AFIN 2023 AWARD NOMINEES & FINALISTS
15 films · 51 awards · 7 countries · 254 placings
Winners
Best Cinematography · Dan Hodgson
Best Film Editing · Ken Kimura
BANSHEES RIDGE
Tristan Barr · 
Australia · 11:00
Best Costume Design · Melissa Bessey
CHATEAU LAURIER - SEASON 2
James Stewart · 
Canada · 10:00
Best Actress · Lisa Jaqueline Starrett
Best Director · Michael Gabriele
Best Live Action Short Film · Michael Gabriele
Best Produced Screenplay · Michael Gabriele, Anthony Jefferson
GET AWAY
Michael Gabriele · 
United States · 15:25
Best Documentary Feature · James Michael LaMonte
HEALING DAKOTA
James Michael LaMonte · United States · 01:22:09
Best Student Film · Aida Gevorgyan
Best Emerging Female Director · Aida Gevorgyan
Best Short Screenplay · Harry Sweby
IRIS
Aida Gevorgyan · United States · 17:34
Best Visual Effects
LOOK FOR ME AT DUSK
Nipan Chawcharernpon · 
Thailand · 28:01
Best Sound · James Matthes
Best Animated Film · Udesh Chetty
RED GAIA
Udesh Chetty · 
South Africa · 12:50
Best Production Design · Mike Kmiecik
SHADOW PUPPETS
Penn Pauletich · United States · 13:26
Best Music Video
STATIC - PLEAS
Roman Buchatsky · 
Israel · 3:47
Best Australian Actor · Damon Hunter
THE COST
Matthew Holmes · Australia · 01:48:00
Best Feature Film · Neil Marshall
Best Feature Screenplay · Lisa Rufus
THE LAIR
Neil Marshall · 
United Kingdom · 01:30:00
Best Actor · David Field
THE WRONG BARBER
Dean Ganter · Australia · 19:38
Best Original Score · James Kenyon, Luke Richardson, Matt Dixon
Best Documentary Short · Ash Cottrell
THIS MAN'S WORTH
Ash Cottrell · Australia · 41:25
Best Australian Actress · Jacy Lewis
WENDY AND VEE
Jean-Baptiste Canac · Australia · 19:59
Best Australian Film · Duncan Peake
WHERE'S WEIRDO
Duncan Peake · Australia · 8:50
How results work
WHAT IS A FINALIST VS WHAT IS A NOMINEE?
FINALISTS > NOMINEES > AWARD WINNERS, and IMDB
As an IMDb-Qualifying festival, only projects that reach Nominee or Award Winner status are eligible for IMDb listing.
- Finalist
- Close to being nominated, but no further progression. Not IMDb-Qualifying
- Nominee
- Nominated for an award, remains as a nominee if not won. IMDb-Qualifying
- Award Winner
- Wins the award, transitioning from Nominee status. IMDb-Qualifying
Finalists and Honorable Mentions are not eligible for IMDb listings as they were not nominated for an award. While these results receive certificates and are worth celebrating, they are not IMDb-Qualifying.
We audit IMDb listings for accuracy and will request corrections for any incorrect entries.
Award Winners and Nominees will receive IMDb project location details, submission status, laurels/certificates, and prizes after the event.
When adding to IMDb, ensure the correct award, year, and choose:
- Award Winner: Rank as "Winner (1)"
- Nominee: Rank as "Nominated (nom)"
Our festival includes only Award Winners, Nominees, and Finalists. We do not have semi-finalists, quarter-finalists, Honorable Mentions, or official selections.
2023 Placings
Every placing exactly as announced in 2023, including finalists and honorable mentions.
