On Saturday, October 18, the Woodstock Film Festival announced our annual jury award winners in each category for this year's films in competition, along with the recipients of the Fiercely Independent Award.

*Maverick Awards. 2025 Woodstock Film Festival. Photo by John Mazlish*

The following competitive awards were presented during the evening:

GIGANTIC PICTURES AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE NARRATIVE

THE PLAGUE, directed by Charlie Polinger

Honorable Mention: MAGIC HOUR, directed by Katie Aselton

Jurors

Sam Bisbee (Daughters, Earth Mama)
Nadia Conners (The 11th Hour, The Uninvited)
Noah Pritzker (Ex-Husbands, Quitters)

Jury Statement
From start to finish, Charlie Polinger’s The Plague is bracing, daring, and deeply moving. It brims with breakout performances from its young cast, who more than hold their own opposite Joel Edgerton. Polinger’s assured direction captures the intensity and cruelty of youth without ever losing sight of his characters’ humanity.

Like a modern-day Lord of the Flies, the film grips us with its spare, uncompromising visuals, every image precise, unsettling, and alive with feeling. We were blown away by this debut feature and have no doubt it marks the arrival of a major new filmmaker. We can’t wait to see what Charlie Polinger does next.

Nominees:
Dust to Malibu | Directed by Stephen Ward
Outdoor School | Directed by Ime Etuk
Out Standing | Directed by Mélanie Charbonneau
Park Avenue | Directed by Gaby Dellal

THE LEON GAST AWARD FOR BEST FEATURE DOCUMENTARY

CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS, directed by Sarah Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni

Honorable Mentions: COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT, directed by Ryan White
CO-EXISTENCE MY ASS, directed by Amber Fares

Jurors

Ross Kaufman (Born into Brothels, Tigerland)
Beth Levison (The Martha Mitchell Effect, Storm Lake)
Ondi Timoner (Dig!, We Live in Public)

Jury Statement
One of the jurors described this film as ‘astonishing.’ We three couldn’t help but agree. Told with remarkable access, stunning cinematography, and an unflinching eye, this film takes us into one small Iranian village and its councilwoman who refuses the old ways, and insists on equality AND opportunity for its women. If only we could all be as gutsy and purposeful as this film’s main character, Sara.

LAURENT REJTO MADE IN THE HUDSON VALLEY AWARD

A BREAK IN THE RAIN directed by Don Scardino

For a filmmaker whose film was produced in the Hudson Valley, honoring the legacy of Laurent Rejto. Presented by Oscar winning actress Melissa Leo.

GRAY SCHWARTZ ULTRA INDIE AWARD

*Maverick Awards Backstage. 2025 Woodstock Film Festival. Photo by Laura Revercomb*

FLOATING CAROUSEL directed by Delilah Napier and Lucy Powers

Honorable Mentions:

Impact in Fiction Filmmaking: MILDLIFE
Unique and Creative Filmmaking: THE LURE OF PONIES
Acting - Kerry Bishé for - SYLVANIA

Jurors

Kim Jennings (The Post, Bridge of Spies)
Jon Reiss (Better Living Through Circuitry, Cleopatra’s Second Husband)
Gary Springer (Dog Day Afternoon, A Small Circle of Friends)

Jury Statement
For a film that grabbed us all cinematically with an original voice, a compelling narrative that interweaves multiple storylines with energy and humor along with excellent ensemble performances. We also appreciated the cinematic skills of the filmmakers, especially in the editing in how it seamlessly pulled together these multiple stories. The winner of the Woodstock Film Festival Ultra Indie Competition is Floating Carousel.

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY

LAST DAYS ON LAKE TRINITY directed by Charlotte Cooley

Honorable Mention: HER FIGHT, HIS NAME: THE STORY OF GWEN CARR AND ERIC GARNER directed by Brad Bailey

Jurors

Wendy Ettinger (The War Room; Chicken & Egg Pictures co-founder)
Ina Fichman (Fire of Love, The Oslo Diaries)
Yoruba Richen (The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, The Green Book: Guide to Freedom)

Jury Statement
The film takes us to a small Florida lakeside community disappearing, trailer by trailer. What might have been a story of loss becomes something deeper, a meditation on belonging, dignity, and the fragile beauty of home. The camera lingers with reverence, the editing is lyrical, and every frame breathes empathy. This stands out for its tenderness and restraint, reminding us that activism can be quiet. For its humanity, visual poetry, and quiet power, we are proud to honor Last Days on Lake Trinity

BEST SHORT NARRATIVE

HOW TO SHOOT A GHOST directed by Charlie Kaufman

Honorable Mention: ZARI directed by Shruti Parekh

Jurors:

Karen Allen (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Scrooged)
Thor Freudenthal (Hotel for Dogs, Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
Randy Manion (A Quiet Place Part II, A Quiet Place: Day One)

Jury Statement:
A stunning visual poem, it follows two ghostly souls drifting through modern-day Athens, reflecting on the lives they once lived. Weaving Greece’s past and present into a haunting meditation on memory and longing, the film feels deeply personal yet invites each of us to step inside its impressionistic tapestry and find ourselves within it.

BEST ANIMATION

TWO BLACK BOYS IN PARADISE directed by Baz Sells

Jurors:

Lizzi Akana (Kesha, Your Love Is My Drug music video, Sharon Jones Retreat! music video)
Jessica Milazzo (The Principles of Pleasure)
Joy Buran and Noelle Melody (Human Kind Of)

Jury Statement:
It is with great pride that we have chosen Two Black Boys In Paradise by Baz Sells, co-written by Dean Atta and Ben Jackson, as our official selection for Best Animated Short. Interweaving moments of idyllic intimacy with harrowing experiences of social injustice, the film powerfully illuminates the stigmas queer Black men continue to confront today. The sharp contrast between these two worlds is devastating: what begins as the tender caress of a lover’s hand transforms into the violating touch of a policeman’s unwarranted frisk. Yet within this heartbreaking reality, the film also offers a vision of hope, a paradise where love exists free of judgment or scrutiny, and where intimacy can flourish without fear. With its emotional honesty, nuanced storytelling, and unforgettable imagery, Two Black Boys In Paradise is both a searing critique and a moving celebration of love, making it a profoundly deserving choice for this honor.

WORLD OF HA CHANGEMAKER AWARD

FREE LEONARD PELTIER directed by Jesse Short Bull and David France

The winner of this award receives a $5,000 cash prize.

HASKELL WEXLER AWARD FOR BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

SEEDS cinematography by Brittany Shyne

Juror:

Ellen Kuras (The Betrayal - Nerakhoon, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind)

Jury Statement:
An elegiac, poetic portrait of Black African American farmers in the South which was filmed patiently over 9 years. In this film, the director, also the cinematographer, Brittany Shyne, finds exquisite beauty in the mundane. The luscious monochrome palette is rich with subtle shades of grays and black tones counterpointed by stark clean whites and offers the viewer, us, a pictorial and photographic window into a world sumptuous with texture and meaning. This evocative imagery feels at once present and contemporary while echoing the past, evoking the photographs in Robert Frank’s ‘The Americans’ or the WPA photographs of the 1930’s. Many of these images have stayed in my memory and I feel they may linger in yours. The late Haskell Wexler was a ground-breaking cinematographer who believed in Art and Beauty. He also believed in the Truth. This film brings all together: Art, Beauty and The Truth. On behalf of Haskell and his wife Rita, Congratulations to Brittany Shyne!

NYWIFT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIRECTING A NARRATIVE FILM

*Maverick Awards. 2025 Woodstock Film Festival. Photo by Laura Revercomb*

THE FLOATERS directed by Rachel Israel

Presented by NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez and Board Member Kim Jackson, an award of $1,000 is given to each Excellence in Narrative Filmmaking recipient, plus a certificate and a NYWIFT 6 month membership.

Jury Statement:
The Floaters was funny and charming and smartly executed, but, among its most impressive messages was how critical it is not to just accept what we’re told, no matter how long we’ve been told it; how critical it is to take a fresh look, from a different perspective, at the ideas we were raised on; and how very much we miss out on when we don’t.

NYWIFT AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIRECTING A DOCUMENTARY FILM

CUTTING THROUGH ROCKS directed by Sarah Khaki and Mohammadreza Eyni

Presented by NYWIFT CEO Cynthia Lopez and Board Member Kim Jackson, an award of $1,000 is given to each Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking recipient, plus a certificate and a NYWIFT 6 month membership.

Jury Statement:
Cutting Through Rocks is a visually striking and deeply moving portrait of a woman’s unyielding fight for equality and social change. Sara Shahverdi, our heroine, shows us what optimism and bravery looks like in the face of the long standing patriarchal system of society.

BEST EDITING, NARRATIVE AWARD

THE PLAGUE edited by Henry Heyes and Simon Njoo

Jurors:

Sabine Hoffman, ACE (Passing; The Glorias)
Sabine Krayenbühl (My Architect, Mad Hot Ballroom)
Jeremy Stulberg, ACE (Woman with Gloria Steinem, VICE)

Jury Statement:
After consideration and deliberation, the jury has decided to award the editing prize to a film whose striking subjectivity plunges us into the treacherous psychological landscape of adolescence. The editing maintains a sense of unease throughout, taking us quite literally under the skin of the strong cast of young actors. The Fiction Editing Award goes to Henry Heyes and Simon Njoo for The Plague.

