Best Narrative Feature
Red Pill
Producers: Katie Rosin, Tonya Pinkins and Paul Hsu
Director/Writer: Tonya Pinkins
90 min., narrative
Halloween weekend of the 2020 election, six old friends ride into red country armed with humor and naiveté. When the meet an immovable force their plans are thwarted and their fight to win the election becomes a fight for their lives. Six progressives, one deadly weekend.
*Mature content and language.
Best Narrative short tie (Oscar qualifying shorts)
Hello from Taiwan
hello from taiwan
Producers: Marina Viscun, Guo Guo Jiayi, Wenjie Kong
Director/Writer: Tiffany Frances
16 min., narrative
After a year of separation, a young Taiwanese American girl and her mom struggle to reconnect with her dad and two older sisters across familial and cultural divides.
la ciguapa siempre
Producer: Chelsey Colosimo
Director/Writer: Monica Suriyage
13 min., narrative
Shy Milagro suspects her boyfriend Davis is cheating. According to him, it’s probably just due to stress from recently learning she’s adopted. Are her feelings really unfounded? Or perhaps her intuition points to something more sinister lurking in her heritage.
Best Screenplay Award
Praying
Producer/Director/Writer: Linrui Xiong
19 min., narrative
When the hospital does not have a suitable transplant type, in the face of a request for black surgery from the family of his patient, how should doctor MIYI choose?
Best Documentary Feature
Barbary Lee: Speaking Truth to Power
Producers: Abby Ginzberg, Shola Lynch and Jonathan Logan
Director: Abby Ginzberg
83 min., documentary
Barbara Lee: Speaking Truth to Power tells the complex story of Representative Barbara Lee, a steadfast voice for human rights, peace and equality in the U.S. Congress who cut her teeth as a volunteer for the Black Panther Party and was the lone voice in opposition to the broad authorization of military force after the September 11th attacks.
Best Documentary Short
Continuing A Legacy
Producer/Director/Writer: Elizabeth Bayne
32 min., documentary
Continuing A Legacy is a short documentary about the year-in-the-life of a Black cowboy family. Following a single season with 11-year-old junior rodeo competitor London Gladney and her family, the film shows that it takes more than winning to raise a champion.
Best Animation
Nuevo Rico
Producers: Debora Perez, Kate Chamurris and Angel Manuel Soto
Director: Kristian Mercado
Writers: Kristian Mercado and Juan Arroyo
16 min., Animation
A brother and sister stumble upon a celestial secret that changes their lives forever and propels them into Reggaetón stardom, but they soon discover that their newfound fame comes at a deep price.
Best Web Series
The Artist's Way Out
Producer: Jeananne Goossen
Directors: Jeananne Goossen and Robert Jackson
Writer: Jeananne Goossen
8 min., web series
Kandyse McClure and Keon Alexander star in this Canadian indie romantic dramedy about 2 Millenial BIPOC artists hammering out their work and their relationship in the dead of winter in the middle of nowhere. They just started dating and now they’re living together...with deadlines!!!
Best Experimental Award
A Tree Fell Today
Producer: Simone McIntyre
Director/Writer: Oliver Crawford
17 min., experimental
Elise revisits the traumatic memories of her lover Jessica committing suicide due to the catastrophic death of their child, struggling to escape the eternal circle of anguish and misery she tries to move forward but she is stuck in an endless loop.
Reel Sisters Spirit Award tie
#WeAreDyingHere
Producers: Bianca Schmitz, Siphokazi Jonas, Siya Kolisi and Rachel Kolisi
Director: Shane Vermooten
Writer: Siphokazi Jonas
25 min., narrative
#WeAreDyingHere chronicles the journey of three soldiers forced to survive in a war that they did not choose. As the war against women rages around them, they attempt to find solace to process their pain under the constant threat of their enemy lurking in the shadows.
Wonderfully Made
Director: Benita Ozoude
15 min., documentary
Kashmiere Culberson is a young African American woman who embodies strength and confidence. Kash was born without arms, but she does not allow her disability to limit her pursuit of happiness and self-love. This observational piece gives us a glimpse of her world.
Best Cinematography Award
A Tree Fell Today
Producer: Simone McIntyre
Director/Writer: Oliver Crawford
17 min., experimental
Elise revisits the traumatic memories of her lover Jessica committing suicide due to the catastrophic death of their child, struggling to escape the eternal circle of anguish and misery she tries to move forward but she is stuck in an endless loop.
Best Director
Dolapo is Fine
Producer: Millie Marsh
Director: Ethosheia Hylton Writers: Joan Iyiola and Chibundu Onuzo
15 min., narrative
A story about a young black girl's relationship with her hair and name, and how it helps her understand who she really is.
Honorable Mentions
Golden Frames in the Closet
Producer: Jose Prabowo
Director: Putri Sarah Amelia
Writer: Perdana Kartawiyudha
16 min., narrative
A mortuary cosmetologist has to face a dilemma when she receives a call from a mother who had lost her child in an accident. A film with no dialog.