Month: July 2026

Following the special events organized during the Cannes Film Festival, and as preparations continue for the upcoming international events of the season, WILD FILMMAKER is proud to announce its independent special event, taking place alongside the Toronto International Film Festival this September.
Over the past few years, WILD FILMMAKER has strengthened its international presence by providing filmmakers from around the world with a significant platform for promotion and visibility. Directors within our network have received critical acclaim, been featured in some of the world’s leading magazines, and earned selections at major international film festivals, further establishing their presence within the global arthouse cinema landscape.
Toronto, traditionally regarded as the city hosting the most important event marking the beginning of the new international film season and the first major North American film event after the summer, provides the ideal setting for the second edition of Neon on Contemporary Cinema, the biennial event promoted by WILD FILMMAKER and dedicated to celebrating excellence in contemporary independent cinema.
Beyond celebrating creative talent, the event also serves as an important meeting point between filmmakers and the film industry.
Selected filmmakers will have the opportunity to showcase their works to producers and industry professionals, fostering new collaborations and opening up concrete opportunities for international development.

Below is the list of this year’s outstanding filmmakers, all eligible for NEON on Contemporary Cinema:

AnayaMusic Kunst

Arnold Curry

Aurélie Latona

Camy De Mario

Carla Di Bonito

Carol Dorn

Casey Williams

Charli Brown

Christopher Pennington

Colleen Fuglaar

Daniel Arreola

Daniel Smith

Danilo Del Tufo

David Williamson

Dianne Lang

Dr Dawn Menge

Earnest Diaz

Fabrizio Fuochi

Faye Fayerman

Gabriel Womack

Gary Beeber

Gleison Castro

Harold Brown

Ian S. Williams

Jacek Krawczyk

L. Scooter Morris

L. S. Strange

Laura Calderini

Lena Mattsson

Lesley Ann Albiston

Lynn Elliott

Margaret Bihong Sha

Marie Bryan

Matthew Roch

Michelle Lynn

Monte Albers de Leon

Patricia Planck

Roger Paradiso

Sean Gregory Tansey

Suzanne Lutas

Terri Battee

Timothy A McGhee

Vicentini Gomez

Vincenzo Amoruso

Vivian Tsang

Kev Franzi – Works 80 Years in the Film Industry HD

By Dianne Lang

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT 2026, BEST ORIGINAL STORYTELLING & BEST FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR (Category: International Documentary Short)

American Money

By Timothy A McGhee

BEST FEATURE SCRIPT 2026, BEST WRITER 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

Eyesolation

By Damiano Rossi

BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, BEST INDIE EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM, BEST EDITING & BEST SHORT SCRIPT

Precious the baby dragon

By Dr Dawn Menge

BEST WRITING STYLE, BEST INTERNATIONAL BOOK OF THE YEAR & BEST WRITER 2026

The Novice

By Vincenzo Amoruso

BEST EUROPEAN ACTOR OF THE YEAR, BEST INTERNATIONAL INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY SHORT

Your Father, who sees in secret

By Danilo Del Tufo

BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT FILM, BEST EUROPEAN INDIE PRODUCER & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHY 

Alta California

By Lynn Elliott

BEST AMERICAN SCREENWRITER 2026, HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER

Pirandello’s Wife

By Lynn Elliott

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA

IVA Delta 7

By Magno Brasil

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE FILM, BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR, BEST NEW CINEMATIC VISION, BEST SCREENPLAY (Category: Narrative Feature) & BEST AI FILM 2026

Ritratto temporale IV – Teresa

By Ilaria Pezone

BEST EUROPEAN ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM & BEST EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR 2026

I Waited for You

By Jennifer Glee

BEST ART FILM 2026, BEST ORIGINAL MOVIEMAKER, BEST STORYTELLING & BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE EXPERIMENTAL FILM

Pretty Little Lucy

By David Williamson

BEST GLOBAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENWRITER, BEST VISIONARY STORY & BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITING STYLE (Category: Feature Script)

Doctor Hyphoteses

By Vicentini Gomez

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR, BEST INDIE SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER

Staycation

By Russell Emanuel

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE 2026, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (Category: Narrative Feature), BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR, BEST SOUND & BEST INDIE PRODUCTION COMPANY

The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers

By Vivian Tsang

BEST INTERNATIONAL YOUNG DIRECTOR 2026, BEST ORIGINAL STORY, BEST ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY & BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHER

The Cassandra Venice Project

By Hugo Teugels

BEST GLOBAL FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR & BEST VISIONARY PRODUCER

The Duchess

By C. Arnold Curry

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE DRAMA 2026, BEST ORIGINAL WRITER, BEST SCREENPLAY (Category: International Drama)

An Ever After Drama

By Michelle Lynn

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT FILM 2026, BEST INDIE DIRECTOR 2025, BEST ACTRESS, BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT, BEST SOUNDTRACK, BEST ORIGINAL STORY (Category: Short Film) & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Whispers of of Montana

