ATLFF Award Winners

Special Awards

The Rebel Award — Michael Showalter, Director of “The Idea of You”
Ossie Davis Award for Innovation in Filmmaking — Bill Duke, Director of “DEEP COVER”

Jury Awards

Best Documentary Feature — AMAKKI, dir. Célia Bousebaa
Jury Special Mention — HAPPY CAMPERS, dir. Amy Nicholson

Best Narrative Feature — THE BATTLE, dir. Vera Egito
Jury Special Mention —  ATIKAMEKW SUNS, dir. Chloe Leriche

Best Animated Short — THE SUN IS BAD, dir. Rachel Mow

Best Documentary Short — GOODBYE MORGANZA, dir. Devon Blackwell 

Best Narrative Short — SHUT UP AND FISH, dir. Raul Sanchez & Pasqual Gutierrez
Jury Special Mentions — ONE HAPPY CUSTOMER, dir. WATTS (Jenna & Tripp Watt), MR. BOLD, dir. Aiman Mimiko

Best Cinematography (Presented by Panavision and Light Iron) — ATIKAMEKW SUNS, Cinematographer - Glauco Bermudez, dir. Chloe Leriche
Jury Special Mention: THE BATTLE, Cinematographer - William Etchebehere, dir. Vera Egito

Georgia Feature Film Award — FACELESS AFTER DARK, dir. Raymond Wood

Georgia Short Film Award — MAKAYLA’S VOICE, dir. Julio Palacio
Jury Special Mentions — DEFINITELY NOT A MONSTER, dir. Brea Cola Angelo, PRELUDE OF A STORY, dir. Ashley Salman

Audience Award Winners

Feature Audience Award — THE SOUTH GOT SOMETHING TO SAY, dir. Tyson Horne, Ryon Horne

Short Audience Award: — MAKAYLA’S VOICE, dir. Julio Palacio

Screenplay Winners

Feature Screenplay: 

• “Belonging” by Liz Fields

• “HEARTRACE” by Will Bermender,

• “Lo & Em” by Claire Audrey Aguayo

Pilot Screenplay: — “Gallatin” by Ryan Skinner

Short Screenplay: “Handle With Care” by Allison Orr Block

Jury Award Winners:

Audience Award (Feature) – LITTLE BROTHERS directed by Sheridan O'Donnell
Audience Award (Short) – SOUND TO SEA directed by Ryan Craver 

Best Documentary Feature – DUSTY & STONES directed by Jesse Rudoy
Jury Special Mention – JESSZILLA directed by Emily Sheskin

Best Narrative Feature – HELLO DANKNESS directed by Soda Jerk
Jury Special Mention – THE ANGRY BLACK GIRL AND HER MONSTER directed by Bomani J. Story

Best Animated Short – REST IN PIECE directed by Antoine Antabi
Jury Special Mention – ROSEMARY, A.D. (AFTER DAD) directed by Ethan Barrett

Best Documentary Short – BREAKING SILENCE directed by Amy Bench & Annie Silverstein

Best Narrative Short – SCOTTY’S VAG directed by Chaconne Martin-Berkowicz 
Jury Special Mention – NO OTHER GODS BUT ME directed by Alex Spott

Best Cinematography (Presented by Panavision and Light Iron) – THIS WORLD IS NOT MY OWN directed by Petter Ringbom
Jury Special Mention – RED EARTH directed by Georg Koszulinski & Kate E. Hinshaw

Georgia Feature Film Award – FENOM directed by Kayla Johnson
Jury Special Mention – THE ONLY DOCTOR directed by Matthew Hashiguchi

Georgia Short Film Award – YOUNG KINGS directed by Jonathan Banks
Jury Special Mention – CONTENT: THE LO-FI MAN directed by Brian Lonano & Blake Myers

Audience Award Winners:

Audience Award (Feature) – LITTLE BROTHERS directed by Sheridan O'Donnell
Audience Award (Short) – SOUND TO SEA directed by Ryan Craver 

Special Career Award Winners:

Phoenix Award – Vincent D’Onofrio, director of NIGHT OF THE COOTERS
Innovator Award – Rainn Wilson, actor/writer/host
Originator Award – George R.R. Martin, writer/author
Ossie David Award for Innovation in Filmmaking – Keke Palmer, actor/producer/musician/director
IMAGE Film Award – President Jimmy Carter (accepted by Francis Ford Coppola)
IMAGE Film Award – Bronze Lens Film Festival
IMAGE Film Award – Trioscope Studios
IMAGE Film Award – Governor Nathan Deal

Screenplay Winners:

Feature Screenplay Awards:

• CHANCE BY UNFATHOMABLE FATE directed by Dmani Williams

• FREAKNIK directed by Jon Vaude

• THE SHIMMERS directed by Brendan Vogel & Ruth Sabin

Pilot Screenplay Award – THE SPACE SUITS directed by Landon Ashworth
Short Screenplay Award – I SEE YOU directed by Faith Dismuke

Jury Awards

Best Documentary Feature – “After Sherman”, directed by Jon-Sesrie Goff
Best Narrative Feature –“Hékate”, directed by Nadia Benedicto
Georgia Feature Award –“Refuge”, directed by Din Blankenship and Erin Levin Bernhardt
Best Animated Short –“Night of the Living Dread”, directed by Ida Melum
Best Documentary Short –“Chilly & Milly”, directed by William D. Caballero
Best Narrative Short –“Moshari”, directed by Nuhash Humayun
Narrative Short Special Jury Mention for Acting –“The Bond,” performance by Ashley Wilkerson film directed by Jahmil Eady
REEL SOUTH Short Award – “Winn”, directed by Joseph East and Erica Tanamachi
Georgia Short Award – “Glitter Ain’t Gold”, directed by Christian Nolan Jones
Georgia Short, Special Jury Mention – “Winn,” directed by Joseph East & Erica Tanamachi
Best Cinematography – “Do Not Hesitate,” cinematography by Nadim Carlsen, film directed by Shariff Korver
Cinematography, Special Jury Mention – “Master of Light” cinematography by Jurgen Lisse , film directed by Rosa Ruth Boesten

Special Career Award Winners:

Phoenix Award – George Anthony Morton, Painter and subject of documentary, “Master of Light”
Southern Documentary Fund Filmmaker Award – Feature: “A Homecoming I’ll Remember”, directed by Jasmine René McCaskill
Filmmaker to Watch Award – Esteban Bailey, "El Extrano en la Casa Rivera"

Audience Award Winners:

Virtual Exclusive Audience Award (Feature) – “Daughter of a Lost Bird” directed by Brooke Pepion Swaney
Virtual Exclusive Audience Award (Short) – “The Bond” directed by Jahmil Eady
Audience Award (Feature) – “Refuge” directed by Din Blankenship & Erin Levin Bernhardt
Audience Award (Short) – “Glitter Ain’t Gold” directed by Christian Nolan Jones

Screenplay Winners:

Feature Screenplay Awards:

• “Gordito”, by Miguel Castillo

• “Ruby Safeway” by Amanda Biggs

• “St. Louis Superman” by Jon Alston and Ron McCants

Pilot Screenplay Award: “Spesh” by Jeff Locker
Short Screenplay Award: “Black Butterflies” by Tamara S. Hall

Special Jury Mentions:

• ”You Resemble Me” directed by Dina Amer

• ”Outta The Muck” directed by Bhawin Suchak & Ira Mckinley

• ”F1-100” directed by: Emory Chao Johnson

• ”My Grandmother is an Egg” directed by: Wu-Ching Chang

Jury Awards

Best Documentary Feature - “Carterland” directed by Jim Pattiz & Will Pattiz

Special Jury Award for Artistic Spirit and Ingenuity - Documentary Feature - “Socks On Fire,” directed by Bo McGuire

Best Narrative Feature - “Culpa,” directed by Ulrike Grote
Special Jury Award for Rising Director and Lead Actor - Narrative Feature - “Ludi,” directed by Edson Jean, starring Shein Mompremier

Best Animated Short - “Un Diable Dans La Poche,” directed by Antoine Bonnet & Mathilde Loubes 

Best Documentary Short - “Seahorse,” directed by Nele Dehnenkamp

• Honorable Mention - Documentary Short - “Scarlet Medusa,” directed by Spencer MacDonald

Best Narrative Short - “The Dress,” directed by Tadeusz Lysiak

• Honorable Mention - Narrative Short - “Anita,” directed by Sushma Khadepaun

• Honorable Mention - Narrative Short - “Born Again,” directed by Candice Onyeama

