AFIN 2023 AWARD NOMINEES & FINALISTS
109 films · 24 awards · 81 nominations · 20 countries · 254 placings
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The 2023 Official Nominees Trailer
Winners
A tautly built speculative horror that carries the flavour of classic genre filmmaking, this short moves with real confidence. The panel found the concept sharp and the storytelling genuinely fun, its structure holding tight while the pacing keeps the tension winding. A well cast, well executed piece that earns its place on screen.on GET AWAY →
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 · 
USA · 15:25
Best Documentary Feature · James Michael LaMonte
HEALING DAKOTA
James Michael LaMonte · USA · 01:22:09
Best Student Film · Aida Gevorgyan
Best Emerging Female Director · Aida Gevorgyan
IRIS
Aida Gevorgyan · USA · 17:34
Best Short Screenplay · Harry Sweby
Lives Before Your Eyes
Harry Sweby · Australia
Best Visual Effects · Nipan Studio
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 · USA · 13:26
Best Music Video · Roman Buchatsky
STATIC - PLEAS
Roman Buchatsky · 
Israel · 3:47
Best Australian Actor · Damon Hunter
THE COST
Matthew Holmes · Australia · 01:48:00
Best Feature Screenplay · Lisa Rufus
The Fandom
Lisa Rufus · Australia
Best Feature Film · Neil Marshall
THE LAIR
Neil Marshall · 
UK · 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)"
Performances
These awards honour a performer rather than a film. Each name links to their AFIN page; the film beneath is the work the performance is in.
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Australian Actor
Best Australian Actress
Details and imagery from The Movie Database This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.
Nominees
Almost Home: Life After Incarceration
USA Directed by Bill Wisneski Best Documentary Feature Assisted Living
Australia Directed by Ken Kimura Best Actress Better together
Russia Directed by Anastasia Vasileva Best Emerging Female Director CANCER/EVOLUTION Episode 1: The Dustbin of History
USA Directed by Maggie Jones, Brad Jones Best Documentary Feature CANYON - Stay
Canada Best Music Video Caretaker
USA Directed by Verónica Rose Wood Best Documentary Short Devil Never Killed
Iceland Directed by Tómas Nói Emilsson Best Music Video Don't Wait: The Men's Mental Health Project
Australia Directed by Elliott Sauvage, Matt Kirby Best Documentary Short Fungus
Australia Directed by Ryan Maddox Best Australian Film Best Visual Effects Godfor
USA Best Feature Screenplay Good evening
Russia Directed by Alexey Belkin, Vsevolod Alekhin Best Costume Design Best Music Video Healing Heart Feeling Country
Australia Directed by Robert Sherwood Best Documentary Short Hedgehog
USA Directed by D. Mitry Best Actress Kim's Video
USA Directed by Ashley Sabin, David Redmon Best Documentary Feature Let Me Have My Son
USA Directed by Cristóbal Krusen Best Actor Best Costume Design Best Original Score Best Production Design LOST IN THE MOMENT
Australia Directed by Darryl cook Best Music Video Best Student Film My Gift
Australia Directed by Michael Raso Best Produced Screenplay New Holland
Australia Best Short Screenplay One Last Wish
Israel Best Animated Film Best Visual Effects PARTY BUS
Bulgaria Directed by Dilyana Daneva Best Emerging Female Director Saint Peter of Bourke.
Best Short ScreenplayTales of Finer Men
Australia Directed by Jack Nielson Best Student Film The Ankou, the Child and the Bandits
France Directed by SIMON VAUTIER Best Live Action Short Film The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan
Japan Directed by Rionne McAvoy Best Documentary Feature Best Film Editing Best Sound The Pearl
Best Short ScreenplayTHE RUMOR MILL
USA Best Short Screenplay The Soft-Skinned
Australia Directed by Nicky Tyndale-Biscoe Best Emerging Female Director The Way Home
Mexico Directed by Darius Stevens Wilhere Best Actress Best Feature Film Best Original Score Best Production Design Two Dollars
Australia Directed by NATALIA CRICRI Best Australian Film Best Emerging Female Director Violett
Australia Directed by Steven Mihaljevich Best Feature Film We Are Living Things
USA Directed by Antonio Tibaldi Best Actor Best Actress Best Cinematography Best Feature Film Best Original Score Best Production Design When Doves Fly
Australia Directed by Mike Roberts Best Australian Film Best Director Best Film Editing Best Produced Screenplay Best Student Film Finalists
31 works recognised as finalists in 2023.