By Michelle Lynn

BEST VISIONARY SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR & BEST ARTHOUSE WRITER

Dessert Land

By Michelle Lynn

BEST ARTHOUSE SONG WRITER, BEST SOUND & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

Heaven

By AnayaMusic Kunst

BEST INTERNATIONAL MUSIC VIDEO, BEST SONG 2026 & BEST FILMMAKER (Category: Indie Music Video)

Brothers of Babylon

By Gabriel Womack

BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT, BEST ORIGINAL WRITING STYLE & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Feature Script)

Pretty Little Lucy

By David Williamson

BEST VISIONARY FEATURE SCRIPT OF THE YEAR, BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER & BEST THRILLER 2026

Staycation

By Russell Emanuel

BEST VISIONARY NARRATIVE FEATURE 2026, BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR (Category: NARRATIVE FEATURE), BEST CAST, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST SOUNDTRACK, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING

Mettersi… in gioco

By Paolo Pier Luigi Guglielmetti

BEST EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR

Colombano & La 21esima Fetta

By Paolo Pier Luigi Guglielmetti

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE FILM, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST SCREENPLAY

Stalker Hair Twirl

By Faye Fayerman

BEST ARTHOUSE MOVIEMAKER 2026 (Category: Experimental), BEST STORYTELLING & BEST POETRY SHORT FILM

Scachs d’Amor

By Daniel Arreola

BEST SHORT SCRIPT 2026, BEST INDIE WRITER, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST VISIONARY SCREENWRITER (Category: Short Script)

Plandemic: Tribunal

By Chris Ross Leong

BEST AMERICAN WRITER 2026, BEST FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL WRITING STYLE

Novice

By Vincenzo Amoruso

BEST VISIONARY ACTOR & BEST EXPERIMENTAL ACTING

Not Without Gloves

By Lena Mattsson

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST EUROPEAN ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM 2026

The Aesthetics of Failure

By Lena Mattsson

BEST ART FILM & BEST EXPERIMENTAL MOVIEMAKER OF THE YEAR

The Rorschach Test

By Lena Mattsson

BEST VISIONARY FILMMAKER, BEST ORIGINAL ARTHOUSE EDITING & BEST INDIE PRODUCER

The Dead Ringer

By Suzanne Lutas

BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INDIE SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR & BEST ORIGINAL STORY

Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana

By Ken Kimmelman

BEST AMERICAN DIRECTOR 2026, BEST EDITING (Category: EXPERIMENTAL FILM), BEST STORYTELLING & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY 

The Stones of Rome

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST INTERNATIONAL VISIONARY ACTOR 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE PRODUCER & BEST POETRY SHORT FILM 2026

The Pathos of Hamlet

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST EXPERIMENTAL INDIE ACTING & BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM 2026

Kev Franzi – Works 80 Years in the Film Industry HD

By Dianne Lang

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT 2026, BEST VISIONARY EDITING & BEST FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR (Category: International Documentary Short)

Noise

By R. Scott MacLeay

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM, BEST GLOBAL FILMMAKER, BEST SOUND DESIGNER & BEST VISIONARY CINEMATOGRAPHY

American Money

By Timothy A McGhee

BEST INTERNATIONALARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER

Borderline Justice

By Lynn Elliott

BEST ORIGINAL WRITER 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITING STYLE (Category: Feature Script)

Pirandello’s Wife

By Lynn Elliott

BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SCRIPT & BEST BIOGRAPHICAL FEATURE SCRIPT OF THE YEAR

Alta California

By Lynn Elliott

BEST AMERICAN SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER & BEST HISTORICAL SCRIPT

The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers

By Vivian Tsang

BEST INTERNATIONAL YOUNG DIRECTOR 2026, BEST CAMERA OPEAROR, BEST ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY & BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHER

Your Father, who sees in secret

By Danilo Del Tufo

BEST EUROPEAN DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY & BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SHORT FILM

Hito

By Danilo Del Tufo

BEST CINEMATIC VISION, BEST ORIGINAL STORYTELLING, BEST INDIE MOVIEMAKER & BEST ART SHORT FILM 2026

IVA Delta 7

By Magno Brasil

BEST ORIGINAL INDIE FILM 2026, BEST GLOBAL DIRECTOR, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION & BEST VISIONARY SCREENPLAY (Category: Narrative Feature)

Hope is Not a Black and White Rainbow

By Harold Brown

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026, BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SCRIPT & BEST ORIGINAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER

Bellatrix

By Jacek Krawczyk

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM 2026, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY SHORT, BEST INDIE PRODUCER, BEST MOVIEMAKER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER, BEST SCREENWRITER & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Global Narrative Short film)

The Gia T

By Kevin B Ploth

BEST INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION SCRIPT, BEST AMERICAN SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

