TransMexico directed by Claudia Sanchez, a documentary built around the incredible lives of three transwomen in Mexico, won the Audience Choice Award at the 39th Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF).
Other top awards went to Andragogy directed by Wregas Bhanuteja for Best International Feature Film, Edge of Everything directed by Sophia Sabella and Pablo Feldman won Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema; and Diving Into the Darkness directed by Nays Baghai won Best Documentary Award.
SBIFF is an Academy Awards qualifying festival, the winners of the short film awards are eligible to compete for the Oscars. This years winners are Best Documentary Short Film Award for A Man’s Man directed by Myles Desenberg; Best Live-Action Short Film went to Area Boy directed by Iggy London; and Best Animated Short Film: On the 8th Day (Au 8ème Jour) directed by Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin and Théo Duhautois.
“We are so grateful to our dedicated group of jurors for their fine selections,” said SBIFF’s Programming Director Claudia Puig. “The winning films tell stories that span the globe, from the magic of movie palaces in the Atacama Desert to the stunning mystery of ice caves in Antarctica to the social hazards of cancel culture in Indonesia. All are riveting tales told with verve and originality. We at SBIFF are thrilled to congratulate this year’s jury award winners.
Audience Choice Award sponsored by The Santa Barbara Independent: TRANSMEXICO directed by Claudia Sanchez
Panavision Spirit Award for Independent Cinema: EDGE OF EVERYTHING directed by Sophia Sabella and Pablo Feldman
Jeffrey C. Barbakow Award – Best International Feature Film: ANDRAGOGY directed by Wregas Bhanuteja
Best Documentary Award: DIVING INTO THE DARKNESS directed by Nays Baghai
Nueva Vision Award for Spain/Latin America Cinema: THE BLUE STAR (La estrella azul) directed by Javier Macipe
Best Nordic Film Award: BEFORE IT ENDS (Når befrielsen kommer) directed by Anders Walter
Social Justice Award for Documentary Film: THE LAST DAUGHTER directed by Brenda Matthews and Nathaniel Schmidt
The ASC Award for Cinematography sponsored by The American Society of Cinematographers: THE MOVIE TELLER directed by Lone Scherfig
ADL Stand Up Award, sponsored by ADL Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties: THE LAST DAUGHTER directed by Brenda Matthews and Nathaniel Schmidt
Best Documentary Short Film Award: A MAN’S MAN directed by Myles Desenberg *Now eligible for the 2025 Academy Awards
Bruce Corwin Award – Best Live-Action Short Film: AREA BOY directed by Iggy London *Now eligible for the 2025 Academy Awards
Bruce Corwin Award – Best Animated Short Film: ON THE 8TH DAY (Au 8ème Jour) directed by Agathe Sénéchal, Alicia Massez, Elise Debruyne, Flavie Carin and Théo Duhautois *Now eligible for the 2025 Academy Awards