The Spanish drama Maspalomas and the documentary State of Firsts have won the Grand Jury Awards at the 2026 Sonoma International Film Festival.
Directed by Jose Mari Goenaga, Aitor Arregi, Maspalomas won the Grand Jury Award for Best Narrative Feature.
Maspalomas is a bold, deeply moving drama about a proudly out gay man forced back into the closet after a stroke. Frank in its depiction of gay sex and intimacy, it’s a powerful story of identity reclaimed.
In a statement, the jury said, “For an authentic and rare depiction of an elder man confronting personal and physical crisis at the onset of the COVID pandemic, we award the Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature to Aitor Arregi and Jose Mari Goenaga for the nuanced and moving queer drama Maspalomas.”
State of Firsts, directed by Chase Joynt, won the Grand Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature.
With extraordinary access, this stirring documentary follows Sarah McBride, the first transgender person elected to Congress, through her historic first year—facing fierce backlash and personal attacks while fighting to govern with courage, resilience, and purpose.
In a statement, the jury said, “This year, the jury wants to recognize a film that represents what authentic truth looks like among the squalor of our politics. The award-winning film is a nuanced portrait of leadership and responsibility that also provides a clear and honest account of the challenges and apparent harms that come from seeking to change the world. The language of change is complex, and sometimes it’s as simple as using the right name. The jury is honored to platform a story that showcases the wholeness of a person in an industry and society so quick to tokenize.”
The Stolman Audience Award for Best Film went to The Christophers, directed by Steven Soderbergh, and Jane Elliott Against the World, directed by Judd Ehrlich, received the A3 Audience Award for Best Documentary.
Over five days from March 25–29, the 2026 Sonoma International Film Festival (SIFF) presented 104 films from 37 countries. The festival opened with the California Premiere of Poetic License, directed by Maude Apatow, and closed with the film Under the Lights.
“This year’s record-breaking attendance and ticket sales underscore the extraordinary appetite for bold, international cinema and immersive cultural experiences here in Sonoma,” said SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence. “With packed screenings, dynamic filmmaker engagement, and a festival atmosphere unlike any other, SIFF 2026 has truly been a landmark community celebration of film, food, wine, and fun.”
Grand Jury Film Awards
Grand Jury Award | Best Narrative Feature:
Maspalomas (Jose Mari Goenaga, Aitor Arregi | Spain)
Special Jury Prize for Directing
Silent Rebellion (Marie-Elsa Sgualdo | Switzerland )
Grand Jury Award | Best Documentary Feature:
State of Firsts (Chase Joynt | USA)
Grand Jury Award | Short Films
Grand Jury Award: Live Action Short
A Very Normal Seeming Man (Director Al Pattanashetty | USA)
Grand Jury Award: Documentary Short
Voices from the Abyss (Director Irving Serrano and Victor Rejon | Mexico)
Grand Jury Award: Animated Short
Two Black Boys in Paradise (Director Baz Sells | UK)
Special Mention for Cultural, Environmental and Community Impact: Abalone Stories: Loss, Connection, Renewal (USA, Dir. Cynthia Abbott)
Special Jury Mention for Directing
Domingo Familiar (Directed by Gerardo del Razo | Mexico)
Audience Film Awards
The Stolman Audience Award for Best Film
The Christophers (United Kingdom) Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
1st Runner-up: You Found Me (France) Directed by: Alice Vial
2nd Runner-up: Primavera (Italy) Directed by: Damiano Michieletto
3rd Runner-up: Colors Of Time (France) Directed by: Cedric Klapisch
4th Runner-up: I Swear (United Kingdom) Directed by: Kirk Jones
The A3 Audience Award for Best Documentary
Jane Elliott Against the World (USA) Directed by: Judd Ehrlich
1st Runner-up: The Six Billion Dollar Man (USA) Directed by: Eugene Jarecki
2nd Runner-up: The Art of Adventure (Canada) Directed by: Alison Reid
3rd Runner-up: The Balloonists (USA) Directed by: John Dower
4th Runner-up: Raoul’s, A New York Story (USA) Directed by: Greg Olliver, Karim Raoul
The McNeely Award for Best Short Film
Abalone Stories: Loss, Connection, Renewal (USA) Directed by: Cynthia Abbott
1st Runner-up: Sense of Emergency (USA) Directed by: Madeline Down
2nd Runner-up: Sauna Sickness (Sweden) Directed by: Malin Barr
3rd Runner-up: Check Please (USA) Directed by: Shane Chung
4th Runner-up: Last Days on Lake Trinity (USA) Directed by: Charlotte Cooley
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.