Author: Christian Candido

The James Crow Hotel

By Terri Battee

BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME, BEST WORLDWIDE SCREENWRITER (Category: Global Crime), BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST ARTHOUSE WRITING STYLE

It’s The Gravy

By Cherie Kerr

BEST INTERNATIONAL COMEDY 2026, BEST FILMMAKER & BEST SCREENPLAY (Category: Indie Comedy)

Hope is Not a Black and White Rainbow

By Harold Brown

BEST GLOBAL SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST INDIE SCREENWRITER 2026 (Category: International Feature Script)

The Serpent’s Caress

By Samantha Casella

BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST CAST & BEST EUROPEAN FILM 2026

I Waited for You

By Jennifer Glee

BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATIC VISION, BEST DIRECTOR & BEST STORYTELLER (Category: International Indie Experimental Film)

Time Out

By Everett Ray Aponte

Meitar Paz – BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS 2026

The Singer

By Ela Ilhame von Schöning

BEST EUROPEAN FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER

Drawn Home

By Camy De Mario

BEST WORLDWIDE ANIMATED SHORT FILM 2026, BEST FILMMAKER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY SHORT (Category: Animation)

Secrets of the Forbidden City

By Pamela PerryGoulardt

BEST WORLDWIDE SHORT SCRIPT 2026 & BEST VISIONARY SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR (Category: International Arthouse Short Script)

Caccia Grossa

By Paolo Pier Luigi Guglielmetti

BEST WORLDWIDE SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST EUROPEAN INDIE FILMMAKER & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA

America Boxed In

By Ian S. Williams & Casey Williams

BEST FILMMAKERS (Category: International Indie Documentary Feature), BEST ORIGINAL EDITING, BEST ARTHOUSE PRODUCTION COMPANY & STORYTELLERS (Category: International Documentary Feature)

American Money

By Timothy A McGhee

BEST ARTHOUSE WORLDWIDE SCREENWRITER 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITING STYLE (Category: Feature Script)

And the Devil called!

By Patricia Poulos

BEST INTERNATIONAL HORROR OF THE YEAR, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENWRITER & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: International Indie Horror)

The Soft Core

By Justin Charles Gizzi

BEST UNIVERSAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

Tomorrow’s Dream

By Justin Charles Gizzi

BEST WORLDWIDE SCREENWRITER (Category: Feature Script) & BEST INTERNATIONAL VISIONARY SCREENPLAY 2026

Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana

By Ken Kimmelman

BEST WORLDWIDE VIDEO POETRY OF THE YEAR & BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR (Category: Global Video Poetry)

Unpromised Land

By Damiano Rossi

BEST EUROPEAN ARHOUSE MOVIEMAKER 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL CINEMATIC VISION

Pretty Little Lucy

By David Williamson

BEST WORLDWIDE THRILLER SCRIPT 2026, BEST SUSPENSE & BEST GLOBAL INDIE SCREENWRITER

Cock Robin

By Frances Barth

BEST INDIE COMEDY 2026 & BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENPLAY (Category: International Comedy)

My Hollywood Circus

By Roger Paradiso

BEST ARTHOUSE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE YEAR & BEST WRITING STYLE (Category: International Book)

Noise

By R. Scott MacLeay

BEST ARTHOUSE EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER 2026, BEST EXPERIMENTAL EDITING, BEST SOUND DESIGNER & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHER

The Beauty in a Restless Mind

By Lena Mattsson

BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHER, BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR & BEST EDITOR (Category: Experimental Film)

Bad Influence/ Mauvaise Influence

By Aurélie Latona

BEST ARTHOUSE SUPER SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR & BEST EDTING (Category: Super Short Film)

Stalker Hair Twirl

By Faye Fayerman

BEST WORLDWIDE EXPERIMENTAL EDITING 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLER (Category: Inspirational Short Film)

Staycation

By Russell Emanuel

BEST INTERBNATIONAL MOVIE 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR, (Category: International Narrative Feature), BEST EDITING, BEST CAST, BEST SOUNDTRACK & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: Narrative Feature)

Kev Franzi – Works 80 Years in the Film Industry HD

By Dianne Lang

BEST UNIVERSAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT, BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR, BEST EDITING & BEST STORYTELLER (Category: International Documentary Short)

Freedoms Under Assault

By Jacob Comforty & Robert Arnove 

BEST WORLDWIDE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE OF THE YEAR, BEST STORYTELLER 2026, BEST EDITING & BEST GLOBAL DIRECTOR (Category: International Indie Documentary Feature)

