Summer 2026 Nominations – Genre Competitions
Best Female Director
Jasmine Gabriel Winoto for Who We Once Were (Australia/Indonesia)
Lucy Wood for Joy Jar (Australia)
Ruby Haraldson for How We Ended Up Here (Australia)



Best Male Director
Andre Griffith for Am I Wrong? (USA)
Kaihang Ye for Come Back (China)
Sawyer O’Brien for Idol (USA)



Best Actress
Liana Liberato for Journeez (USA)
Natania Tarigan Arum Liasta for Who We Once Were (Australia/Indonesia)
Savannah Rae Collins for Weep No More (USA)



Best Actor
Mason Lovell for Idol (USA)
Mark Ashin for Belly Whizzer (USA)
Walter Koenig for Mr. Fleischmann (USA)



Best Acting Duo
Akram Rady and Tommy-Lee Baik for Casus (France)
Prudence Maidou and Annick Keipo for Madam(s) (Côte d’Ivoire)
Tom Walker and Olivia Patterson for Joy Jar (Australia)



Best Ensemble Cast
TBA
Best Cinematography
Blake Zundel for Recollection (USA)
Don Freeman for Tires Velvet Paws (USA)
Kyle Rodgers for Belly Whizzer (USA)



Best Editing
Don Freeman for Tires Velvet Paws (USA)
Immanuel Gracia and Pasquale Dorsi for Howl of the Moon (USA)
Kaihang Ye for Come Back (China)



Best Production Design
Gian Vianisi for The Trash Can (USA)
Keshō Kagé for Howl of the Moon (USA)
William Altermann for Recollection (USA)



Best Sound Design
TBA
Best Original Score
TBA
Best Original Screenplay
A Village Made of Glass by Joseph Ciapanna
Fang by Rik Zak
King of Infinite Space by Stephanie Marie Garrison
The Garden of Eve by Joshua Sugano
Wayward Journey by Don Carr
Summer 2026 Nominations – Genre Competitions
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