2025 Award Nominees

We picked a number of really great films to recognize this year.

Each one earned a spot in the nominee list for a reason.

  • In Coot’s Boots by Alma Schmidt - Saint Anthony Village High School, MN

  • Is It Worth It? by Summit Olson - Southwest High School, MN

  • Echoes of Silk and Tides By Cynthia Cai - The Kinkaid School, TX

Best Documentary Short

  • A Different Frame of Mind by Annika Kim - St. Paul Academy and Summit School, MN

  • Werewolf Run by Julia Pauly - Perpich Arts High School, MN

  • Squeak My Life by Tilo Lillian Danger Rethmeier - Perpich Arts High School, MN

Best Animation

  • The Photographer by Gracen Meyers & Jacob Kautzky - de Toledo High School, CA

  • Pages of Promise by Tillie Van Den Bosch - International School of Kuala 

  • Shuffled by Jayden De Alba - Minnesota

Best Cinematography

  • Candidate 33 by Abhigyan Ravichandran - International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  • They Seek by Alex Brown - International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  • Naive - Abhigyan Ravichandran - International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Best Short In Suspense/Horror

  • Mystery of the Keeper by Elina Myshanych - School 200 Kyiv, Ukraine

  • Pages of Promise by Tillie Van Den Bosch - International School of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

  • Acting Out by Mellony Ledo - Hill-Murray School, MN

Best Short In Narrative

  • Werewolf Run by Julia Pauly - Perpich Arts High School, MN

  • Teddy Bear by Teagan Porter - Champlin Park High School, MN

Best Micro-film

Best Experimental

  • Northbound by Leon Cabot - Perpich Arts High School, MN

  • Disappearing by Mia Durkan - Stjepan Kefelja Primary School, Kutina, Croatia

  • Beside Me by Thomas Thro - Perpich Arts High School, MN

  • Talking to the Past by Lola Milanovic - Southwest WI Academy High School, WI

  • Memories by Jasper Vinge Hanson - Perpich Arts High School, MN

  • Northbound by Leon Cabot - Perpich Arts High School, MN

Best Reflective Storytelling

  • Where Did Johnny Go by Milo Crane - Perpich Arts High School, MN

  • end game (AVEY) by Jamie Davis - Perpich Arts High School, MN

Best Music Video

Surprise Recognition

  • To be announced at the festival!

Last, but not least…

Best In Fest

  • To be announced at the festival!

About the Awards

Award-winning filmmakers at this year’s festival will receive a custom-designed medal—something permanent, personal, and worthy of the moment. It’s a small object with big meaning.

And we don’t stop there. Each winning teacher also receives a medal—because behind every student filmmaker, there’s someone helping make space, lending a camera, or simply saying, "Yes, you should make this."