Justin Chan’s Grounded and Hoag Kepner’s Torched Win Top Dances With Films NY Awards

Dances With Films wrapped its 2nd New York edition with the award ceremony with Justin Chan’s Grounded winning the Audience Choice Award for Best Narrative Feature and Hoag Kepner’s Torched – The Story of Austin Torch winning for Best Documentary Feature. Vardan Tozija’s M received DWF’s coveted and rarely awarded Programmers’ Choice Award.

Additional Audience Choice Award winners were Malachi Rivers’ Moments (Best Television and Web Series Pilot), John Hays’ We Love You Ray (Best Narrative Short Film), Carin van der Donk, Isabella Vega, and Sarah Teale’s Living Loud (Best Documentary Short Film).

Industry Choice Awards went to Emilio Di Stefano’s Denim Hunter in the “Over 40 Minutes” category, and Nazrin Choudhury’s Red, White And Blue in the “Under 40 Minutes” category.

In the pre-awards presentations remarks during the ceremony, Dances With Films’ Founders Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent spoke about DWF’s ever expanding community of filmmakers and how important it is to them that filmmakers support each other throughout the journey of their artistry. Scallon and Trent emphasized Dances With Films’ dedication to adding to that support, as well as being a film festival and organization that has a singular focus on celebrating and promoting truly independently produced films and projects. This mission is what propels the film festival as it approaches 30 years as a mainstay and leader in the film festival circuit.

Dances With Films will next return for its 27th outing in Los Angeles and the Historic Chinese Theatre on June 20-30.

The 2023 Dances With Films NYC Filmmaker Award Winners: