The 28th Dances With Films: LA wrapped with its Filmmaker Award ceremony, with the Grand Jury Prize winners led by Nate Hilgartner’s No Choice for Best Narrative Feature and David Anthoiny Ngo’s Never Get Busted! won Best Documentary Feature.
The top Audience Choice prizes went to Andrew Jack Zuckerman’s Good Sport for Best Narrative Feature, and Davide Fiore’s A Little Fellow: The Legacy Of A.P. Giannini won Best Documentary Feature.
DWF’s Industry Choice Awards went to Jacy Mair’s Trash Baby in the “Over 40 Minutes” category, and Greg Rubner’s What the Heck is Going On. in the “Under 40 Minutes” category.
Also at the ceremony, the festival’s founders Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent introduced current DWF Senior Producer and Head of Narrative Short Film Programing Lindsey Smith-Sands as the first Festival Director in its nearly 30-year history.
Dances With Films’ Founders Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent, said, “Lindsey began as a volunteer with us seven years ago, but her passion for independent cinema, shaped by her own experience as an actress in indie films, quickly set her apart. As DWF has grown into a major force on the festival circuit, she has embraced every challenge with heart, vision, and unwavering dedication.”
Smith-Sands said, “Dances with Films creates an incredibly meaningful space for talent that otherwise goes uncelebrated. After seven years of growing with the festival, I’m honored that Michael Trent and Leslee Scallon see me as a guardian of the festival’s legacy and a steward of its future. With their guidance, I look forward to collaborating with everyone on our fantastic team to continue elevating independent film in LA, NY and beyond.”
Dances With Films will next return for its 4th New York City edition in December 2025.
The 2025 Dances With Films NYC Filmmaker Award Winners:
GRAND JURY PRIZES
GRAND JURY – NARRATIVE FEATURES
NO CHOICE
Director/Writer: Nate Hilgartner
Producers: Shannon Semler, Nate Hilgartner, Steve Hilgartner, Kathleen O’Neil
HONORABLE MENTION:
SOMETHING CASUAL
Director/Writer: Brandon Buczek
Producers: Brandon Buczek, Anie Delgado, Gabrielle LeBlanc, Ben Rejzer
GRAND JURY – DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
NEVER GET BUSTED!
Director/Writer: David Anthony Ngo
Producers: Erin Williams-Weir, Daniel Joyce, David Anthony Ngo
HONORABLE MENTION:
YOU’RE NO INDIAN
Director/Writer: Ryan Flynn
Producer: Michael Sammaciccia, Santana Rabang
GRAND JURY PRIZE – NARRATIVE SHORTS
NWA (BLACK)
Director/Writer: Hans Augustave
Producers: Hans Augustave, Bruno Vernaschi, Raashauna Payne, Matthew Romanski
HONORABLE MENTION:
MOTI
Director/Writer: Yash Saraf
Producers: Karan Shah, Yash Saraf
INDUSTRY CHOICE AWARDS
INDUSTRY CHOICE AWARDS (UNDER 40′)
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON.
Director/Writer: Greg Rubner
Producer: James Panetta
INDUSTRY CHOICE AWARDS (OVER 40′)
TRASH BABY
Director/Writer: Jacy Mairs
Producers: Jacy Mairs, Karlee Boon and Cameron Holly Dexter
AUDIENCE AWARDS
COMPETITION (NARRATIVE) FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD
GOOD SPORT
Director: Andrew Jack Zuckerman
Writers: Andrew Jack Zuckerman and Dillon Orth
Producers: Dillon Orth, John Cronin and Andrew Jack Zuckerman
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD
A LITTLE FELLOW: THE LEGACY OF A.P. GIANNINI
Director: Davide Fiore
Writers: Joseph Mancini and Davide Fiore
Producers: Davide Fiore, Anna Laclergue, Sacha Smith, Joseph Mancini
MIDNIGHT AUDIENCE AWARD
KOMBUCHA
Director: Jake Myers
Writer: Geoff Bakken
Producer: John Condne
FUSION FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD
CIAO, MAMA
Director/Writer: Luca Perito
Producers: Johnny Wactor, Luca Perito, Micah Joe Parker, Viral Keshwala, Colin Flynn
DOWNBEAT AUDIENCE AWARD
LOSER
Director/Writer: Andie Arbo
Producers: Tina Carbone, Will Westwater
DANCES WITH KIDZ PRO AUDIENCE AWARD
UNRAVELED
Director/Writer: Yale Fried
Producers: Liv Boren, Chris Dooly, Isaak Popkin, Yale
PILOTS AUDIENCE AWARD
DEPARTMENT OF ONE
Director: John Redlinger
Writer: Arcadia Conrad
Producers: Charles Haid, Michael Laskin, Chris Spencer
COMPETITION (NARRATIVE) SHORTS AUDIENCE AWARD
MIRIAM
Director: Josie Andrews
Writer: Levi Alexander
Producers: Brenda Goodman, Levi Alexander and Josie Andrews
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS AUDIENCE AWARD
MORE THAN SANTA BABY
Director/Writer/Producer: Tamar Springer
FUSION SHORT AUDIENCE AWARD
MILDRED 4 A MILLION
Director/Writer: Kimmie P Callaway
Producers: Kimmie P Callaway, Jason Serrato, Kate Adair, Matt Wood