Precious the baby dragon

By Dawn Menge

BEST UNIVERSAL FANTASY BOOK, BEST WRITER (Category: Arthouse Book) & BEST ORIGINAL WRITING STYLE

The Dead Ringer

By Suzanne Lutas

BEST WORLDWIDE WRITER 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL STORY

The Duchess

By C. Arnold Curry

BEST GLOBAL DRAMA 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLER (Category: Drama) & BEST ORIGINAL ACTING (Category: Arthouse Drama)

The New Immigrants- Hong Kongers

By Vivian Tsang

BEST WORLDWIDE FIRST TIME DIRECTOR 2026, BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST ORIGINAL INDIE DOCUMENTARY

The Novice

By Vincenzo Amoruso

BEST GLOBAL ACTOR, BEST EUROPEAN EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM, BEST VIDEO POETRY OF THE YEAR & BEST SOUND DESIGNER

Man in a Can

By Henk Pringels

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR (Category: Animated Short Film)

Brothers of Babylon

By Gabriel Womack

BEST WORLDWIDE INTERNATIONAL INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026, BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Global Screenplay) & BEST AMERICAN SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR

Pirandello’s Wife

By Lynn Elliott

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

Alta California

By Lynn Elliott

BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL STORYTELLING

“Only You Can Save Her,” pilot teleplay of series THE BOY WHO EARNED HIS MAGIC

By Lynn Elliott

BEST INTERNATIONAL FANTASY SCRIPT 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE TELEVISION SCRIPT & BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENNWRITER 2026

The Stones of Rome

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST INTERNATIONAL HISTORICAL SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST GLOBAL ARTHOUSE ACTOR 2026 & BEST INSPIRATIONAL ACTING

The Pathos of Hamlet

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST CINEMATIC VISION, BEST POETRY SHORT FILM, BEST WRITING SYLE & BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER

Nossos Caminhos (Our Paths)

By Carla Di Bonito

BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA SCRIPT & BEST WORLDWIDE INDIE SCREENWRITER (Category: Global Drama Script)  

Change The World

By Angelena Bonet

BEST INDIE HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTARY 2026

Cherished Viciousness

By Daniel Arreola

BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT OF THE YEAR & BEST ARTHOUSE WRITING STYLE

Stalker Hair Twirl

By Faye Fayerman

BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR, BEST EDITING, BEST STORYTELLER & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER (Category: Experimental Film)

10th Anniversary Edition — A Gift of Love: Lessons Learned Through a Lifetime of Friendship

by Tony Cointreau

BEST INDIE BOOK 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL WRITER (Category: Book/Manuscript)

A Pilgrimage Into Tibet

By Mark Gould

BEST SOCIAL FILMMAKER, BEST ORGINAL EDITING, BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SHORT DOCUMENTARY 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLER

Unpromised Land

By Damiano Rossi

BEST VISIONARY SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST EXPERIMENTAL MOVIEMAKER, BEST SOUND & BEST CINEMATIC VISION 2026 (Category: Experimental)

Precious the baby dragon

By Dawn Menge

BEST FANTASY BOOK 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL VISIONARY WRITER

Heaven

By AnayaMusic Kunst

BEST INTERNATIONAL MUSIC VIDEO, BEST SONG 2026 & BEST GLOBAL SINGER

Plandemic: Tribunal

By Chris Ross Leong

BEST ORIGINAL IDEA, BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE THRILLER SCRIPT & BEST STORYTELLER 2026

The Beauty in a Restless Mind

By Lena Mattsson

BEST VIDEO POETRY 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE EXPERIMENTAL STORYTELLER OF THE YEAR & BEST EUROPEAN MOVIEMAKER

Pretty Little Lucy

By David Williamson

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

Staycation

By Russell Emanuel

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY (Category: Narrative Feature), BEST CAST, BEST SOUNDTACK, BEST EDITOR, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST PRODUCTION COMPANY

Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana

By Ken Kimmelman

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

Virulence

By Christopher Pennington

BEST UNIVERSAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL WRITER (Category: Screenplay)

Novice

By Vincenzo Amoruso

BEST VISIONARY ACTING, BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR 2026 & BEST ARTHOUSE ORGINAL IDEA

 The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers

By Vivian Tsang

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

Pirandello’s Wife

By Lynn Elliott

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

Alta California

By Lynn Elliott

BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT, BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Indie Feature Script)

“Only You Can Save Her,” pilot teleplay of series THE BOY WHO EARNED HIS MAGIC

By Lynn Elliott

BEST ORIGINAL PILOT TV OF THE YEAR & BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS (Category: Television Script)

