)
Best Supporting Actor
Brandon Mikel (A Thief’s Turmoil)
Best Supporting Actress
Anna Nolte (Get Out of Your Head Jack)
Best Ensemble
Mycelium
Best Young Actor
Trinity Soos (A Thief’s Turmoil)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director
Shawn Alexander Thompson (Dream Slasher)
Best First-Time Director
Krystal Alexandria (A Thief’s Turmoil)
Best Female Filmmaker
Christina Frances McNulty (Mycelium)
Best Cinematography
Jared Treece (Jeremy’s Obsession)
Best Editing
Monument to Love
Best Visual Effects
Alexis Ramirez (Were-Flutter: Darkest Desire)
Best Special Effects Makeup
Athena Street (Dream Slasher)
Best Sound Design
Max Smith & Daniel Hagler (Dream Slasher)
Best Original Score
Jeremy’s Obsession
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay
“Contamination” by Neil Chase
Best Short Screenplay
“Joey” by Dana Wright
February 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Film
The One That Got Away
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Short Film
English Rose
Best Drama Short
Rendezvous
Best Comedy Short
Late Night Mysteries
Best Horror Short
The Veil
Best Thriller
The Ones Across the Pond
Best Animation Short
Talisman
Best Experimental Short
Who the Hell is Omar?
Best Documentary Short
Love For Horses
Best International Short
Snake’s Poison
Best Microshort
I’m Here For You
Best New Jersey Short
Whisperers
Best College Short
The Door of Life
Best High School Short
Gone
Best Web Series/TV Pilot
Rise of a King
Best Trailer
Snake’s Poison
Best Movie Poster
The Ones Across the Pond
Best Concept
Candy Doll
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor in a Feature
Jose G. Jimenez-Correa (Broken)
Best Actress in a Feature
Hannah Lawrence (The One That Got Away)
Best Actor in a Short
Brandon Tabb (Late Night Mysteries)
Best Actress in a Short
Olivia Tennison (The Ones Across the Pond)
Best Supporting Actor
Dane Reed (Broken)
Best Supporting Actress
Karen Edwards (Candy Doll)
Best Ensemble
Broken
Best Young Actor
Jonah Paull (I’m Here For You)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director of a Feature
Franklin Genao (Broken)
Best Director of a Short
Tim Martin (The Ones Across the Pond)
Best First-Time Director
Andrew Gonzalez (Sound of Silence)
Best Female Filmmaker
Katherine Chmielewski (Guidelines for the Sidelines)
Best Cinematography
George S. Evans (English Rose)
Best Editing
Arsenio J. Alvarez III (The Ones Across the Pond)
Best Visual Effects
Talisman
Best Special Effects Makeup
The Veil
Best Sound Design
Braden Creel (The Ones Across the Pond)
Best Original Score
Ross Baillie-Eames (English Rose)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay
“Hold You Tight” by JK Jones
Best Short Screenplay
“Better Man” by Lizzie Finn
March 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Film
The Night of the Harvest
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Drama Short
Grief
Best Comedy Short
You Don’t Even Look Italian
Best Horror Short
The Bathroom
Best Animation Short
The Forest of the Honey Bees
Best International Short
Honey I’m Home
Best Microshort
I Can’t Save You
Best New Jersey Short
Necrosis Incorporated: Requiem
Best High School Short
Not Your Business
Best Web Series/TV Pilot
Me and My Nutz
Best Music Video
The Girl Who Faded Away
Best Trailer
Finest Cuts
Best Movie Poster
One Night Rental
Best Concept
Hometown Story
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor in a Feature
Thomas Khawam (SDI)
Best Actress in a Feature
Ella Bennett (The Night of the Harvest)
Best Actor in a Short
Stephen Michael Kelly (I Can’t Save You)
Best Actress in a Short
Theresa Farrell (Me and My Nutz)
Best Supporting Actor
Laurent Leca (SDI)
Best Supporting Actress
Brianna Hauser (The Night of the Harvest)
Best Ensemble
One Night Rental
Best Young Actor
Kyla Polanco (You Don’t Even Look Italian)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director of a Feature
Sébastien Baccala & Thomas Khawam (SDI)
Best Director of a Short
Jay V. Simmons (Me and My Nutz)
Best First-Time Director
Chris James Annable (One Night Rental)
Best Female Filmmaker
Sally Hassan (You Don’t Even Look Italian)
Best Cinematography
Sébastien Baccala & Thomas Khawam (SDI)
Best Editing
PJ Bracco (Hometown Story)
Best Visual Effects
Sébastien Baccala (SDI)