Best Actor 11 placings
Nominees
- David Field for The Wrong Barber, from Australia
- Cristóbal Krusen for Let Me Have My Son, from the United States
- Adrian Quinonez for Get Away, from the United States
- Jorge Antonio Guerrero for We Are Living Things, from the United States
- Matthew Caffoe for Banshees Ridge, from Australia
Finalists
- Kawin Wattanachariya for Look for me at Dusk, from Thailand
- Glenn Coenen for Hif, from Netherlands
- Assen Karanikolov for Party Bus, from Bulgaria
Honorable Mentions
- David Alvarado for Shadow Puppets, from the United States
- Kamran Haidar for The Soft-Skinned, from Australia
- Damon Hunter for The Cost, from Australia
Best Actress 11 placings
Nominees
- Xingchen Lyu for We Are Living Things, from the United States
- Virginia Gray for Assisted Living, from Australia
- Lisa Jaqueline Starrett for Get Away, from the United States
- Emma Pearson for Hedgehog, from the United States
- Renata Monterola for The Way Home, from Mexico
Finalists
- Kristín Þóra Haraldsdóttir for Stormur, from Iceland
- Xhulia Musagalliu for Erik, from Albania
- Hannah Monson for The Soft-Skinned, from Australia
Honorable Mentions
- Lauren Campbell for When Doves Fly, from Australia
- Catherine Ross for My Gift, from Australia
- Violeta Machado for Two Dollars, from Australia
Best Animated Film 4 placings
Nominees
- From South Africa, Red Gaia, directed by Udesh Chetty
- From Israel, One Last Wish directed by Galia Osmo
- From the New Zealand, Dies Irae directed by Maru Collective
Honorable Mentions
- From Australia, Child of Témoin, directed by Cody Fordham
Best Australian Actor 11 placings
Nominees
- David Field for The Wrong Barber
- Matthew Caffoe for Banshees Ridge
- Kamran Haidar for The Soft-Skinned
- Damon Hunter for The Cost
- Jordan Fraser-Trumble for The Cost
Finalists
- Rupert Raineri for I'm Good
- Colin Smith for Trapped
- Tommy Archer for No Two Days
Honorable Mentions
- Brady Cronin for Tales of Finer Men
- Greg Moran for Culicidae
- David K. Whiting for Fungus
Best Australian Actress 11 placings
Nominees
- Violeta Machado for Two Dollars
- Hannah Monson for The Soft-Skinned
- Lauren Campbell for When Doves Fly
- Catherine Ross for My Gift
- Jacy Lewis for Wendy & Vee
Finalists
- Gabby Carbon for Where's Weirdo
- Anahita Pardis for SUGA RUSH
- Miriam Green for Aristeia
Honorable Mentions
- Georgia Eyers for Violett
- Barbara Hastings for I'm Good
- Abbey Mckeon for Banshees Ridge
Best Australian Film 11 placings
Nominees
- Banshees Ridge, directed by Tristan Barr
- When Doves Fly, directed by Mike Roberts
- Where's Weirdo, directed by Duncan Peake
- Two Dollars, directed by Natalia Cricri
- Fungus, directed by Ryan Maddox
Finalists
- The Wrong Barber, directed by Dean Ganter
- The Soft-Skinned, directed by Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe
- My Gift, directed by Michael Raso
Honorable Mentions
- Violett, directed by Steven John Mihaljevich
- Suga Rush, directed by Valentino Filimon
- Tales of Finer Men, directed by Jack Nielson
Best Cinematography 11 placings
Nominees
- Nutthawut Limsakdakul for Life Of Music , from Thailand
- Zach Levenson for Healing Dakota, from the United States
- Josh Stafield for This Man's Worth, from Australia
- Dan Hodgson for Banshees Ridge, from Australia
- Luca Bigazzi for We Are Living Things, from the United States
Finalists
- Richard Brauer for Let Me Have My Son, from the United States
- ÚAdeline Morin, Romain Filhol for The Ankou, the Child and the Bandits from France
- Acharya Venu for The Group (Balagam), from India
Honorable Mentions
- Ilya Mentzarar, Ilya Savelyev for The Muse, from the United States
- Robert Sherwood for Healing Heart Feeling Country, from Australia
- Thomas Vandendolder for Shadow Puppets, from the United States
Best Costume Design 11 placings
Nominees
- Melissa Bessey for Chateau Laurier -Season 2, from Canada
- Elliana Thomas for Banshees Ridge, from Australia
- Varvara Zenina and Tatjana Greniberg for Good evening, from Russian Federation
- Joni Hathaway Jones for Let Me Have My Son, from the United States
- Sophie Borra for The Wrong Barber, from Australia