Affentanz - Hunter
Germany Directed by CYPRIAN HERCKA Best Music Video All Politics is Local
Australia Directed by Chris Eipper, Declan Mortimer Eipper Best Documentary Feature Aristeia
Australia Directed by Michael McLennan Finalist Descendants
Best Film Editing Best Live Action Short Film Best Sound Best Visual EffectsErik
Albania Directed by David Kodheli Best Actress Best Costume Design Best Production Design Escape from the Commodore 64
Australia Best Feature Screenplay Friendly Fire
Australia Best Short Screenplay Ghosts of the Void
USA Directed by Jason Miller Best Feature Film Giuli - It Was A Dream
Germany Directed by Meri Gelagutashvili Best Emerging Female Director Best Student Film Hif
Netherlands Directed by Daan Swinkels Best Actor Best Director I am Living
Australia Directed by Nick Bolton, Jess Milne Best Documentary Short I'm Good
Australia Directed by Rhys William Nicolson Finalist It's In Your Hands
Australia Directed by Talitha Huston Best Documentary Short Jingle Hell
USA Directed by Sean Cruser Best Original Score La Telaraña
USA Directed by Dan Husted Best Student Film Meir Levine - Wherever I Run (Official Music Video)
USA Directed by Esther Shpigelman Best Music Video Mia You've Lost a Lot of Blood
Australia Best Feature Screenplay No Two Days
Australia Directed by Flynn Graham Finalist Stormur
Iceland Directed by Tómas Nói Emilsson Best Actress Best Director Best Film Editing Best Live Action Short Film Best Original Score Best Produced Screenplay SUGA RUSH
Australia Directed by Valentino Filimon Best Australian Film Testament
Canada Directed by Jessica Landry Finalist The Forgotten Sea
Germany Finalist The Great Food War
USA Best Short Screenplay The Group (Balagam)
India Directed by Venu Yeldandi Best Cinematography Best Feature Film The Muse
USA Directed by Max Karpylev Best Cinematography Best Feature Film Best Production Design The Pickleball Killer
USA Best Feature Screenplay The Secret Song
USA Directed by Samantha Campbell Best Documentary Feature Best Original Score Best Sound THIS IS MY STORY
Australia Directed by Darryl cook Best Documentary Short Best Student Film Trapped
Australia Directed by Sheri Van Geest Best Emerging Female Director Wildfire Manwurrk ft. Victor Rostron - 'Mararradj'
Australia Directed by Wildfire Manwurrk, Robert Sherwood, Natalie Carey Best Music Video Zero Coordinates
Iran Directed by Nima Valibeigi Best Costume Design Best Production Design Honorable Mentions
21 works recognised as honorable mentions in 2023.
23 (Official Music Video)
Canada Directed by Dean Pilling Best Music Video Alchemy: Pathway to Profound Powers
Australia Directed by Sharon Ann Rowland Best Documentary Feature Behind The Loom
Directed by Heejoo Kim Honorable MentionCage : Between Two Battles
Turkey Directed by Cenk İzgören Best Feature Film Child of Témoin
Australia Directed by Cody Fordham Best Animated Film Culicidae
Australia Directed by Greg Moran Honorable Mention Daddy
Australia Directed by Indy Davies Best Short Screenplay Folded Whispers
Directed by Mark Anthony Thomas, Shane McFarland, Jordon Rooney Best Documentary ShortFor The Freedom
Best Feature ScreenplayGorgi J - Silent Smile
Australia Directed by Adam Jordan Best Music Video Halcyon Reign - Ahab
Australia Directed by Adam Jordan Best Music Video In The Air
Australia Directed by Kieran Deeth Best Student Film JUST PLANE HUMOR
USA Best Short Screenplay Nobody's Heroes
USA Best Feature Screenplay Out of State-A Gothic Romance
USA Directed by Victoria Bugbee Best Emerging Female Director Psychopathic Killers
Australia Best Short Screenplay Saviour of Manangatan
Australia Best Short Screenplay Solitaire
New Zealand Directed by Brian Gill Best Student Film twitch
New Zealand Directed by Suden Best Produced Screenplay Uncovered Lives: Australia's Fight for Funded Trans Healthcare
Australia Directed by Kai Wharton Best Documentary Short Who Let the Wallflowers Out?
USA Best Feature Screenplay 2023 Placings
Every placing exactly as announced in 2023, including finalists and honorable mentions.
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
Best Director 11 placings
Nominees
Finalists
Best Emerging Female Director 10 placings
Nominees
Finalists
- Jessica Landry for Testament from Canada
- Galia Osmo for One Last Wish, from Israel
- Sheri Van Geest for Trapped, from Australia
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
Best Film Editing 11 placings
Nominees
Finalists
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
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
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
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 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
Honorable Mentions
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
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 Actor 11 placings
Nominees
Finalists
Best Actress 11 placings
Nominees
Finalists
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 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
Best Produced Screenplay 11 placings
Nominees
Finalists
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
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
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
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
Best Production Design 11 placings
Nominees
Finalists
Honorable Mentions
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
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 Visual Effects 11 placings
Nominees
Finalists
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
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
AFIN 2026
The festival opens in 4 days
Screening 1 at Dendy Cinemas Portside, Brisbane