Best Special Effects Makeup
Lucie Bradley (One Night Rental)
Best Sound Design
Charlie Lawson (Grief)
Best Original Score
Diane Poitrenaud (The Forest of the Honey Bees)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay
“John is Home” by Teri Jennings
Best Short Screenplay
“#6” by Trisha Gianesin
April 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Film
Eternal Son
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Drama Short
116
Best Comedy Short
Welcome to Parenthood
Best LGBT Short
The Paradise Road
Best Inspirational Short
My Friend Doubt
Best Documentary Short
Dew of Life
Best International Short
La Línea Imaginaria
Best Microshort
Final Wish
Best New Jersey Short
Home at War
Best High School Short
Flowers
Best Mobile Short
Asteroid Shower
Best Trailer
Eternal Son
Best Movie Poster
The Paradise Road
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor in a Feature
Funmi Adetola (Hi, I’m Growing Up)
Best Actress in a Feature
Belén Sosa (Eternal Son)
Best Actor in a Short
Guyviaud Joseph (Home at War)
Best Actress in a Short
Mandahla Rose (The Paradise Road)
Best Supporting Actor
Sean Yves Lessard (116)
Best Supporting Actress
Snezhana Chernyavskaya (My Friend Doubt)
Best Ensemble
La Línea Imaginaria
Best Young Actor
Noé Saldaña (La Línea Imaginaria)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director
Julia Campanelli (116)
Best First-Time Director
Funmi Adetola (Hi, I’m Growing Up)
Best Female Filmmaker
Juliana Lucia Rodriguez (Eternal Son)
Best Cinematography
Carrie Morgan Glassman (The Paradise Road)
Best Editing
Giuseppe Arcieri (Dew of Life)
Best Visual Effects
Marcos Zanet (Eternal Son)
Best Special Effects Makeup
Geisha Barreto (La Línea Imaginaria)
Best Sound Design
Nicole Maupin & David Shaw (The Paradise Road)
Best Original Score
Marcel Barsotti (La Línea Imaginaria)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay
“Love” by Anhtuan Do & Nancy Dedakia
Best Short Screenplay
“Sarcastic Molly” by Ben Qualls
May 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Narrative
Bonds of Grief
Best Feature Documentary
Anglet, Growing Up By the Sea
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Short Film
The Art in Anguish
Best Drama Short
Trumpet Player
Best Comedy Short
X-Mas Anonymous
Best Horror Short
Mystic Metronome
Best Thriller
The Monitor
Best Animation Short
Oneiro
Best Experimental Short
Trouble in Paradise
Best Inspirational Short
Yellow Daisy Butterfly
Best International Short
The Plan
Best Microshort
Reverie
Best New Jersey Short
Letters From The Grave
Best College Short
Light of The Passing Train
Best High School Short
Poison
Best Web Series/TV Pilot
Days of Salvation: Prologue
Best Trailer
Trumpet Player
Best Movie Poster
Seraphim
Best Concept
Virtue of Ignorance
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor in a Feature
Marck Angel (Seraphim)
Best Actress in a Feature
Rivers Duggan (Ember in the Woods)
Best Actor in a Short
James Quinn (Sandman)
Best Actress in a Short
Anna Panero (The Plan)
Best Supporting Actor
Brian Reilly (X-Mas Anonymous)
Best Supporting Actress
Lisa Tobias (Bonds of Grief)
Best Ensemble
Letters From The Grave
Best Young Actor
Miles Sklar (Hurt)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director of a Feature
Ryan Callaway (Ember in the Woods)
Best Director of a Short
Angelo Donzella (The Plan)
Best First-Time Director
R.E.D. (Seraphim)
Best Female Filmmaker
Sammy Smedley (X-Mas Anonymous)
Best Young Filmmaker
Richard Pecoraro (Krampus on Campus 2)
Best Cinematography
Theo Kemp (The Art of Anguish)
Best Editing
Lucas Pelizaro (Virtue of Ignorance)
Best Visual Effects
Marcos Rangel (Whispers of the Sea)
Best Special Effects Makeup
Bonds of Grief
Best Sound Design
M. Snyman & P. Lombaard (Yellow Daisy Butterfly)
Best Original Score
Marcos Rangel (Whispers of the Sea)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Adapted Screenplay
“Tiffin” by James Kenneth Jones
Best Feature Screenplay
“Made in Philadelphia” by Matthew Clark
Best Short Screenplay
“Resisting Arrest” by Reynaldo Dumas
June 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Narrative
Fighting the Fire
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Short Film
Scent of Ivory
Best Drama Short
Thank(U)
Best Comedy Short
How Dare You?
