The Mexican queer thriller On the Road (En El Camino), directed by David Pablos, took the top jury prize, the $10,000 MARIMBAS Award, at the 2026 Miami Film Festival.
The $15,000 Made in MIA Feature Film Jury Award went to The Old Man and the Parrot, directed by Gabriel de Varona, with the Made in MIA Audience Award going to The Mecca: Legends of Traz Powell Stadium, directed by Nicanson Guerrier.
Second Victims, directed by Zinnini Elkington, walked away with the $10,000 Jordan Ressler First Feature Award. The prize is presented to the jury-selected best film made by a filmmaker making a feature narrative film debut.
The Documentary Achievement Award went to TheyDream, directed by William D. Caballero, with the Audience Documentary Film Award going to Runa Simi, directed by Augusto Zegarra.
The Audience Feature Film Award went to Comandante Fritz, directed by Pavel Giroud.
The 43rd edition of Miami Dade College’s (MDC) acclaimed Miami Film Festival ran from April 9 – 19, 2026.
See below the complete list of winners of the 2026 Miami Film Festival
Feature Film Awards
$10,000 MARIMBAS Award
On the Road (En El Camino),” directed by David Pablos,
The Made in MIA Feature Film Award $15,000
“The Old Man and the Parrot,” directed by Gabriel de Varona
Jordan Ressler First Feature Award $10,000
“Second Victims,” directed by Zinnini Elkington
The Audience Feature Film Award
“Comandante Fritz,” directed by Pavel Giroud.
Runner-up: “Milly, Queen of Merengue,” directed by Leticia Tonos Paniagua
Second runner-up: “I Swear,” directed by Kirk Jones.
The Made in MIA Audience Award
“The Mecca: Legends of Traz Powell Stadium,” directed by Nicanson Guerrier.
Runner-up: “Tropical Park,” directed by Hansel Porras Garcia,
Second runner-up: “An Instrumental Start: A Model for the Nation,” directed by Brian Bayerl & Mike Huter.
The Documentary Achievement Award
“TheyDream,” directed by William D. Caballero.
Honorable mention: “Revolution’s Daughter,” directed by Thaddeus D. Matula
Honorable mention: “Everybody to Kenmure Street,” directed by Felipe Bustos Sierra.
The Audience Documentary Film Award
“Runa Simi,” directed by Augusto Zegarra.
Runner-up: “Revolution’s Daughter,” directed by Thaddeus D. Matula
Second runner-up: “Perseverance,” directed by Juan Carlos Martín.
Short Film Awards
Made in MIA Short Film Award sponsored by ArtesMiami ($5,000)
“September All Over,” directed by Kali Kahn.
Runner-up: “Colada,” directed by Carmen Pelaez.
Miami International Short Film Award ($4,000)
“Ovary-Acting,” directed by Ida Melum,
Runner-up: “A Hand to Hold,” directed by Philip Clyde-Smith
Reel South Short Award ($1,000)
“If You Really Love Me, Outlive Me,” directed by Saskia d’Altena and Alejandro Ruax
Short Documentary Film Award ($1,000)
“Oh Whale,” directed by Winslow Crane-Murdoch.
Florida Cinemaslam Award ($1,000)
“Ghost of The Marsh,” directed by Ross Widener.
The Audience Short Film Award
“One Last Order,” directed by Lauren DeFilippo & Sam Soko.
Runner-up : “The Floor Remembers,” directed by Jayme Gershen,
Second runner-up: “Beast of the Seine,” directed by Jon Portman.
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