2026 NOMINEES

Best Music Video (3)

Mélisande directed by Victoria Hutton 

 I am not afraid directed by Ilana Alazzeh

The Audition directed by Samara Von Rad 

Best Student Short (3)

Telaraña directed by Nicola Ríos

Mulata directed by Yarilis Ramos López

The Hitman’s Laundromat directed by Kelly Kimbis 

Best WNY Student Short (3)

FIREBALL directed by TK James 

Planet Heart directed by Samantha Zotara

Moral of the Story directed by Heaven Gebremedhin 

Best WNY Short (4)

Manic directed by Amelia Favata

Inward directed by Jo O'Donnell

The Paradox Payout directed by Erika Frase

COSMOS directed by Gabrielle Nunzio & Marissa Graves 

Best Feature (4)

Nastell directed by Cydney Jade Ramos

YAPs directed by Miriam Gordon-Stewart

TURN UP THE NIGHT directed by Melodie Roehrig

JAMEELA directed by Zainab Malik & Mina Isabella JafriMalik 

Best Comedy Short (4)

Cardboard directed by Julie Hoang

STRIPPER MOMS directed by Tricia Horvath

Wooly Bully directed by Kristen Buckels Cantrell 

Nunca lleves mahones a una primera cita (Never Wear Jeans on a First Date) directed by Ady Ocasio 

Best Experimental Short (4)

Ant Girl directed by Amanda Besl

Kissing the Lipless directed by Amanda Besl

My Long Covid Story directed by Sabrina Peña Young

Trapos sucios (Dirty Clothes) directed by María Barragán

Best WNY Horror (4)

The Showffeür directed by Taylor Martin

House Haunting directed by Allison Courtney 

Close Your Eyes directed by Hope Muehlbauer

Babysitting the Demons on Maple Street directed by Amanda R. Woomer

Best Horror Short (5)

Telaraña directed by Nicola Ríos 

SHIFT directed by Bridgette Cannell

Eviction. directed by Ashes Homon-Rahall

The Chexorcist directed by Erica Stockwell-Alpert 

Burning in the Garden directed by Catalina Cielo 

Best Animated Student Short (5)

Los changos directed by Gala Rodríguez Belén

Untamed directed by Gleryxbelle Feliciano Ramos 

Se fue la luz (The Power’s Out) directed by Laurie Cruz Arocho

Specter Nectar and the Death Machine directed by Emily Sugar

The Girl, The Hare, and The Sun directed by Rosemary Runk & Ali Guzman

Best Dramatic Short (6)

Reminisce directed by Leslie Morris 

exception(al) directed by Michelle Bossy

Bait & Switch directed by Sarah Falkiner

Friends We Hate directed by Kimberly Te 

Repercussion(s) directed by Kelsey Nerrie

The Piano Tuner directed by Nicole Claudine Giroux