Best Horror Short
Wrong Place, Wrong Time
Best Thriller
Someone’s In The House
Best Sci-Fi Short
Called Upon
Best LGBT Short
Hit Astray
Best Animation Short
Ariel
Best Documentary Short
Sakura In The Cage
Best International Short
But I Want to Leave the Party
Best Microshort
Kenny
Best New Jersey Short
Miscarried
Best College Short
The Portrait of the Last Hope
Best Web Series/TV Pilot
Kepler 62 Experiment (The Mirror)
Best Music Video
The Good Life
Best Trailer
But I Want to Leave the Party
Best Movie Poster
Kenny
Best Concept
There
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor
Errick Davis (Thank(U))
Best Actress
Alva Joelle (Called Upon)
Best Supporting Actor
James Quinn (The Consumer)
Best Supporting Actress
Alondra Gonzalez (Hit Astray)
Best Ensemble
Fighting the Fire
Best Young Actor
Ava Michele Hyl (Someone’s In The House)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director
Bobby Lacer (Fighting the Fire)
Best First-Time Director
Mea Tsintsadze (The Portrait of the Last Hope)
Best Female Filmmaker
Jillian O’Neil (The Consumer)
Best Young Filmmaker
Jared Palomares (Scent of Ivory)
Best Cinematography
Marie-Pier Diamond (But I Want to Leave the Party)
Best Editing
Gergo Kui (Sakura In The Cage)
Best Visual Effects
Marcus Hart (Called Upon)
Best Sound Design
Bob Pomann (Ariel)
Best Original Score
Josh Kaye (Ariel)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay
“The Travelers Team” by Trisha Gianesin
Best Short Screenplay
“Aliens & Powers & Lily Ômai!” by Jonny Kandell
July 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Narrative
Shadow Tag
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Short Film
Illusion
Best Drama Short
A Comfortable Bed
Best Comedy Short
Pranks
Best Horror Short
What’s Best For Caleb…!
Best Experimental Short
Violets at Twilight
Best International Short
Perduto
Best Microshort
Let It Go
Best College Short
Angeline
Best Mobile Short
A Little Western Story
Best Trailer
A Little Western Story
Best Movie Poster
Shadow Tag
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor
Jamaas Britton (A Comfortable Bed)
Best Actress
Paige Sciarrino (Violets at Twilight)
Best Supporting Actor
Will Harrell (Shadow Tag)
Best Supporting Actress
Cisia Metreveli (Illusion)
Best Ensemble
Shadow Tag
Best Young Actor
Jack O’Connor (Perduto)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director
Kyle Edward Graham (A Comfortable Bed)
Best First-Time Director
Sopho Berishvili (Illusion)
Best Female Filmmaker
Claryn Scott (Perduto)
Best Young Filmmaker
William Stogden (Angeline)
Best Cinematography
Shako Chigitashvili (Illusion)
Best Editing
Sopho Berishvili (Illusion)
Best Special Effects Makeup
Henri Cheramie (Shadow Tag)
Best Sound Design
James M. Perry (Violets at Twilight)
Best Original Score
Felipe Adorno Vassao (A Little Western Story)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay
“Alien Target” by Dexter Williams
Best Short Screenplay
“Urban Decay: The Johnny “Guitar” Slinger Story” by Armand Arekian
August 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Film
Chasing The Midnight Sun
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Drama Short
Silent Cries
Best Horror Short
Collide
Best Thriller
Through The Viewfinder
Best Sci-Fi Short
Dopamining
Best LGBT Short
Hidden Battles of a Fragile Mind
Best International Short
Them
Best Microshort
Unforgiven
Best College Short
Train Station
Best High School Short
Global Warming
Best Music Video
Who’s That Girl
Best Trailer
Hidden Battles of a Fragile Mind
Best Movie Poster
Dopamining
Best Concept
A Deadly Threesome
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor
Rohit Soni (Hidden Battles of a Fragile Mind)
Best Actress
Nekoda Garrett (Unforgiven)
Best Supporting Actor
Bryce Webster (Dopamining)
Best Supporting Actress
Vanessa McAuley (Collide)
Best Ensemble
Them
Best Young Actor
Masho Ghvanidze (Train Station)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director of a Feature
Ettore Zito (Souls in the Mud)
Best Director of a Short
Nelly Clastrier (Them)
Best First-Time Director
Jyot Bhalla (Dopamining)
Best Female Filmmaker
Diana Gelashvili (Train Station)
Best Young Filmmaker
Sophia Birdsell (The Bracelet)
Best Cinematography
Lolly Sawant (Hidden Battles of a Fragile Mind)
Best Editing
Dario Di Agostino (Chasing The Midnight Sun)
Best Visual Effects
Aditya Manikashetti (Dopamining)
Best Special Effects Makeup
Jema Seekings (Collide)
Best Sound Design
Tato Arakishvili (Train Station)
Best Original Score
Oisin McBride (Through The Viewfinder)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay
“The Glow” by Sean Talisman
Best Short Screenplay
“Ten Dogs Wagging Their Tails” by Mark Barnes
September 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Film
The Unorthodox Mr. Haywood
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Drama Short
Secret
Best Horror Short
The Third Eye
Best Thriller
Who Knows?
