2026 Awards & Prizes
Selected films will compete for recognition and cash prizes in three distinct categories:
Braids - Previous Emerging Filmmaker Winner
Audience Choice Award — $1,000
The heart of our festival lies in the audience experience. After the final screening, attendees will cast their votes for the film that resonated most deeply, with the winner receiving a $1,000 cash prize. This award celebrates the universal language of storytelling that connects filmmakers directly with viewers.
Jury Prize for Best Short — $1,000
Our panel of industry professionals and cinephiles will evaluate each film based on originality, technical execution, narrative strength, emotional impact, and artistic vision. The film achieving the highest overall score will be awarded $1,000. Open to all submissions, including non-Utah-based films.
Utah Emerging Filmmaker Award — $1,000
Celebrating the bright future of Utah cinema, this $1,000 prize recognizes an outstanding early-career artist demonstrating exceptional promise. We seek bold perspectives and fresh voices that represent the next generation of Utah storytelling. Limited to Utah-based filmmakers.
Winners will be announced during our closing ceremony, providing filmmakers with valuable recognition, financial support, and industry exposure.
Previous Winners
Rat Rod – Jury Prize
The highest honor of the festival went to Rat Rod, directed by Carly and Jared Jakins. Their film is an intimate and haunting documentary following mechanic Jorge Ramirez, who joined us for the live Q&A with director Jared Jakins. The film was selected for its originality, technical execution, narrative strength, emotional depth, and artistic vision.
Them That’s Not – Audience Award
Mekhai Lee’s moving short film Them That’s Not closed the night and won the Audience Award. The story follows a Deaf girl grappling with the loss of a family member and rising family tensions. Gorgeously made and emotionally raw, this film resonated deeply with festivalgoers, earning the most votes of the night.
Braids – Emerging Filmmaker Award
Directed by Elise Beers, Braids tells the powerful story of a young Native American boy navigating school picture day and the cultural prejudices he faces. Both audiences and jurors were deeply moved by this beautifully crafted film. During our Q&A, we had the honor of speaking with director Elise Beers, producer Bryson Alejandro, and lead actor Julius Sweet Tsosie.
2025 Jury Members
Special thank you to our panel of industry professionals and cinephiles who thoughtfully evaluated and voted on the selected films. Their decisions were based on originality, technical execution, narrative strength, emotional impact, and artistic vision.
Carli Mahas - Production Coordinator at Utah Film Commission
Derek Mellus - Production Manager at Utah Film Commission
Connor England - Festival Director at Dark Cinema Film Festival
Andrea Baltazar - Director of Film Studies at Weber State University
Ryan Ali - Actor/Filmmaker
Trevor Allen - OFF Founder & Festival Director
