The producers of Q Cinema, Fort Worth’s Gay & Lesbian International Film Festival announced the winners of their annual Q Awards, including the $500 Shawn A. Moore Award for Texas filmmakers and the $500 Dallas Voice Audience Choice Award.

The four-day festival – held June 3-6 at the historic Rose Marine Theater – featured more than 25 films, including World, Southwest and Texas premieres, along with appearances by several filmmakers, including Violet Tendencies writer/star Jesse Archer and the cast and crew of Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives.

All of the awards were chosen based on program committee panel reviews or audience ratings. And the winners are . . .

Best Overall Film: Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives, directed by Israel Luna

This year’s Best Overall Film has sparked animated discussion across all aspects of the LGBT community. Showbiz luminaries such as Robert DeNiro, John Waters and RuPaul along with The New York Times, The Advocate, Variety and The Village Voice have championed the film despite protests and angry condemnation from members of the transsexual community, GLAAD and gay-friendly religious leaders. But despite the debate, the film has also brought invaluable attention to the very real problem of violence against transgender persons and helped open a dialogue on the subject not only within the LGBT community, but in the country as a whole.

Best Gay Film: Children of God, directed by Kareem Mortimer

This multi-faceted drama about how the ultra-conservative, religious climate of the Bahamian islands affects the intersecting lives of three protagonists was visually sumptuous, expertly acted and nicely written.

Best Lesbian Film: The Four-Faced Liar, directed by Jacob Chase

This urban dramedy about a straight girl flirting with bisexuality in the Big Apple hit all the right notes.

Best Documentary: Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride, directed by Bob Christie

A globe-trotting exploration of the international pride movement was a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come and just how far we have to go.

Best Dramatic Short (Men’s): Communication, directed by Christopher Banks

A poignant, moving New Zealand entry about a young Jewish boy’s struggles to come to grips with an unexpected gift from a deceased older friend.

Best Comedic Short (Men’s): Go Go Reject, directed by Michael J. Saul

The world of exotic male dancing somehow eludes an attractive yogurt shop employee with box boy dreams, but that doesn’t stop him from going for the go go gusto.

Best Comedic Short (Women’s): Dyke Dollar, directed by Laura Terruso

This year’s winner combined a quick sense of humor with a serious message about the role gay money plays in the U.S. economy. And really, what teenage boy wouldn’t want to hang out with a giant anthropomorphic lesbian dollar bill?

iQ Online Viral Video Award: Betty White Lines, directed by Fredrick Ford

Our second online iQ Film Festival served up more treasures from cyberspace, but a hilarious musical tribute to our last living Golden Girl took the top honor.

Shawn A. Moore Award: Amateur, directed by Daniel Trevino

For the past several years, Q Cinema has cemented its reputation as a proponent of Texas films and filmmakers by giving out a cash prize to further the efforts of Lone Star storytellers. Named after Q Cinema’s co-founder, Shawn A. Moore, the award insures that aspiring filmmakers have the much-needed funds to further pursue their goal of telling our stories and the stories of others. This year’s winner was a promising short film from a talented director that touched on the complicated gender identity issues facing today’s youth.

Dallas Voice Audience Choice Award: Ticked-Off Trannies With Knives, directed by Israel Luna

While accepting the accolades of a judging panel has it benefits, for many filmmakers the notion of being honored by one’s peers and earning the love and appreciation of an audience holds even greater weight.

Last year’s award winners included Fruit Fly (BEST OVERALL FILM), Watercolors (BEST GAY FILM), Drool (BEST LESBIAN FILM), Fallen Angel (BEST DOCUMENTARY), Private Life (BEST DRAMATIC SHORT FILM [WOMEN’S]), James (BEST DRAMATIC SHORT FILM [MEN’S]), Don’t Mess With Texas (BEST COMEDIC SHORT FILM [WOMEN’S]) Martini the Movie (BEST COMEDIC SHORT FILM [MEN’S]), The Big Fat Gay Collaboration (VIRAL VIDEO); Flight to Sinai (SHAWN A. MOORE PRIZE) and Watercolors (AUDIENCE CHOICE).