Best Animation Short
Mammoth: Chasing the Rainbow
Best LGBT Short
Iced Coffee
Best Documentary Short
Ashes
Best International Short
When He Comes Home
Best New Jersey Short
LGBTV Spot: Asbury Park
Best College Short
For Siri
Best High School Short
Minutiae
Best Mobile Short
Senior
Best Music Video
I’d Race
Best Trailer
Swing 46: The Last Swingin Supper Club
Best Movie Poster
When He Comes Home
Best Concept
If Only Living Life Was Easy
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor in a Feature
Maxwell C. Blackriver (The Unorthodox Mr. Haywood)
Best Actress in a Feature
Iclal Atasoy (Winds of Vanishing)
Best Actor in a Short
Jon Laight (Meeting Point)
Best Actress in a Short
Zara Burdon Yeates (Between Two Tides)
Best Supporting Actor
Pablo De Lima (When He Comes Home)
Best Supporting Actress
Norma Sheahan (Between Two Tides)
Best Ensemble
Winds of Vanishing
Best Young Actor
Eloá Marques (When He Comes Home)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director of a Feature
Ilkan Devrim Dinc (Winds of Vanishing)
Best Director of a Short
Brandon Rozo (Who Knows?)
Best First-Time Director
Ioannis Mathioudakis (Ashes)
Best Female Filmmaker
Zara Burdon Yeates (Between Two Tides)
Best Young Filmmaker
George S. Evans (Meeting Point)
Best Cinematography
Prithvi Chauhan (Who Knows?)
Best Editing
Anastasia Balta (Ashes)
Best Special Effects Makeup
Alexane Flambard & Melanie Hollender (The Third Eye)
Best Sound Design
Kevin W. Walker (Who Knows?)
Best Original Score
Maxwell C. Blackriver & Athena Weavers (The Unorthodox Mr. Haywood)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay
“Franchise.” by Andreas Rietz
Best Short Screenplay
“Embracing Change” by Bryan Huynh
October 2024
FEATURE FILM AWARDS
Best Feature Film
California Dreamin’
SHORT FILM AWARDS
Best Drama Short
El Poder del Diálogo
Best Comedy Short
Therapy 101
Best Horror Short
LÉA
Best Thriller
Walking With Ray
Best Animation Short
Stuck
Best Inspirational Short
Who Do You Say I Am?
Best Documentary Short
Crockett’s Tennessee Trails and Tales
Best International Short
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Best Microshort
You Are a Mystery
Best New Jersey Short
Career Day
Best College Short
Your Song
Best Music Video
Southern Man (In A Strange Land)
Best Trailer
California Dreamin’
Best Movie Poster
Therapy 101
ACTING AWARDS
Best Actor in a Feature
Michael Ciesla (Serial)
Best Actress in a Feature
Zoe Lara (California Dreamin’)
Best Actor in a Short
Jeff Clark, Jr. (Career Day)
Best Actress in a Short
Katrina Brianne (Your Song)
Best Supporting Actor
Marc Geller (LÉA)
Best Supporting Actress
Chynna Walker (California Dreamin’)
Best Ensemble
LÉA
Best Young Actor
Charlie Michele Black (Career Day)
TECHNICAL AWARDS
Best Director of a Feature
Maurice Paramore (The Devil and Red Wine)
Best Director of a Short
Miguel García Bernal (El Poder del Diálogo)
Best First-Time Director
Mirela Araujo (Your Song)
Best Female Filmmaker
Jenn Nobile (Therapy 101)
Best Cinematography
Joel Cazares (California Dreamin’)
Best Editing
Adelfo Micieli (Knock. Knock. Knock.)
Best Special Effects Makeup
Kat Jones (LÉA)
Best Sound Design
Andrew Frechette (Stuck)
Best Original Score
Mirela Araujo (Your Song)
SCREENPLAY AWARDS
Best Feature Screenplay
“The Ghosts of Crystal Lake” by Mario G. Lopez
Best Short Screenplay
“The Deer” by Julia Campanelli