LAFA Winners - August 2026
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Best Picture
Talking Parrot - Luo Yu
Best Narrative Feature
Maybe It's Love - Akhil Akkina
Best Narrative Short
Talking Parrot - Luo Yu
Best Indie Film
Data Not Drama - David Ramer
Best Drama
The Guardian Angel - Andrei Christian Bortica
Best Thriller
Synthetic - Ismail Albukhari
Best Sci-Fi
Furi - Barty Shepherd, Bailey Tom Bailey, Lucy May Miles
Best Inspirational Film
Maggie Magic Fingers - Jennifer Smith
Best Film Noir
Valley Magenta - Dominic Ryan Gabriel
Best LGBTQ Film
Nahid - Olcayto Uslu
Best Action Film
Furi - Barty Shepherd, Bailey Tom Bailey, Lucy May Miles
Best AI Film
Hold Your Breath - Alexandre Tissier
Best Web Series
Furi - Barty Shepherd, Bailey Tom Bailey, Lucy May Miles
Best Documentary Feature
tsuchi - Elina Miyake, Takaya Onishi
Best Documentary Short
Biopolymer: Behind the Mirror - Jose Francisco Malave
Best Animation
Fido - John Norris Ray, Maria Victoria Sanchez
Best Music Video
Wind Chime - 反返Fann
Best Student Film
Shorts - Qiaoyin Wang
Best Director (Feature)
Maybe It's Love - Akhil Akkina
Best Director (Short)
Data Not Drama - David Ramer
Best First Time Director (Feature)
Maybe It's Love - Akhil Akkina
Best First Time Director (Short)
The Sun Rises - Keely Boutwell
Best Young Filmmaker
Wordless - Aryaman Krishna Aggarwal
Best Actor
Talking Parrot - Song Bo
Best Actress
Data Not Drama - Alexa Poveromo
Best Actor in an Indie Film
Valley Magenta - Dominic Ryan Gabriel
Best Actress in an Indie Film
Synthetic - Aline Salloum
Best Supporting Actor
Love Loaded - Rich Ceraulo Ko
Best Young Actor
Wordless - Aryaman Krishna Aggarwal
Best Young Actress
Shorts - Yushan Han
Best Child Actor
The Guardian Angel - Darian Dimitri Tănase
Best Duo
Maybe It's Love - Akhil Akkina & Mansi Varma
Best Cinematography
Furi - Rick Joaquim, Simon Stolland, Tristan Chenais
Best Score
Maybe It's Love - Joy Solomon
Best Song
Love Loaded - Monica Young
Best Instrumental
Faith and The Christmas Star - Anne Trenning
Best Sound Design
We Are One - Peter Zongting Li
Best Costume Design
Furi - Louise Hoving
Best Trailer
Kurohana - Alexandre Tissier
Best Original Story
Data Not Drama - David Ramer
Screenplay of the Month
The Last Trick - Heath Papkov
Best Feature Screenplay
The Last Trick - Heath Papkov
Honorable Mention: Feature Screenplay
The Doctrine Of Doubt - John Pruzanski
Best Short Screenplay
The Seven - Laurel Hatfield
Honorable Mention: Short Screenplay
Long Way Home - Terry Luke Podnar
Best Drama Screenplay
The Audition - Oscar Javier Montion
Best Comedy Screenplay
The Kitchen - Earl Crittenden
Best Horror Screenplay
Goldy - Gregory Funaro
Best First Time Screenwriter (Feature)
Saiya the Spiritual Guide - Maggie Elyse Shannon
Honorable Mention: First Time Screenwriter (Feature)
3 TWISTERS - R.L. King
Best First Time Screenwriter (Short)
You're Intense - Alina McKinney
Honorable Mention: First Time Screenwriter (Short)
Against The Current - Frank A. Fiorilli
Best Television Script
Santiago - Kerri L Hill
Honorable Mention: Television Script
Maximum Refund - Burak Genc
Special Jury Award
Time - Jose Francisco Malave
* Stay updated with the festival's latest news on Instagram: @lafilmawards
* Winners may order an official LAFA statuette
* Winners may order a review - FilmFreeway Gold members get $50 off
* Selected projects will qualify for the 13th Annual LAFA 2028