BEST EDITING, DOCUMENTARY AWARD

COEXISTENCE, MY ASS edited by Rabab Haj-Yahya

Honorable Mention: SEEDS edited by Malika Souhali-Worrall

Jurors:

Julia Bloch (Blue Ruin; Green Room)
Madeleine Gavin (Beyond Utopia, I Think We’re Alone Now)
Sabine Hoffman, ACE (Personal Velocity, The Ballad of Jack and Rose)

Jury Statement:
This film’s editing stands out for its ability to modulate tone without losing narrative clarity, letting laughter and loss resonate side by side. For its editorial finesse in navigating the fault lines of a seemingly intractable world conflict where humor disarms and tragedy confronts, the film successfully walks a tonal tightrope, and the jury award goes to Rabab Haj-Yahya and Coexistence, My Ass. With poetic restraint and quiet intensity this film’s unfolding drama was expertly crafted. Using elegant flowing strokes, like a painter, the editor created a space where the story’s emotional power was able to truly resonate.

BEST STUDENT SHORT

DAWN’S WORLD directed by Natalie Horberg

Special Mention: ST. JOE’S HOES directed by Khushali Haji and Hazare Renn-Glover.

Honorable Mention: HOW I LEARNED TO DIE directed by Manya Glassman.

Jurors:

Alex Smith (Walking Out, Winter in the Blood)
Annie Sundberg (The Devil Came on Horseback, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work)
Michael Taylor (Elvis & Nixon, The Farewell)

Jury Statement:
Our jury was impressed by a poetic, beautifully realized exploration of the power of imagination. A character lets her mind drift to an alternate place filled with vibrant colors and friends of all shapes and sizes, a world more alive than her sterile day to day routine. We noted the playful director’s use of homemade dolls, animation, matte effects, original score and sound design to create an original vision. The 2025 Maverick Award for Best Short Student Film goes to Natalie Horberg for Dawn’s World. Congratulations!

AUDIENCE AWARDS

FEATURE NARRATIVE WINNER

RENTAL FAMILY directed by HIKARI

FEATURE DOCUMENTARY WINNER

STEAL THIS STORY, PLEASE! directed by Carl Deal and Tia Lessin

HONORARY AWARDS

FIERCELY INDEPENDENT AWARD

Ira Sachs
Presented by filmmaker Larry Fessenden

The Fiercely Independent Award is presented to a filmmaker whose singular vision has advanced the field of independent filmmaking while serving as a role model for others. This year’s honoree is NYC-based indie icon Ira Sachs, acclaimed for Passages, Little Men, Love is Strange, and the Sundance Grand Jury Prize–winning Forty Shades of Blue. A Guggenheim Fellow and founder of Queer|Art, Sachs has work in the permanent collections of MoMA and the Whitney Museum of American Art. His film Peter Hujar’s Day also screened at this year’s festival.

ART OF ACTIVISM AWARD

Tia Lessin and Carl Deal
Presented by filmmakers Pamela Yates and Paco de Onis

Acclaimed filmmakers Tia Lessin and Carl Deal, directors of Steal This Story, Please! which first premiered at the 2025 Telluride Film Festival, will receive this year’s Art of Activism Award, recognizing activism through art, combining filmmaking with social justice activism. Their Oscar-nominated Trouble the Water won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize and a Gotham Award, while Citizen Koch was shortlisted for an Oscar. Lessin also co-directed the Emmy-winning The Janes, and together the pair produced Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine, Fahrenheit 9/11, Where to Invade Next, and Fahrenheit 11/9.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AWARD

Laura Poitras
Presented by documentary filmmaker Jehane Noujaim

Presented to a filmmaker whose work demonstrates courage, creativity, and an unflinching commitment to truth, the Freedom of Expression Award honors storytelling that challenges power, amplifies silenced voices, and defends free speech in the face of censorship. Laura Poitras, an Oscar and Pulitzer Prize–winning filmmaker and journalist, received the Golden Lion for All the Beauty and the Bloodshed, won an Oscar for CITIZENFOUR, which also earned BAFTA, DGA, and Emmy Awards, and was recognized with the Pulitzer for her journalism exposing NSA global mass surveillance. Her film Cover-Up will also screen at this year’s festival.

For more photos from the awards click here

Award Winners from the 26th Annual Woodstock Film Festival

AUDIENCE AWARDS

HONORARY AWARDS

WFF Mailing List

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Award Winners from the 26th Annual Woodstock Film Festival

AUDIENCE AWARDS

HONORARY AWARDS

Films from WFF 2025 to Catch This Month

9 Unmissable Documentaries Lighting Up the 2025 Woodstock Film Festival

WFF Mailing List

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