
Key West Film Awards





Silent Plan
By Ömer Yıldırım
BEST INDIE NARRATIVE SHORT 2026 & BEST ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER
The Duchess
By C. Arnold Curry
BEST DRAMA OF THE YEAR & BEST ARTHOUSE WRITING SYLE 2026
Precious the baby dragon and legends of the lands of Quails
By Dawn Menge
BEST ARTHOUSE BOOK 2026 & BEST WRITER
Eyesolation
By Damiano Rossi
BEST ORIGINAL EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM 2026, BEST INDIE MOVIEMAKER, BEST ARTHOUSE EDITING E BEST SOUND DESIGNER (Category: Indie Experimental)
Tic Tac
By Emilio Mercanti
BEST EUROPEAN INDIE DIRECTOR 2026 (Category: Narrative Short) & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY SHORT
Crossroads “The Red Code”
By Gary St. Martin
BEST INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENWRITER
Planetary Rebellion
By Fabrizio Fuochi
BEST DIRECTOR 2026 (Category: Music Video), BEST CINEMTAOGRAPHY & BEST EDITING (Category: International Arthouse Music Video)
It Happened One Night In Space
By Pamela PerryGoulardt
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT SCRIPT 2026 & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Screenwriter)
Hearts Aligned
By Michaela Kuti
BEST ORIGINAL SONG 2026, BEST SOUND DESIGNER & BEST VOICE
Out of Control
By Bellopropello
BEST INSPIRATIONAL ANIMATED SHORT FILM, BEST MOVIEMAKER & BEST ORIGINAL EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHER
Cock Robin
By Frances Barth
BEST INTERNATIONAL COMEDY 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL FILMMAKER
Asherah’s Colors
By Gary Mazeffa
BEST NARRATIVE SHORT 2026, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST CASTING DIRECTOR
I Waited for You
By Jennifer Glee
BEST EXPERIMENTAL EDITING, BEST ORIGINAL MOVIEMAKER 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE PRODUCER
Cataclysm Down Under – Hero
By Akal Demir
BEST INDIE DIRECTOR 2026 & BEST INDIE INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER
Ventricular
By Akal Demir
BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC IDEA 2026 & BEST WRITING STYLE
The Stones of Rome
By Sean Gregory Tansey
BEST EXPERIMENTAL ACTING & BEST VIDEO POETRY
The Pathos of Hamlet
By Sean Gregory Tansey
BEST ORIGINAL INDIE SHORT FILM, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT
American Money
By Timothy A McGhee
BEST ORIGINAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA
Doctor Hyphoteses
By Vicentini Gomez
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL STORYTELLING
Am I a painter?/Czy jestem malarzem?
By Michał Kucharski
BEST ANIMATION 2026, BEST DIRECTOR & BEST EDITOR (Category: Animated Short Film)
Alta California
By Lynn Elliott
BEST AMERICAN SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER & BEST HISTORICAL SCRIPT
Ghost Town, N.M.
By Lynn Elliott
BEST ORIGINAL FEATURE SCRIPT OF THE YEAR
Alzati dal buio
By Don Pasquale Ferone
BEST ORIGINAL MUSIC VIDEO, BEST EUROPEAN SINGER & BEST SOCIAL SONG WRITER
NeverWere: a Lycan Love Story
By Chris Ross Leong
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENWRITER 2026 (Category: Feature Script) & BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENPLAY
Thankful
By Earnest Diaz
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE SCREENPLAY 2026
A Tragedy of Riches
By Tony Cointreau
BEST WRITING STYLE (Category: Book) & BEST INDIE BOOK/MANUSCRIPT
Zone
By Danilo Del Tufo
BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM 2026 & BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR
Not Without Gloves
By Lena Mattsson
BEST DIRECTOR, BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM 2026 & BEST SPIRITUAL SHORT FILM
The Aesthetics of Failure
By Lena Mattsson
BEST POETRY SHORT FILM 2026, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST INTERNATIONAL MOVIEMAKER
The Rorschach Test
By Lena Mattsson
BEST FILMMAKER 2026, BEST SOUND & BEST EXPERIMENTAL EDITING
Staycation
By Russell Emanuel
BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE 2026, BEST INDIE DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY (Category: Narrative Feature), BEST CAST & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING
The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers
By Vivian Tsang
BEST INTERNATIONAL FIRST TIME DIRECTOR 2026, BEST INDIE DOCUMENTARY 2026 & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana
By Ken Kimmelman
BEST DIRECTOR & BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM 2026
Bagliori – Flashes of Light
By Mattia Paone
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE SHORT FILM 2026 & BEST EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER



Ta Kala Pedia (The Good Children)
By Ioannis Koutroubis
BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER 2026 (Category: Feature Script)
Esperándote
By Jesus Schettino
BEST ORIGINAL FIRST TIME DIRECTOR 2026 & BEST CINEMATIC VISION
Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana
By Ken Kimmelman
BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER 2026, BEST INSPIRATIONAL FILM & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY
Nothing to See
By Walid Salhab
BEST ORIGINAL ANIMATION & BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR
Ndazkoh
By Tracey Cochrane
BEST INDIE DOCUMENTARY, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST PRODUCER
Doors Of Miracles
By Patricia Poulos
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026
Revisited – Life is Short
By TerryLee WHETSTONe
BEST INDIE MUSIC VIDEO 2026 & BEST ARTHOUSE SINGER
Absence (v. 2)
By Jean Detheux
BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR 2026
It Happened One Night In Space
By Pamela PerryGoulardt
BEST SHORT SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER
French Broad
By Reid Barwick
BEST ORIGINAL TELEVISION SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INDIE SCREENWRITER (Category: International Pilot/Tv)
I Waited for You
By Jennifer Glee
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST FILMMAKER, BEST EDITING & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA (Category: Experimental)
Artist’s Voices
By Alberto Nacci
BEST INTERNATIONAL ART DOCUMENTARY 2026 & BEST EUROPEAN INDIE FILMMAKER
Voyage in the Desert
By ΕΛΠΙΔΑ ΑΜΙΤΣΗ
BEST ORIGINAL INDIE FILM 2026 & BEST ARTHOUSE MOVIEMAKER
Behind The Algorithm
By Michelle Lynn
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE SCREENPLAY 2026 & BEST AMERICAN SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR
Saltwater Kisses
By Michelle Lynn
BEST ORIGINAL SONG 2026 & BEST INDIE PRODUCER
An Ever After Drama
By Michelle Lynn
BEST NARRATIVE INTERNATIONAL SHORT 2026 , BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, BEST INTERNATIONAL ORIGINAL ACTRESS, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY SHORT & BEST COSTUME DESIGNER
Whispers of Love
By Michelle Lynn
BEST INTERNATIONAL ROMANCE SCRIPT
Fractures In Time
By Lesley Ann Albiston
BEST FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL WRITER OF THE YEAR
Sheldon Mashugana gets stooged
By Dean Morgan
BEST INTERNATIONAL COMEDY 2026, BEST AMERICAN ACTOR & BEST ORIGINAL FILMMAKER (Category: Comedy)
Alzati dal buio
By Don Pasquale Ferone
BEST INTERNATIONAL SONG WRITER, BEST ARTHOUSE SINGER & BEST EUROPEAN MUSIC VIDEO
Alta California
By Lynn Elliott
BEST INTERNATIONAL HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST WRITER
Pirandello’s Wife
By Lynn Elliott
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SCRIPT
Freedoms Under Assault
By Jacob Comforty & Robert Arnove
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE FILMMAKER & BEST CAMERA OPERATOR
Balkan Jazz
By Jacob Comforty
BEST ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY 2026 & BEST EDITING
The Dead Ringer
By Suzanne Lutas
BEST WRITER 2026 (Category: International Feature Script), BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Screenplay) & BEST ORIGINAL WRITING STYLE
Doctor Hyphoteses
By Vicentini Gomez
BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER 2026, BEST ORIGINAL ACTOR & BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE PRODUCER
Precious the baby dragon
By Dr Dawn Menge
BEST INTERNATIONAL BOOK 2026 & BEST WRITER
Legends of the Land of Quails
By Dr Dawn Menge
BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION
Cataclysm Down Under – Hero
By Akal Demir
BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR 2026 & BEST EDITOR
American Money
By Timothy A McGhee
BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER (Category: Arthouse Feature Script) & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA
The Stones of Rome
By Sean Gregory Tansey
BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL ACTOR 2026 & BEST HISTORICAL ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM
The Pathos of Hamlet
By Sean Gregory Tansey
BEST VIDEO POETRY 2026, BEST ORIGINAL ACTING & BEST EXPERIMENTAL MOVIEMAKER
Katabasis
By Samantha Casella
BEST INDIE FILM 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST ACTING
Heat and Love
By Michał Kucharski
BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM 2026, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST ORIGINAL FILMMAKER
Staycation
By Russell Emanuel
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE 2026, BEST PICTURE, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (Category: Narrative Feature), BEST CAST, BEST FILMMAKER (Category Indie Film) & BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK
Out of Control
By Bellopropello
BEST EXPERIMENTAL INDIE DIRECTOR 2026, BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT & BEST EDITING (Category: Animated Short Film)
Omnipotent Resolution
By Uniqueness Heiress & Azia