• Honorable Mention - Narrative Short - “Georgia,” directed by Jayil Pak

Best Cinematography (Sponsored by Panavision and Light Iron) - “Off The Road,” cinematography by Ernesto Trujillo

• Honorable Mention - Cinematography - “Socks On Fire,” cinematography by Matt Clegg  

Georgia Film Award - “bustitOpen,” directed by Danielle Deadwyler

Filmmaker-to-Watch Award - Justice Jamal Jones ("How to Raise a Black Boy”)

Southern Documentary Fund Filmmaker Award (Presented by the SDF):

• “Socks On Fire,” directed by Bo McGuire

• “Ten Leaves Dilated,” directed by Kate E. Hinshaw, co-directed by Ebony Blanding

 Audience Award Winners:

• “Socks On Fire,” directed by Bo McGuire

• “A Fire Within,” directed by Christopher Chambers

• “Just the Two of Us,” directed by Grasie Mercedes, co-directed by Nathan Caywood

• “Georgia,” directed by Jayil Pak

Jury Awards

Best Narrative Feature – THE KILLING OF TWO LOVERS, (dir. Robert Machoian)
Special Jury Award - Narrative Feature – NAFI’S FATHER (BAAMUM NAFI), (dir. Mamadou Dia)
Best Documentary Feature – OVERSEAS, (dir. Sung-A Yoon)
Best Narrative Short – ARABIAN ALIEN, (dir. Meshal Aljaser)
Best Documentary Short – WATER CHILD (MIZUKO), (dir. Kira Dane, Katelyn Rebelo)
Honorable Mention - Documentary Short – COBY AND STEPHEN ARE IN LOVE, (dir. Carlo Nasisse, Luka Yuanyuan Yang)
Best Animated Short – KAPAEMAHU, (dir. Hinaleimoana Wong-Kalu, Dean Hamer, Joe Wilson)
Honorable Mention - Animated Short – THE KITE (POUSTET DRAKA), (dir. by Martin Smatana)
Honorable Mention - Animated Short – SH_T HAPPENS, (dir. Michaela Mihalyi, David Stumpf)
Best Cinematography – Sam Ellison (LOOKING FOR LIFE) (CHÈCHE LAVI)
Honorable Mention - Cinematography –Juan Carlos Gómez  (MALPASO)
Georgia Film Award – BEAST BEAST, (dir. Danny Madden)
Filmmaker-to-Watch Award – Rachel Harrison Gordon (BROKEN BIRD)

Audience Award Winners:

• BEAST BEAST, dir. Danny Madden

• CURTIS, dir. Chris Bailey

• DADDIO, dir. Casey Wilson

• BEST SELLER, dir. Nora Kirkpatrick

Best Narrative Feature – GREENER GRASS (dir. Jocelyn DeBoer, Dawn Luebbe)
Narrative Feature Special Jury Prize – AFTERLIFE (HIERNAMAALS) (dir. Willem Bosch)

Best Documentary Feature – THE FOURTH KINGDOM (EL CUARTO REINO) (dir. Adán Aliaga, Alex Lora)
Documentary Feature Special Jury Award – JONATHAN AGASSI SAVED MY LIFE (dir. Tomer Heymann)

Best Narrative Short - SIRENE (dir. Zara Dwinger)
Narrative Short Jury Honorable Mention – FEATHERS (dir. A.V. Rockwell)

Best Documentary Short – KAMALI (dir. Sasha Rainbow)
Documentary Short Jury Honorable Mention – LISTEN (LUISTER) (dir. Astrid Bussink)

Best Animated Short – HENRIETTA BULKOWSKI (Rachel Johnson)
Animated Short Jury Honorable Mention – CARLOTTA’S FACE (dir. Valentin Riedl, Frédéric Schuld)

Best Cinematography (presented by Panavision & Light Iron) – Lowell A. Meyer (GREENER GRASS)
Cinematography Jury Honorable Mention – Ezequiel Salinas (JULIA AND THE FOX (JULIA Y EL ZORRO)

Feature Film Audience Award – THE FAREWELL (dir. Lulu Wang)

Short Film Audience Award – EVELYN X EVELYN (dir. Eric Pumphrey)

Georgia Film Award – RECKONING (dir. Ruckus Skye & Lane Skye)

