Fantastic Fest is thrilled to announce this year’s award winners, showcasing an exceptional selection of outstanding films worldwide. This year has been filled with surprising and wonderful features and shorts, honoring a select few quite challenging. Nevertheless, our esteemed jurors have achieved the remarkable feat of choosing the festival’s finest entries.
“Today, we celebrate the incredible diversity of talent showcased in this year’s films,” said Annick Mahnert, Director of Programming for Fantastic Fest. “Our jurors faced the formidable challenge of selecting winners from a remarkable array of stories, each representing different cultures and perspectives. Their task was not easy, but it truly reflects what Fantastic Fest is all about embracing the richness of global cinema and the shared human experiences that unite us all.
MAIN COMPETITION” FEATURES
Best Picture: BRING THEM DOWN, directed by Christopher Andrews
Best Director: James Ashcroft – THE RULE OF JENNY PEN
Best Actor: Geoffrey Rush – THE RULE OF JENNY PEN
NEXT WAVE” FEATURES
Best Picture: SISTER MIDNIGHT, directed by Karan Kandhari
Best Director: Emma Benestan – ANIMALE
Honorable Mention: TOUCHED BY ETERNITY, directed by Mārcis Lācis
HORROR FEATURES
Best Picture: CHAINSAWS WERE SINGING, directed by Sander Maran
Best Director: John Hsu – DEAD TALENT SOCIETY
Honorable Mention: The Ensemble Cast of TRIZOMBIE, directed by Bob Colaers
SHORTS WITH LEGS
Best Picture: She Stays, directed by Marinthia Gutiérrez
Honorable Mention: Duck, directed by Rachel Maclean
SHORT FUSE
Best Picture: Be Right Back, directed by Lucas Paulino & Gabe Ibañez
Honorable Mention: The Night Practice, directed by Bogdan Alecsandru
FANTASTIC SHORTS
Best Picture: The Meaningless Daydreams of Augie & Celeste, directed by Pernell Marsden
Honorable Mention: Atom & Void, directed by Gonçalo Almeida
DRAWN AND QUARTERED
Best Picture: Mira, directed by Eva Louise Hall
Honorable Mention: The Night Boots, directed by Pierre-Luc Granjon
AUDIENCE AWARD
DEAD TALENTS SOCIETY, directed by John Hsu
Staff Writer & Media Critic for Big Gold Belt Media: NYC Actress | Twitch Streamer | Artist