BEST ORIGINAL DANCE FILM 2026, BEST PRODUCER (Category: Indie Music Video), BEST EDITING (Category: Music Video), BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST CHOREOGRAPHY
Zone
By Danilo Del Tufo
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM 2026 & BEST EUROPEAN ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR
The Duchess
By C. Arnold Curry
BEST ORIGINAL INDIE DRAMA 2026, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS (Category: International Drama)
The Rorschach Test
By Lena Mattsson
BEST EUROPEAN DIRECTOR 2026 & BEST EXPERIMENTAL EDITING
Not Without Gloves
By Lena Mattsson
BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL FILM 2026 & BEST INSPIRATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: EXPERIMENTAL)
America Boxed In
By Ian S. Williams & Casey Williams
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE MOVIEMAKER & PRODUCER (Category: International Documentary Feature)
The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers
By Vivian Tsang
BEST INTERNATIONAL YOUNG FILMMAKER 2026, BEST HUMAN RIGHTS DOCUMENTARY, BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
Nossos Caminhos (Our Paths)
By Carla Di Bonito
BEST DRAMA SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INERNATIONAL INDIE SCREENWRITER
Water
By Gary Beeber
BEST INDIE DIRECTOR (Category: ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY), BEST CAMERA OPERATOR & BEST INDIE PRODUCER

Virulence
By Christopher Pennington
BEST INDIE SCREENPLAY, BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA & BEST ORIGINAL WRITING SYLE
Cataclysm Down Under – Hero
By Akal Demir
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARHOUSE DIRECTOR 2026 & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER
Omnipotent Resolution
By Uniqueness Heiress & Azia
BEST INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL 2026, BEST EDITOR, BEST ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY, BEST DANCE FILM & BEST INDIE MOVIEMAKER
Change The World
By Angelena Bonet
BEST INDIE DOCUMENTARY SHORT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR
Staycation
By Russell Emanuel
BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE 2026, BEST INDIE FILMMAKER (Category: NARRATIVE FEATURE), BEST AMERICAN CAST, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST INDIE CAMERA OPERATOR
It Happened One Night In Space
By Pamela PerryGoulardt
BEST ARTHOUSE SHORT SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITER (Category: Short Script)
Heat and Love
By Michał Kucharski
BEST MUSIC VIDEO 2026, BEST FILMMAKER, BEST EDITING & BEST SOUND DESIGNER (Category: International Music Video
American Money
By Timothy A McGhee
BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST AMERICAN WRITER
The Duchess
By C. Arnold Curry
BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA 2026, BEST CAST & BEST SCREENWRITER (Category: Drama)
The Arcangel Of Death
By Vincenzo Amoruso
BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR 2026 & BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM
America Boxed In
By Ian S. Williams & Casey Williams
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE, BEST CAMERA OPERATOR 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL STORY
Split Focus
By Cherie Carson
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE DANCE FILM 2026, BEST DIRECTOR & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: DANCE FILM)
Zone
By Danilo Del Tufo
BEST EUROPEAN SHORT FILM, BEST INDIE MOVIEMAKER & BEST EDITING
Downriver
By Andrea Boll
BEST CHOREOGRAPHY 2026, BEST INDIE FILMMAKER & BEST EDITING
Doctor Hyphoteses
By Vicentini Gomez
BEST INDIE SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER & BEST ORIGINAL ACTING
The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers
By Vivian Tsang
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE FILMMAKER 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY & BEST SOCIAL FILM
NeverWere: a Lycan Love Story
By Chris Ross Leong
BEST AMERICAN FEATURE SCRIPT
The Aesthetics of Failure
By Lena Mattsson
BEST POETRY FILM 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR
Not Without Gloves
By Lena Mattsson
BEST EXPERIMENTAL INDIE FILM 2026 & BEST EDITING
The Rorschach Test
By Lena Mattsson
BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM & BEST EUROPEAN ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER
And We Were Left Darkling
By Lynn Elliott
BEST ORIGINAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENWRITER
Alta California
By Lynn Elliott
BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST WRITING STYLE
Pirandello’s Wife
By Lynn Elliott
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE DRAMA 2026 & BEST SCRIPT BASED ON A TRUE STORY
Flashes of Light (Bagliori)
By Mattia Paone
BEST EUROPEAN INDIE FILMMAKER 2026 & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: European Narrative Short)

