The Road to Galena was awarded the Grand Prix and Best Director prize for Joe Hall at the 2022 Prague Independent Film Festival (PIFF) in the stunning historical cinema Lucerna in the capital of Czechia. Other top prizes went to Troubled Mindsvby Raitis and Lauris Abele for Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay prizes.

Drama film The Road to Galena directed by Joe Hall and starring Ben Winchell, is about a young man working in law who ends up missing the rural life he was accustomed to. The film was praised for it’s heartfelt story and received the Grand Prix and Best Director awards.

Troubled Minds by the Ābele brothers, on the other hand tells the story of two artist brothers who face a spiritual crisis. The film full of vivid imagery initially premiered at the Tallinn Black Nights Festival. The complicated and stirring film was a highlight of the Prague Independent Film Festival and got the Best Feature Film and Best Screenplay prizes.

The Ghost Writer by Paul Wilkins is about a man who struggles to come out of the shadows of his famous writer father. The protagonist ends up plagiarizing his father’s book, but has to also live with the consequences. Luke Mably was awarded Best Actor and the film was honored for Best Art Direction.

Full list of the winners of 2022 Prague Independent Film Festival below:

Grand Prix
The Road to Galena – Joe Hall

Best Director
The Road to Galena – Joe Hall

Best Feature Film
Troubled Minds – Raitis Ābele, Lauris Ābele

Best Short Film
The Turn of the Screw – Chris Fretwell

Best Actor
Luke Mably (The Ghost Writer)

Best Cinematography
Sally Leapt Out Of A Window Last Night – Tracy Spottiswoode

Best Art Direction
The Ghost Writer – Paul Wilkins

Best Screenplay
Raitis Ābele, Lauris Ābele – Troubled Minds

Best Documentary
Mike Mignola: Drawing Monsters – Kevin Konrad Hanna, Jim Demonakos

Best Musical Film
Caue Barcelos, Patrick Flanagan – A Minute To Midnight: A Musical

Best Experimental Film
CANAL – Will Rahilly

Best Animated Film
Kuwonererwa – Ronald Kabicek

Best Music Video
Got to move – Oltscho

Best Unproduced Script
Mad Bad Dangerous to Know – Leonora Pitts, Emily Robinson

Honorary Mention — Student Film –
Righteous – Ethan Grossman