Finalists
- Floreta Malile Gjoka, Floriana Golemi for Erik, from Albania
- Maryam Kholghi Shirazi, Maryam Kholghi Shirazi for Zero Coordinates, from Iran, Islamic Republic of
- Jonathan Lambert for The Ankou, the Child and the Bandits, from France
Honorable Mentions
- Fernanda Valenzuela for The Way Home, from Mexico
- Ryan Maddox for Fungus, from Australia
- Deidra Catero for Hedgehog, from the United States
Best Director 11 placings
Nominees
- Tristan Barr for Banshees Ridge, from Australia
- Mike Roberts for When Doves Fly, from Australia
- Penn Pauletich for Shadow Puppets, from the United States
- Udesh Chetty for Red Gaia, from South Africa
- Michael Gabriele for Get Away, from the
Finalists
- Tómas Nói Emilsson for Stormur, from Iceland
- Antonio Tibaldi for We Are Living Things, from the United States
- Natalia Cricri for Two Dollars, from Australia
Honorable Mentions
- Daan Swinkels for Hif, from Netherlands
- Michael Raso for My Gift, from Australia
- Simon Vautier for The Ankou, the Child and the Bandits, from France
Best Documentary Feature 8 placings
Nominees
- Maggie Jones, Brad Jones for CANCER/EVOLUTION Episode 1: The Dustbin of History, from the United States
- James Michael LaMonte for Healing Dakota, from the United States
- Rionne McAvoy for The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan, from Japan
- Ashley Sabin, David Redmon for Kim's Video, from the United States
- Bill Wisneski for Almost Home: Life After Incarceration, from the United States
Finalists
- Samantha Campbell for The Secret Song, from the United States
- Chris Eipper, Declan Mortimer Eipper for All Politics is Local, from Australia
Honorable Mentions
- Sharon Ann Rowland for Alchemy: Pathway to Profound Powers, from Australia
Best Documentary Short 11 placings
Nominees
- Ash Cottrell for This Man's Worth, from Australia
- Elliott Sauvage for TNatalya Diehm: Road to Recovery, from Australia
- Verónica Rose Wood for Caretaker, from the United States
- Elliott Sauvage, Matt Kirby for Don't Wait: The Men's Mental Health Project, from Australia
- Robert Sherwood for Healing Heart Feeling Country, from Australia
Finalists
- Nick Bolton, Jess Milne for I am Living, from Australia
- Darryl cook, for THIS IS MY STORY, from Australia
- Talitha Huston, for It's In Your Hands, from Australia
Honorable Mentions
- Heejoo Kim for Behind The Loom,from the United States
- Mark Anthony Thomas, Shane McFarland, Jordon Rooney for Folded Whispers, from the United States
- Kai Wharton for Uncovered Lives: Australia's Fight for Funded Trans Healthcare, from Australia
Best Emerging Female Director 10 placings
Nominees
- Natalia Cricri for Two Dollars, from Australia
- Dilyana Daneva for Party bus, from Bulgaria
- Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe for The Soft-Skinned, from Australia
- Anastasia Vasileva for Better Together, from the Russian Federation
- Aida Gevorgyan for Iris, from the United States
Finalists
- Jessica Landry for Testament from Canada
- Galia Osmo for One Last Wish, from Israel
- Sheri Van Geest for Trapped, from Australia
Honorable Mentions
- Meri Gelagutashvili for Giuli - It Was A Dream, from Germany
- Victoria Bugbee for Out of State-A Gothic Romance, from the United States
Best Feature Film 11 placings
Nominees
- From Mexico, The Way Home, directed by Darius Stevens Wilhere
- From Australia, The Cost, directed by Matthew Holmes
- From United Kingdom, The Lair, directed by Neil Marshall
- From the United States, We Are Living Things, directed by Antonio Tibaldi
- From Australia, Violett, directed by Steven John Mihaljevich
Finalists
- From the United States, The Muse, directed by Jason Miller
- From the United States, Ghosts of the Void, directed by Max Karpylev
- From the United States, Let Me Have My Son, directed by Cristóbal Krusen
Honorable Mentions
- From the Russian Federation, Better together, directed by Anastasia Vasileva
- From India, The Group (Balagam), directed by Venu Yeldandi
- From Turkey, Cage : Between Two Battles, directed by Cenk İzgören
Best Feature Screenplay 11 placings