Precious the baby dragon

By Dr Dawn Menge

BEST ORIGINAL FANTASY OF THE YEAR, BEST INTERNATIONAL BOOK & BEST WRITER 2026

The Cassandra Venice Project

By Hugo Teugels

BEST EUROPEAN FILMMAKER, BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST INDIE PRODUCER

Not Fore Long

By Patricia Marshall

BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA SCRIPT, BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS & BEST WRITING STYLE

Cose nuove

By Don Pasquale Ferone

BEST EUROPEAN MUSIC VIDEO, BEST ORIGINAL SINGER & BEST ARTHOUSE SONG WRITER 2026

Pretty Little Lucy

By David Williamson

BEST GLOBAL WRITER 2026, BEST EXPERIMENTAL WRITING SYLE, BEST THRILLER, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT 2026

Kev Franzi – Works 80 Years in the Film Industry HD

By Dianne Lang

BEST DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (Category: Original Documentary Short), BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT 2026 & BEST STORYTELLING (Category: International Documentary Short)

The Armchair Travellers

By Patricia Planck

BEST GLOBAL SCREENWRITER, BEST ARTHOUSE FANTASY SCRIPT & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

Lacrime di Vento

By Damiano Rossi

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE MOVIEMAKER, BEST EUROPEAN STORYTELLING & BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SHORT PROJECT 2026

Out of Control

By Bellopropello

BEST INTERNATIONAL POETRY SHORT FILM 2026, BEST ANIMATION & BEST ORIGINAL INDIE ART SHORT FILM

Hito

By Danilo Del Tufo

BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR (Category: Arthouse Short Film) & BEST EDITING

Your Father, who sees in secret

By Danilo Del Tufo

BEST STORYTELLING OF THE YEAR & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHER

American Money

By Timothy A McGhee

BEST WRITER 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL STORY

Etnoragù

By Cristiano Esposito

BEST EUROPEAN NARRATIVE SHORT FILM 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL COMEDY, BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT, BEST CASTING DIRECTOR & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

Staycation

By Russell Emanuel

BEST GLOBAL NARRATIVE FEATURE 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL FILMMAKER, BEST SCREENPLAY (Category: Narrative Feature), BEST ORIGINAL IDEA, BEST SOUNDTACK, BEST EDITING & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER (Category: Narrative Feature)

Novice

By Vincenzo Amoruso

BEST VISIONARY ACTING, BEST ORIGINAL ARTHOUSE ACTOR & BEST EUROPEAN EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM

The Dead Ringer

By Suzanne Lutas

BEST VISIONARY SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST ORIGINAL WRITER 2026 (Category: International Feature Script), BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITING STYLE

The Aesthetics of Failure

By Lena Mattsson

BEST INTERNATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY 2026 (Category: Experimental), BEST SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, BEST POETRY SHORT FILM & BEST EUROPEAN PRODUCER

Not Without Gloves

By Lena Mattsson

BEST INTERNATIONAL VISIONARY DIRECTOR 2026, BEST EXPERIMENTAL EDITING & BEST VIDEO POETRY

The Rorschach Test

By Lena Mattsson

BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST STORYTELLING, BEST EXPERIMENTAL SCREENPLAY 2026 & BEST ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM

Non dimenticare il poeta

By Fabrizio Fuochi

BEST INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN 2026, BEST GLOBAL MUSIC VIDEO & BEST ARTHOUSE SONG OF THE YEAR

Scachs d’Amor

By Daniel Arreola

BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS, BEST INDIE SCREENWRITER (Category: Short Script) & BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT SCIPT 2026

Thankful

By Earnest Diaz

BEST ARTHOUSE WRITER, BEST SOCIAL SCRIPT, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026

Doctor Hyphoteses

By Vicentini Gomez

BEST GLOBAL ACTOR 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER & BEST ORIGINAL WRITING STYLE

Heaven

By AnayaMusic Kunst

BEST INTERNATIONAL SINGER 2026, BEST DIRECTOR (Category: International Music Video), BEST SOUND DESIGNER & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: Indie Music Video)

Pirandello’s Wife

By Lynn Elliott

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL SCRIPT 2026 & BEST WRITER (Category: Drama Script)

Alta California

By Lynn Elliott

BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER

Borderline Justice

By Lynn Elliott

BEST INDIE WRITER 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITING STYLE (Category: Feature Script)

The Duchess

By C. Arnold Curry

BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR (Category: Drama), BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHER, BEST ACTING & BEST WRTING STYLE (Category: International Drama)

Brothers of Babylon

By Gabriel Womack

BEST INDIE WRITER 2026 & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: International Feature Script)

The Stones of Rome

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST EXPERIMENTAL ACTING, BEST SPIRITUAL NARRATIVE SHORT FILM 2026 & BEST VIDEO POETRY

The Pathos of Hamlet

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST ORIGINAL INDIE SHORT FILM, BEST EXPERIMENTAL EDITING, BEST INDIE CINEMATIC VISION & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER