2020 Award Winners
Directors’ Choice Awards
Best Cinematography: Short Documentary
• Chris Naum, Lessons From Jeju
Best Cinematography: Short Narrative
• Zeta Spyraki, My Other Suit is Human
Best Cinematography: Feature Documentary
• Ton van Zantvoort, Sheep Hero
Best Cinematography: Feature Narrative
• Chris Hirschhäuser, Toprak
Best Performance: Short Film – Youth
• Sasha Watson-Lobo, Mousie
Best Performance: Short Film – Adult
• Bethany Blake, My Other Suit is Human
Best Performance: Feature Film – Youth
• Mert Dincer, Zoro’s Solo
Best Performance: Feature Film – Adult
• Numan Cakir, Toprak
Emerging New England Filmmaker
• Megan Lubetkin, Divergent Warmth
Emerging Documentary Filmmaker
• Karla Murthy, The Place That Makes Us (aka “Youngstown U.S.A.”)
Emerging Narrative Filmmaker
• Sevgi Hirschhäuser, Toprak
Ensemble Cast
• Thank You 5
Fortitude in Filmmaking
• Christopher Smith, Current Sea
Jury Awards
Documentary Short
Winner: Lessons From Jeju, by Nicole Gormley
Runner Up: Nightsongs, by Elizabeth Myer & Matthew Boulton
Dramatic Short
Winner: Feeling Through, by Doug Roland
Runner Up: My Hero, by Logan Jackson
Second Runner Up: Savage, by Denis Dobrovoda
Comedy Short
Winner: I Can Change, by Jim Jenkins
Runner Up: Rigor Mortis, by Charles Kinnane
Animated Short
Winner: Grab My Hand: A Letter To My Dad, by Camrus Johnson & Pedro Piccinini
Runner Up: Beyond Noh, by Patrick Smith
Documentary Feature
Winner: Medicating Normal, by Lynn Cunningham & Wendy Ractliffe
Runner Up: Fish & Men, by Darby Duffin & Adam Jones
Second Runner Up: Raise Your Voice, by Maribeth Romslo
Dramatic Feature
Winner: Toprak, by Sevgi Hirschhäuser
Runner Up: Nowhere, by David Salazar & Francisco Salazar
Comedy Feature
Winner: Dramarama, by Jonathan Wysocki
Runner Up: Thank You 5, by Michael Barnard & Reid Estreicher
Screenwriting Competition
Comedy Short
Josie’s Date With Death, by Lisa Marie Tedesco
Dramatic Short
Hello I Must Be Going, by Sarah Hallowell
Comedy Feature
Girls On The Run, by Lukas Hassel
Dramatic Feature
This Is Not Revenge, by David Pierotti
Audience Awards
Documentary Short
Winner: As We Are, by Michael R. Faulkner
Runner Up: Name Crew: Tiny Toones, by Arestia Rosenberg
Second Runner Up: Without A Whisper – Konnón:kwe, by Katsitsionni Fox
Dramatic Short
Winner: Under The Lights, by Miles Levin
Runner Up: Transfer, by Sage Mears & Aaron Pagniano
Second Runner Up: The Woman Under The Tree, by Karishma Kohli
Comedy Short
Winner: Boys & Toys, by Kevin P. Alexander
Runner Up: Blocks, by Bridget Moloney
Second Runner Up: Island Queen, by Zackary Grady & Jenn Harris
Animated Short
Winner: Grab My Hand: A Letter To My Dad, by Camrus Johnson & Pedro Piccinini
Runner Up: Beyond Noh, by Patrick Smith
Second Runner Up: Bag, by Robin Frohardt
Narrative Feature
Winner: Give or Take, by Paul Riccio
Runner Up: Zoro’s Solo, by Martin Busker
Second Runner Up: Nowhere, by David Salazar & Francisco Salazar
Documentary Feature
Winner: Public Trust, by David Garrett Byars
Runner Up: Microplastic Madness, by Atsuo Quirk & Debby Lee Cohen
Second Runner Up: Mayor, by David Osit
Best of the Fest
Medicating Normal, Documentary Feature by Lynn Cunningham & Wendy Ractliffe