LAFA Winners - January 2026

Best Picture

Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare - Scott Chambers

Best Narrative Feature

Written in the Sand - Robert Vaughn, Rickie Castaneda, Megan Hocking

Best Narrative Short

Catch and Release - Tinker Lindsay, Cameron Keys

Best Indie Feature

Spades - Johnny Yong Bosch

Best Indie Short

Tagnuul - Paolo Pagliacolo

Best AI Film

VoidBorn - Frank Bruno Houbre

Best Romance Film

Written in the Sand - Robert Vaughn, Rickie Castaneda, Megan Hocking

Best Inspirational Film

Cross Examination - John Kestner

Best Musical/Dance Film

The Life of Christ in Song - Golden Eagle Films/Golden Eagle AI

Best Web/TV Pilot

End of the 8 - Daniel M. Dyer

Honorable Mention: Web/TV Pilot

GREEN - Austin Tackman

Best Documentary Feature

Richie's Hollywood Pitch - Danny Wolf

Best Documentary Short

Broken Wings - Every 10 Minutes - Yanet Pajaro, Manuel Hernandez

Honorable Mention: Documentary

Feibo Amidst Flowers - Fei Bo

Best Animation

The Shape of Us - Stephane Benini

Best Music Video

Plus Jamais (Never Again) - Valérie de Montmollin, Hugo König

Honorable Mention: Music Video

Shiny Things - Polartropica and Gilbert Louie Ray - Tristan Pelletier

Best Student Film

Someday - Charlie Alexander

Best First Time Director

A Small Park - Taehyun Park

Best Young Filmmaker

Beneath the Surface: An Underwater Hockey Story - Peter Shen

Best Actor

Written in the Sand - JT Hodges

Best Actress

Written in the Sand - Courtney Grace

Best Actress in an Indie Film

Tagnuul - Mendsaikhan Otgonbadrakh

Best Cinematography

Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare - Vince Knight

Best Editing

Eternal Mother - Wenqi Zheng

Best Score

Poems of Forgotten Love - Yuxuan Liu

Best Song

Written in the Sand - “Lighthouse” - Dave Kuncio, JT Hodges

Best Sound Design

Heirlooms - Yuxin Lu

Inspiring Woman in a Film

Inherited Shame - Jolán Pintér

Best Instrumental

The Life of Christ in Song - Nicole Picazo and Rita Tulha

Best Trailer

Written in the Sand - Robert Vaughn, Rickie Castaneda, Megan Hocking

Screenplay of the Month

Gog Unfolding - Randall Norman DeSoto

Best Feature Screenplay

Gog Unfolding - Randall Norman DeSoto

Honorable Mention: Feature Screenplay

The Return - Randall Norman DeSoto

Best Short Screenplay

Bud Burkett Was All Set To Die - Jeff Reese

Honorable Mention: Short Screenplay

Circus Freak - Samantha Murdock Hussey

Best Drama Screenplay

World 387 - Andre Kemp

Best Comedy Screenplay

Grey Matter(s) - Leslie Whirly Robinson, Hilary Momberger-Powers

Best Horror Screenplay

The Kept - Will Nunziata

Best Thriller Screenplay

The Owners - Nick Nelsen

Best Sci-Fi Screenplay

Chronicles of Destiny - Andre Kemp

Best Fantasy Screenplay

Adam - John G. Hipskind

Best First Time Screenwriter (Feature)

Adam - John G. Hipskind

Honorable Mention: First Time Screenwriter (Feature)

The Meditation Room - Isaac David Jeffrey

Best First Time Screenwriter (Short)

The Revenge Club - Marla Naomi Eaton

Best Television Script

Burnout - Izzie Mantese

Honorable Mention: Television Script

Salazar - Malik Myers

Special Jury Award - Film

Peter Pan's Neverland Nightmare - Scott Chambers

Special Jury Award - Screenplay

Rebel - James Lee, Robyn Lee

Written in the Sand - Trailer:

* Winners may order an official LAFA statuette

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