At the Closing Night Award Ceremony, the 12th Mammoth Lakes Film Festival (MLFF) announced this year’s jury and audience award winners, with the top jury award for Best N. American Narrative Feature going to Mono 222, directed by Quinton Dominguez, and Best International Narrative Feature went to Dreaming of Lions, directed and written by Paolo Marinou-Blanco.
The Jury Award for Best Documentary Feature went to I Got Bombed at Harvey’s, directed by Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel.
Danny Is My Boyfriend, directed by Lucy Sandler & Mechi Lakatos, won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature; Tony Odyssey, directed by Thales Banzai, won the Audience Award for Best International Narrative Feature; and Nuisance Bear, directed by Jack Weisman and Gabriela Osio Vanden, was awarded the Audience Award for Best Documentary Feature.
The festival, held from May 20-24, featured 32 narrative shorts, 15 documentary shorts, and 16 animation shorts, as well as a program of music videos and a screenplay competition, and presented over $40,000 in awards and cash prizes to the winners.
“This year’s festival reaffirmed the power of independent film to spark conversation, foster connection, and champion daring creative voices,” said Shira Dubrovner, Festival Director and Founder. “We were thrilled to welcome a record number of filmmakers whose work reflects the passion and originality that continue to define the festival.”
“Our goal has always been to champion fearless storytelling and provide a platform for artists pushing the boundaries of the medium,” said Paul Sbrizzi, Director of Programming. “This year’s lineup showcased bold, entertaining, and culturally resonant films that reflect the future of independent cinema.”
The 13th edition of the Mammoth Lakes Film Festival is scheduled to take place May 26 – 30, 2027
The full list of Juried and Audience Awards is below:
Jury Awards
Best N. American Narrative Feature: “Mono 222,” directed by Quinton Dominguez
Honorable Mention: “Debt to the Dead,” directed by Daniel Castro Zimbrón
Best International Narrative Feature: “Dreaming of Lions,” directed by Paolo Marinou-Blanco
Honorable Mention: “Tony Odyssey,” directed by Thales Banzai
Best Documentary Feature: “I Got Bombed at Harvey’s,” directed by Amy Bandlien Storkel and Bryan Storkel
Bravery Award for Documentary Feature: “Sugarfly,” directed by Max Schoenfeld
Best Screenplay: “The Unseen,” written by Shivakumar Ramanathan
Best Narrative Short: “Reunion,” directed by Kyle Montgomery and Judd Myers
Honorable Mention: “Boat Movie,” directed by Anna Torzullo and Stephanie Ibarra
Best International Narrative Short: “Leivalaul (Breadsong),” directed by Katariina Aule
Best Documentary Short: “Jar of Time,” directed by Nevena Semova and Swapnil Arjun
Honorable Mention: “Hyodo’s Paradise,” directed by Jacque Rabie
Best Animation Short: “Wan Wan,” directed by Mayuko Kobayashi
Honorable Mention: “Long Live Livia,” directed by Zach Dorn
Best Music Video: “High Season,” by Yuliia Yanko and Trygve Luktvasslimo, directed by Trygve Luktvasslimo
Honorable Mention: “Erghad Afewo,” by Tinariwen, directed by Axel Digoix
Audience Awards
Best N. American Narrative Feature: “Danny Is My Boyfriend,” directed by Lucy Sandler & Mechi Lakatos
Best International Narrative Feature: “Tony Odyssey,” directed by Thales Banzai
Best Documentary Feature: “Nuisance Bear,” directed by Jack Weisman and Gabriela Osio Vanden
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