The Script, A Celtic Horror Tale

By Lynn Elliott

BEST INTERNATIONAL HORROR SCRIPT 2026

American Money

By Timothy A McGhee

BEST ORIGINAL INDIE SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST SCREENWRITER & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Feature Script)

Bad Influence/ Mauvaise Influence

By Aurélie Latona

BEST EUROPEAN MOVIEMAKER, BEST ARTHOUSE SUPER SHORT FILM 2026, BEST EDITING & BEST STORYTELLING (Category: International Super Short Film)

I Waited for You

By Jennifer Glee

BEST EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR, BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST INDIE SCREENWRITER (Category: Indie Experimental Film)

The Duchess

By C. Arnold Curry

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

Not Fore Long

By Patricia Marshall

BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA SCRIPT, BEST UNIVERSAL WRTING STYLE (Category: Feature Script) & BEST GLOBAL INDIE SCREENWRITER 2026

Precious the baby dragon

By Dawn Menge

BEST FAIRY TALE OF THE YEAR & BEST GLOBAL CHILDREN’S BOOK 2026

America Boxed In

By Ian S. Williams & Casey Williams

BEST UNIVERSAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE OF THE YEAR, BEST DIRECTORS, BEST ORIGINAL EDITING & BEST INDIE DIRECTOR

Emergency Musical Response: Part 1 – Journey to Netherworld

By Cosmo Swevens & Sol Solaris

BEST DIRECTOR, BEST MUSICAL OF THE YEAR & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Musical)

The Revenge Club

By Marla Eaton

BEST UNIVERSAL SHORT SCRIPT 2026, BEST STORYTELLER & BEST ORIGINAL WRITING STYLE (Category: Short Script)

Staycation

By Russell Emanuel

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

An Ever After Drama

By Michelle Lynn

BESTINTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM 2026, BEST GLOBAL DIRECTOR 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTRESS, BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENPLAY SHORT, BEST COSTUME DESIGNER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST SOUNDTRACK (Category; Short Film)

Whispers of Montana

By Michelle Lynn

BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER

Behind The Algorithm

By Michelle Lynn

BEST VISIONARY WRITER, BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA SCRIPT & BEST WRITING STYLE 2026

Out of Control

By Bellopropello

BEST EXPERIMENTAL ANIMATED SHORT FILM, BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR & BEST SOUND (Category: Animated Short Film)

Non dimenticare il poeta

By Fabrizio Fuochi

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

American Money

By Timothy A McGhee

BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST UNIVERSAL SCREENWRITER (Category: Global Screenplay)

Doctor Hyphoteses

By Vicentini Gomez

BEST GLOBAL SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER & BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR

Tipping Point

By L. Scooter Morris

BEST INTERNATIONAL VIDEO POETRY 2026, BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: International Super Short Film), BEST SUPER SHORT FILM, BEST ARTHOUSE STORYTELLER & BEST SOUND DESIGNER

Novice

By Vincenzo Amoruso

BEST ORIGINAL ACTING 2026, BEST EUROPEAN ACTOR & BEST EXPERIMENTAL ACTOR 2026

Kev Franzi – Works 80 Years in the Film Industry HD

By Dianne Lang

BEST ARTHOUSE INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT 2026, BEST INDIE FILMMAKER & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING (Category: Documentary Short)

The New Immigrants- Hong Kongers

By Vivian Tsang

BEST INTERNATIONAL YOUNG DIRECTOR 2026, BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHER, BEST INDIE FIRST TIME DIRECTOR & BEST ORIGINAL CAMERA OPERATOR

In 2 Minds

By Fabia Cerra

BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITER 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL BOOK

The Duchess

By C. Arnold Curry

BEST VISIONARY INDIE SCREENWRITER, CASTING DIRECTOR & BEST GLOBAL DRAMA 2026

I Waited for You

By Jennifer Glee

BEST UNIVERSAL ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER, BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST EDITING & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA (Category: Experimental)

Alta California

By Lynn Elliott

BEST WRITER 2026, BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Feature Script)

The Mongrel

By Lynn Elliott

BEST INTERNATIONAL PILOT TV & ORIGINAL TELEVISION SCRIPT 2026

Pirandello’s Wife

By Lynn Elliott

BEST ARTHOUSE INDIE SCREENPLAY, BEST BIOGRAPHICAL SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA

Plandemic: Tribunal

By Chris Ross Leong

BEST UNIVERSAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST VISIONARY SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR

Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana

By Ken Kimmelman

BEST EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR 2026, BEST ORIGINAL EDITING, BEST POETRY FILM, BEST AMERICAN INDIE PRODUCER & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

Nossos Caminhos (Our Paths)

