Next Generation Indie Film Awards 2023: Winners Announced

Next Generation Indie Film Awards has announced its winners for the 3rd annual Awards Gala, which took place at Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles on October 29, 2023. The ceremony was hosted by actor and Co-Founder Calum Worthy. 

See the list of the winners below.

At this year’s ceremony Jane Campion was presented with the 2nd annual Luminary Award, which recognizes a transformative figure in the industry whose work and journey serve as a guiding light to the filmmaking community. The inaugural Luminary Award was presented to Rian Johnson at the 2022 edition of the Gala. 

LOLLYGAG, directed by Tij D’oyen, won the Best Overall Film category and received the Grand Prize valued at over $135,000. Set in the leisured suburb of East Hampton, the short plays out a woman’s sensual yet macabre childhood memory that occurred the summer of her parents divorce in a bleak, sun-drenched study of isolation, ennui, obsession and loss.

“We had an impressive lineup of nominees this year and cannot emphasize enough how proud we are of each and every one of the filmmakers recognized at this year’s gala,” said Co-Founder and Director, Therese ‘Tag’ Goulet. “It is a privilege to recognize emerging filmmakers and their creative spirit and bring light to their hard work.“

“It takes a powerful vision and immense dedication to put an independent film out into the world, especially one that resonates with global audiences,” said Co-Founder, CEO, and Executive Director, Andrew Jenkins. “Each of this year’s winners has made incredible strides to tell their story, and we are honored to provide an opportunity for their work to be seen and celebrated.”

Here is the full list of the 2023 winners of Next Generation Indie Film Awards

Best Narrative Feature

Beyro (dir. Morteza Ali Abasmirzaei)

Best Documentary Feature

Anxious Nation (dir. Vanessa Roth, Laura Morton)

Best Direction in a Feature

MANUELA (dir. Clara Cullen)

Best Produced Screenplay in a Feature

Moonlight Warrior (Hong Ying)

Best Cinematography in a Feature

Mutt (Matthew Pothier)

Best Actor in a Feature

Little Brother (Philip Ettinger)

Best Actress in a Feature

MANUELA (Bárbara Lombardo)

Best Supporting Actor in a Feature

Little Brother (JK Simmons)

Best Supporting Actress in a Feature

MANUELA (Alma Farago)

Best Narrative Short

Lollygag (Tij D’oyen, Produced by Cameron Morton)

Best Documentary Short

POWERS (Paige Morrow Kimball)

Best Short by a First-Time Filmmaker

Tahlequah the Whale: A Dance of Grief (Written and Directed by Daniel Kreizberg)

Best Short by a Student Filmmaker

Winter Bloom (Ivan Krupenikov)

Best Short by a 50+ Filmmaker

The Sweet Taste of Freedom (Matthew Penn)

Best Short by an LGBTQ+ Filmmaker

Chavo (Alecio Araci)

Best Short by a BIPOC Filmmaker

Please In Spanish (Patricia Seely)

Best Drama Short

The Sweet Taste of Freedom (Matthew Penn)

Best Comedy Short

Suzy Makes Cupcakes (Jayson Therrien, Produced by Morgan Ermter, Griffin Cork, & Scott Westby)

Best Horror Short

Drawn (Ty Clancey)

Best Science Fiction Short

DejaVu (Alex Rios)

Best Animated Short

THE SPRAYER (Farnoosh Abedi)

Best Experimental Short

POLARIS (Directed by Scott Tanaka, Seth Woodard, Adam Adorono, Produced by Sharon Woodard, Dark Sky Percussion)

Best Foreign Language Short

The Ballerina (Adam Hartwiński)

Best Music Video

Sunflowers – A Strange Feeling of Existential Angst (Carolina Bonzinho, Leander Meresaar)

Best Web Series (One Episode)

What Remains of Emily (Director Mya-Breyana Morton, Produced by Tashina Southard)

Best Direction in a Short

THE VAN (Bernard Badion)

Best Produced Screenplay in a Short

Junior’s Giant (Debra McGrath)

Best Cinematography in a Short

The Ballerina (Jakub Stolecki)

Best Editing in a Short

Suzy Makes Cupcakes (Morgan Ermter)

Best Sound Design in a Short

Virgins for Satan (Ethan Pham & Theo Holt)

Best Original Score in a Short

The Last Cloudweaver (Ros Gilman)

Best Production Design in a Short

Suzy Makes Cupcakes (John MaClean & Colton Porelle)

Best Actor in a Short Film

THE VAN (Eugene Cordero)

Best Actress in a Short Film

The Ballerina (Elzbieta Jarosik)

Best Supporting Actor in a Short Film

THE VAN (Raul Aranas)

Best Supporting Actress in a Short Film

Death by King Cake (Alaina Nunnally)

Best Ensemble Cast in a Short Film

Pressure Play (Emidio Lopes, Andrew Bee, Rachel Peters, Cameron Stewart, Quinn Bennett, Jolly Amoako, Bryan Piitz, Emily Kindred)

ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION INDIE FILM AWARDS

Next Generation Indie Film Awards is a non-profit organization started by award-winning film producers and Catherine Goulet, the founder of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards—the largest international awards program for independent authors and publishers. Next Generation Indie Film Awards supports filmmakers through its annual awards and other programs. They endeavor to assist filmmakers at any stage of the filmmaking process in reaching an audience and aim to advance filmmakers’ careers through services, education, and resources. The organization has provided financial backing for more than 50 independent short film projects. For more information, please visit indiefilmawards.co.