
EXCELLENCE AWARD – ALASKA Film & Series Festival



Staycation
By Russell Emanuel
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE 2026, BEST AMERICAN DIRECTOR, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY (Category: NARRATIVE FEATURE), BEST ORIGINAL COSTUME DESIGNER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST EDITING (Category: Film)
Men Walking Their Toy Trucks
By Faye Fayerman
BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL FILM 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER
It Happened One Night In Space
By Pamela PerryGoulardt
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT SCRIPT & BEST INDIE WRITER 2026 (Category: Short Script)
Zone
By Danilo Del Tufo
BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE FILMMAKER 2026 & BEST ARTHOUSE INSPIRATIONAL FILM
Cataclysm Down Under – Hero
By Akal Demir
BEST ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR 2026, BEST ORIGINAL EDITING & BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT
An Ever After Drama
By Michelle Lynn
BEST INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT 2026, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST EDITING, BEST CASTING DIRECTOR & BEST SCREENPLAY (Category: International Film)
Behind The Algorithm
By Michelle Lynn
BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE SCREENWRITER
Saltwater Kisses
By Michelle Lynn
BEST INTERNATIONAL SONG 2026
The Silver Slipper Club
By Michelle Lynn
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENPLAY
Alzati dal buio
By Don Pasquale Ferone
BEST INTERNATIONAL SINGER 2026, BEST SPIRITUAL SONG & BEST GUITARIST
Night terror 2 the awakening
By David Duke
BEST SUPER SHORT FILM 2026
Connor and Sonia
By Carla Di Bonito
BEST INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENWRITER (Category: International Drama Script)
Am I a painter?/Czy jestem malarzem?
By Michał Kucharski
BEST ORIGINAL ANIMATION & BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR 2026 (Category: Animated Short Film)
Ritratto temporale IV- Teresa
By Ilaria Pezone
BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT DOCUMENTRAY 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL INDIE FILMMAKER
Omnipotent Resolution
By Uniqueness Heiress & Azia
BEST INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL 2026, BEST INDIE DIRECTOR, BEST DANCE FILM, BEST ORIGINAL CHOREOGRAPHY & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: INDIE MUSIC VIDEO)
The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers
By Vivian Tsang
BEST ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY 2026, BEST EDITING & BEST INTERNATIONAL YOUNG DIRECTOR
The Duchess
By C. Arnold Curry
BEST INTERNATIONAL DRAMA 2026, BEST ORIGINAL IDEA, BEST ACTOR, BEST ACTRESS (Category: International Drama)
American Money
By Timothy A McGhee
BEST SCREENPLAY OF THE YEAR & BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITING STYLE
Eyesolation
By Damiano Rossi
BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER 2026 & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATIC VISION
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
The Mongrel
By Lynn Elliott
BEST ORIGINAL TELEVISION SCRIPT 2026
A Tragedy of Riches
By Tony Cointreau
BEST INTERNATIONAL BOOK 2026
Planetary Rebellion
By Fabrizio Fuochi
BEST EUROPEAN FILMMAKER 2026 (Category: Music Video), BEST SOUND & BEST PRODUCER (Category: International Music Video)




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)