Originator Award – Joe Berlinger

Filmmaker-to-Watch Award – Kalu Oji (BLACKWOOD)

Programmers Award – CRYSTAL SWAN (Хрусталь) (dir. Darya Zhuk) 

Best Narrative Feature — RESTOS DE VIENTO (WIND TRACES) (dir. Jimena Montemayor)
Special Jury Prize, Narrative Feature — DISAPPEARANCE (dir. Ali Asgari)

Best Documentary Feature — MAN MADE (dir. T Cooper)
Special Jury Prize, Documentary Feature — NOS LLAMAN GUERRERAS (THEY CALL US WARRIORS) (dir. Jennifer Socorro, Edwin Corona Ramos, & David Alonso)

Best Narrative Short — FOR NONNA ANNA (dir. Luis De Filippis)

Best Documentary Short — ZION (dir. Floyd Russ)

Best Animated Short — 基石 (FUNDAMENTAL) (dir. Shihchieh Chiu)

Audience Award - Feature — MAYNARD (dir. Sam Pollard)

Audience Award - Short — COLOR BLIND (dir. Daniel Oramas)

Filmmaker-to-Watch Award — Connor Simpson for KUDZU

Georgia Film Award — STILL (dir. Takashi Doscher)

Rebel Award — Jason Reitman

Phoenix Award — Kiersey Clemons

Innovator Award — Daveed Diggs

WonderFilm Award presented by WonderRoot — WALLS OF HOPE (dir. Elisabeth Pritchett)

Narrative Feature Jury Award – CORTEZ (dir. Cheryl Nichols)
Narrative Feature Special Jury Award – LA SOLEDAD (dir. Jorge Thielen Armand) 

Documentary Feature Jury Award – RAT FILM (dir. Theo Anthony)
Documentary Feature Special Jury Award – RAISING BERTIE (dir. Margaret Byrne)

Narrative Short Jury Award – IN THE HILLS (dir. Hamid Reza Ahmadi)
Narrative Short Jury Honorable Mention - SUBMARINE (dir. Mounia Akl)
Narrative Short Jury Honorable Mention - IL SILENZIO (THE SILENCE) (dir. Ali Asgari, Farnoosh Samadi)

Documentary Short Jury Award – VICTOR & ISOLINA (dir. William D. Caballero)
Documentary Short Jury Honorable Mention - DISTRIBUTION (dir. Sam Ellison)

Animated Short Jury Award – ONCE A HERO (dir. Xia Li)
Animated Short Jury Honorable Mention - THE WRONG END OF THE STICK (dir. Terri Matthews)
Animated Short Jury Honorable Mention - "THE TALK" TRUE STORIES ABOUT THE BIRDS & THE BEES (dir. Alain Delannoy)

Music Video Jury Award - "Soy Yo" performed by Bomba Estéreo (dir. Torben Kjelstrup)
Music Video Jury Honorable Mention – “Oh Elise” performed by VIECH (dir. Arne V. Nostitz-Rieneck)

New Mavericks Award – THE NINE (dir. Katy Grannan)

Georgia Film Award – BORN RIVER BYE (dir. Tim Hall)

Filmmaker-to-Watch Award – Malcolm Washington for BENNY GOT SHOT

Audience Award, Feature Film - HOLDEN ON (dir. Tamlin Hall)

Audience Award, Short Film - BIRTHDAY CAKE (dir. Brantly Jackson Watts)

Jury Awards

• Best Narrative Feature - God Bless The Child

• Best Documentary Feature - Stray Dog

• Best Pink Peach Feature - Before the Last Curtain Falls (Bevor der letzte Vorhang fällt)

• Best New Mavericks Feature - In The Turn

• Special Jury Prize - Next Year (L'année Prochaine)

• Best Narrative Short - Turtle (Wu Gui)

• Best Documentary Short - The Murder Ballad of James Jones

• Best Animated Short - Starlight

• Best Pink Peach Short - Charlotte

• Best New Mavericks Short - Jennah

• Best Music Video - 80's Rok performed by Willie Hyn

Audience Awards

• Audience Award Feature - Help Us Find Sunil Tripathi

• Audience Award Short - SLUT

• Spirit Award - Dante's Down the Hatch

• Homegrown Award - Good Grief Suicide Hotline