LAFA Winners - April 2025

Best Picture

NOD - Tristan Baumgardner

Best Narrative Film

As We Flow to the Sea - Nelson Chi

Honorable Mention: Narrative Film

Mumbai X - Rahul Dhiman

Best Indie Feature

From the South, The Revenge - Fabio Flecha

Honorable Mention: Indie Feature

I Hear America Singing - Daron Hagen

Best Indie Short

Suicide Platoon: The Minefield - Tony Jopia

Honorable Mention: Indie Short

Candlesticks - Darryl Ellison London

Best Drama

Rise of the Underdog - Mack Lindon

Best Comedy

Fetch - Tim Schauer

Best AI Film

The Butterfly Dream - Suhyeon Scholastica Jin, Aria Suhyun Kim

Best Thriller

The Shadow - Hongbo Sun

Best Horror

Bawla (Batty) - Vishesh Mankal

Best Sci-Fi

Mumbai X - Rahul Dhiman

Best Inspirational Film

Rise of the Underdog - Mack Lindon

Best Musical/Dance Film

I Hear America Singing - Daron Hagen

Best Fantasy Film

NOD - Tristan Baumgardner

Best Action Film

Seek - Shane Kosugi, Kansuke Asano

Best Web/TV Pilot

Gavin's Adventures - Fiona Lincke

Best Web/TV Series

Gavin's Adventures - Fiona Lincke

Best Documentary Feature

May Contain: My Life - Jennifer Greenstreet

Best Documentary Short

Ask the Girls in Cairo - JP Micallef

Honorable Mention: Documentary

One for the Road - Michael Malone

Best Animation

Is Anybody Out There - Susan Mey Lee Lim, Samudra Kajal Saikia, Christina Teenz Tan

Best Music Video

If It's Hot, It'll Sell - Sarah Brine, Rachel Fox, Mike Maimone and Mutts

Honorable Mention: Music Video

Candy Apples - Justin Priluck

Best Student Film

Hiraeth: Outbound - Zhilin Xu

Honorable Mention: Student Film

Whisper of Wheat - Mengyue Qi

Best Microfilm

Desira x Trap x Dream - Kua Kee Seng

Best Director (Feature)

Rise of the Underdog - Mack Lindon

Best Director (Short)

NOD - Tristan Baumgardner

Honorable Mention: Director

As We Flow to the Sea - Nelson Chi

Best First Time Director (Feature)

Among The 8 - Erick Yahir Lozano

Best First Time Director (Short)

Motel Room Six - Aron Cagan

Honorable Mention: First Time Director

The Recipient - Michael Marentette

Best Young Filmmaker

Paper Boat - Yeobin Park

Honorable Mention: Young Filmmaker

The Color of Regret - Yiguo Song

Best Actor

Rise of the Underdog - Mack Lindon

Best Actress

NOD - CheyAnne Harris

Best Actor in an Indie Film

Among The 8 - Elijah Amodt

Best Actress in an Indie Film

Among The 8 - Erin Palmer

Best Young Actress

As We Flow to the Sea - Kaylie Ng

Best Score

Marmots on Toast - Patrick Kendell-Smith

Honorable Mention: Score

A Biltmore Christmas - Tommy Fields

Best Original Story

Rise of the Underdog - Mack Lindon

Honorable Mention: Original Story

Higher Plane Sacred Vow - Eddie Clay Thompkins III

Screenplay of the Month

Gang Agley - Jeremy Hogan, Aaron Krygier

Best Feature Screenplay

All Up in Your Bizness: Managing Your Business Crap - Julianna M Newland

Honorable Mention: Feature Screenplay

Wading River - Robert Lev Priel-Gelb

Best Drama Screenplay

Gang Agley - Jeremy Hogan, Aaron Krygier

Best Comedy Screenplay

All Up in Your Bizness: Managing Your Business Crap - Julianna M Newland

Best Thriller Screenplay

The Case Officer - Ronald McQueen

Best Sci-Fi Screenplay

The Perfect Game - Peter T Simon

Best First Time Screenwriter (Feature)

All Up in Your Bizness: Managing Your Business Crap - Julianna M Newland

Best Television Script

Southern Bites - Nigel Tyrone Simms

Honorable Mention: Television Script

Headcase - Chris K. Jones

Rise of the Underdog - Trailer

* Winners may order an official LAFA statuette

* Winners may order a review - FilmFreeway Gold members get $50 off