By Carla Di Bonito

BEST ARTHOUSE INTERNATIONAL DRAMA SCRIPT 2026 & BEST SOCIAL SCREENPLAY

The Aesthetics of Failure

By Lena Mattsson

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

Not Without Gloves

By Lena Mattsson

BEST EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR 2026 & BEST VIDEO POETRY

The Rorschach Test

By Lena Mattsson

BEST EXPERIMENTAL SCREENPLAY 2026 & BEST POETRY SHORT FILM

The Dead Ringer

By Suzanne Lutas

BEST ARTHOUSE INDIE WRITER OF THE YEAR & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY 2026

Pretty Little Lucy

By David Williamson

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENWRITER (Category: Feature Script), BEST SCREENPLAY 2026 & BEST VISIONARY WRITING STYLE

Your Father, who sees in secret

By Danilo Del Tufo

BEST CAMERA OPERATOR & BEST EUROPEAN VISIONARY MOVIEMAKER OF THE YEAR

Ritratto temporale IV – Teresa

By Ilaria Pezone

BEST EUROPEAN EXPERIMENTAL INDIE FILMMAKER 2026

During the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, Wild Filmmaker reached one of the most significant milestones in its history.
Seven years after the launch of its magazine and platform, and with more than 100,000 submitted projects, Wild Filmmaker has become a leading voice in the international narrative surrounding independent cinema, gaining attention from outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Cinecittà News, and Cineuropa, as well as recognition from bestselling authors featured in publications such as The New York Times.
The goal we set out to achieve, to bring independent cinema to the heart of international storytelling, has now become a reality. But this also marks the beginning of a new chapter: continuing to demonstrate to audiences, critics, and the international press that independent cinema is a true art form, free from the production constraints of major studios, which inevitably have to prioritize business considerations over artistic ones.
In Venice, Wild Filmmaker promoted several events, including the Human Rights Film Awards, the 8 & Half Film Awards, now in its seventh edition, and the Production Bridge Awards, initiatives created to support independent filmmakers in the international promotion of their work.
The Film Leaders Project embodies this same vision: bringing together filmmakers who believe in the power of cinema that is international, independent, and free.
From Venice, this vision now arrives in Toronto with a new initiative:
A COFFEE WITH WILD FILMMAKER
PRESS RELEASE FROM TIFF
A new opportunity to engage with the international press during the Toronto International Film Festival, presenting the goals and future of a platform that, while remaining free and independent, has succeeded in becoming a leading voice within the mainstream narrative of contemporary cinema.
Below are the filmmakers we have selected as today’s Independent Film Leaders:

Algis Kemezys

AnayaMusic Kunst

Andrea Natale

Angelena Bonet

Ariel Orama López (AG Orloz)

Aurélie Latona

C. Arnold Curry

Camy De Mario

Carol Dorn

Casey Williams

Chris Ross Leong

Christopher Pennington

Colleen Fuglaar

Cornelia Calaidjoglu

Cosmo Swevens

Damiano Rossi

Daniel Arreola

Daniel Smith

Danilo Del Tufo

Darrelle Radcliff

David Williamson

Dawn Menge

Derek Martin

Dianne Lang

Earnest Diaz

Eddie Baca

Ela Ilhame von Schöning

Elpida Amitsi

Eric Ayala

Fabia Maria Cerra

Fabrizio Fuochi

Faye Fayerman

Florence Cazebon-Taveau

Gabriel Womack

Henk Pringels

Hugo Teugels

Harold Brown

Ian S. Williams

Inigo Laugermann

Jacek Krawczyk

Jacob Comforty

Jennifer Glee

Justin Charles Gizzi

Kai Fischer

Karen Matthews

Ken Kimmelman

Kevin B Ploth

L. Scooter Morris

Lena Mattsson

Leonardo Valenti

Lesley Ann Albiston

Lois M. Banks

Lynn Elliott

May Liu

Maria Piscione

Markus McLaughlin

Matthew Roch

Meitar Paz

Michelle Lynn

Michelle R. Arthur

Monica Bartolucci

Pamela PerryGoulardt

Paolo Pier Luigi Guglielmetti

Patricia Planck

Patricia Poulos

Paul Carr

R. Scott MacLeay

Reyson Grumelli

Ricardo Fleshman

Robert Armove

Roger Paradiso

Russell Emanuel

Samantha Casella

Sean Gregory Tansey

Sofia Mavrou

Sol Solaris

Suzanne Lutas

Sylvie Kay

Terri Battee

Timothy A McGhee

Tommy Anderson Sherry Severs

Uwe Schwarzwalder

Valerie Knill

Vicentini Gomez

Vincenzo Amoruso

Vivian Tsang

Walid Salhab