Nominees
- From the United States, Godfor, written by Pablo Torroella
- From the United States, Comic Relief written by Koura Linda, Alex Hawthorne
Finalists
- From Australia, Mia You've Lost a Lot of Blood, written by Paul Bird
- From the United States, The Pickleball Killer, written by Jim Carroll
- From Australia, Escape from the Commodore 64, written by David Hearne, Belinda Missen
Honorable Mentions
- From the United States, Nobody's Heroes, written by Michael Alan Elliott
- From the United States, For The Freedom, written by Hans Sluijter
- From the United States, Who Let the Wallflowers Out?, written by Virginia Austin
Best Film Editing 11 placings
Nominees
- Elizabeth Cook for Healing Dakota, from the United States
- Delaney Murphy for This Man's Worth, from Australia
- Nikola Mateja for When Doves Fly, from Australia
- Ken Kimura for Banshees Ridge, from Australia
- Rionne Mcavoy for The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan, from Japan
Finalists
- Nipan Chawcharernpon, Saywiga Pattarawaraphan for Descendants, from Thailand
- Úlfur E. Arnalds for Stormur, from Iceland
- Nipan Chawcharernpon for Look for me at Dusk, from Thailand
Honorable Mentions
- Michael Gabriele for Get Away, from the United States
- Elliott Sauvage for Natalya Diehm: Road to Recovery, from Australia
- Verónica Rose Wood for Caretaker, from the United States
Best Live Action Short Film 11 placings
Nominees
- From Australia, Banshees Ridge, directed by Tristan Barr
- From the United States, Get Away directed by Michael Gabriele
- From the United States, Hedgehog directed by D. Mitry
- From France, The Ankou, the Child and the Bandits, directed by Simon Vautier
- From Thailand, Look for me at Dusk, directed by Nipan Chawcharernpon
Finalists
- From Australia, Two Dollars, directed by Natalia Cricri
- From Australia, My Gift, directed by Michael Raso
- From Thailand, Descendants, directed by Nipan Chawcharernpon
Honorable Mentions
- From Iceland, Stormur, directed by Tómas Nói Emilsson
- From Australia, Fungus, directed by Ryan Maddox
- From Australia, The Wrong Barber, directed by Dean Ganter
Best Music Video 11 placings
Nominees
- From the Russian Federation, Good evening, directed by Alexey Belkin, Vsevolod Alekhin
- From Israel, Static - Pleas, directed by Roman Buchatsky
- From Iceland, Devil Never Killed, directed by Tómas Nói Emilsson
- From Australia, LOST IN THE MOMENT, directed by Darryl Cook
- From Canada, CANYON - Stay, directed by Arthur de la Rambelje
Finalists
- From Germany, Affentanz - Hunter, directed by CYPRIAN HERCKA
- From the United States, Meir Levine - Wherever I Run (Official Music Video), directed by Esther Shpigelman
- From Australia, Wildfire Manwurrk ft. Victor Rostron - 'Mararradj', directed by Wildfire Manwurrk, Robert Sherwood, Natalie Carey
Honorable Mentions
- From Australia, Halcyon Reign - Ahab, directed by Adam Jordan
- From Canada, 23 (Official Music Video), directed by Dean Pilling
- From Australia, Gorgi J - Silent Smile, directed by Adam Jordan
Best Original Score 11 placings
Nominees
- Justin Bell for Healing Dakota, from the United States
- James Kenyon, Luke Richardson, Matt Dixon for This Man's Worth, from Australia
- John Sponsler for Let Me Have My Son, from the United States
- Amedeo Ursini for We Are Living Things, from the United States
- Kelvin Pimont, Jack Standen for The Way Home, from Mexico
Finalists
- Jaysen Lewis for Jingle Hell, from the United States
- B. Quincy Griffin for The Secret Song, from the United States
- Nipan Chawcharernpon, Bradley Lewin for Look for me at Dusk, from Thailand
Honorable Mentions
- Ali Helnwein for Hedgehog, from the United States
- Jenný Björk Bjarkadóttir for Stormur, from Iceland
- Sangwoo Jeong for Banshees Ridge, from Australia
Best Produced Screenplay 11 placings
Nominees
- From the United States, Get Away, written by Anthony Jefferson
- From Australia, Banshees Ridge,, written by Matthew Caffoe
- From Australia, My Gift, written by Michael Raso
- From Australia, The Wrong Barber, written by Dean Ganter
- From Australia, When Doves Fly, written by Mike Roberts
