
NEON on Contemporary Cinema 2026, Special Event in Toronto



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