Finalists
- From the United States, Hedgehog, written by D. Mitry
- From Australia, Two Dollars, written by Natalia Cricri
- From Iceland, Stormur, written by Tómas Nói Emilsson & Tinni Teitsson
Honorable Mentions
- From France, The Ankou, the Child and the Bandits, written by Simon Vautier
- From Australia, The Soft-Skinned, written by Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe
- From New Zealand, Twitch, written by Kate Powis & Suden
Best Production Design 11 placings
Nominees
- Chris Nickle for Chateau Laurier -Season 2, from Canada
- Alexis Covovich for The Way Home, from Mexico
- Monica Dabrowski for We Are Living Things, from the United States
- Cheri Anderson for Let Me Have My Son, from the United States
- Mike Kmiecik for Shadow Puppets, from the United States
Finalists
- Alexey Belkin for Good evening, from the Russian Federation
- Arch.Idea Studio for Erik, from Albania
- Nima Valibeigi for Zero Coordinates, from Iran, Islamic Republic of
Honorable Mentions
- Nipan Chawcharernpon, Jason R. Deford for Look for me at Dusk, from Thailand
- Fungus, from Australia
- Max Karpylev for The Muse, from the United States
Best Short Screenplay 12 placings
Nominees
- From Australia, Lives Before Your Eyes written by Harry Sweby
- From Australia, Saint Peter of Bourke, written by Phillip Tucker
- From Australia, The Pearl, written by Hannâ B.
- From Australia, New Holland, written by A. K. Woods
- From the United States, The Rumor Mill, written by Linda Tancs
Finalists
- From Australia, Friendly Fire, written by Greg Moran
- From the United States, The Great Food War, written by Tyler Posey
- From Germany,
Honorable Mentions
- From Australia, Daddy, written by Indy Davies
- From Australia, Saviour of Manangatan, written by Eamonn Eeles
- From the United States, Just Plane Humor, written by Linda Tancs
- From Australia, Psychopathic Killers, written by Susan May Thomas
Best Sound 11 placings
Nominees
- James Matthes for Red Gaia, from South Africa
- Simon Rosenberg & Pip Atherstone-Reid for This Man's Worth, from Australia
- Jan Klier for Healing Dakota, from the United States
- Chris Code for The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan, from Japan
- Peter Kurucz & Michael Angelo Monaco for Banshees Ridge, from Australia
Finalists
- Fantastic Sound for Descendants, from Thailand
- Samantha Oo for When Doves Fly, from Australia
- Curtis Fritsch IV for CANCER/EVOLUTION Episode 1: The Dustbin of History, from the
Honorable Mentions
- Todd Toon for We Are Living Things, from the United States
- Supat Decha for Life Of Music, from Thailand
- Bob Edwards for The Secret Song, from the
Best Student Film 11 placings
Nominees
- From Australia, When Doves Fly, directed by Mike Roberts
- From Australia, The Soft-Skinned by Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe
- From the United States, Iris directed by Aida Gevorgyan
- From Australia, LOST IN THE MOMENT, directed by Darryl Cook
- From Australia, Tales of Finer Men, directed by Jack Nielson
Finalists
- From the United States, La Telaraña, directed by Dan Husted
- From Germany, Giuli - It Was A Dream, directed by Meri Gelagutashvili
- From Australia, THIS IS MY STORY, directed by Darryl cook
Honorable Mentions
- From Australia, It's In Your Hands directed by Talitha Huston
- From New Zealand, Solitaire, directed by Brian Gill
- From Australia, In The Air, directed by Kieran Deeth
Best Visual Effects 11 placings
Nominees
- Roms Studio for Static - Please, from Israel
- Udesh Chetty for Red Gaia, from South Africa
- Ryan Maddox for Fungus, from Australia
- Yula Surin, Or Kantor, Ori Kagan for One Last Wish, from Israel
- Nipan Studio for Look for me at Dusk, from Thailand
Finalists
- Neil Rowe for Banshees Ridge, from Australia
- Jared Neher, Jeremy Wanek for Let Me Have My Son, from the United States
- Nipan Studio for Descendants, from Thailand
Honorable Mentions
- Benji Thiem for Look for me at CANCER/EVOLUTION Episode 1: The Dustbin of History, from the United States
- Nikola Mateja for When Doves Fly, from Australia
- Nipan Studio for Life Of Music , from Thailand