FALL 2018 WINNERS
In order to insure that each film is
studied and rated on an individual basis, DOFIFF has instituted a
system where entries do not compete against each other, but instead are
recognized for their own individual merits.
The number of
awards granted at any given level will fluctuate based on the total
number of entries received for each competition deadline. For all intents and purposes, they compete against themselves: each entry is judged on individual merits and scored on an inherent value system. The judges focus is on your film when it is your turn to be evaluated, not on all the other films that are in cue: this insures that they will not have comparisons going on in their minds when they should be focusing entirely on YOU. Judges score entries on a performance scale and winning entries are recognized and awarded not only for Best Of Show, but also for two Awards of Excellence levels, two Awards of Merit levels, a Kudos Endeavor Award, or no award. Best of Show honors are granted to the top scoring entry/entries for each season; Awards of Excellence are granted to entries with truly exceptional artistic and technical achievements; and Notable achievements are recognized at the Award of Merit and 'Kudos' award levels. To download your award seals/laurels, just right click on the corresponding laurel, select "Save image as" and save to your computer. Seals are Png format. |
USA |
USA |
ROMANIA |
Collar Drama Russ Emanuel Also: Award Of Excellence: Lead Actor, Sean Gunnell Award Of Exceptional Merit: Supporting Actor, Michael Ray Award Of Excellence: Direction, Russ Emanuel Award Of Excellence: Editing, Emile Haris Award Of Excellence: Script Writer, Troy Gabaldon Award Of Excellence: Original Score, Vasilis Milesis What happens when a seemingly ordinary priest is confronted by a seemingly ordinary man? While reading the Bible on a particularly windy day, Father Harris is confronted by a tall stranger, one who makes him question his beliefs and motivations. And all in a quest for the truth, however horrifying. Not even a helpful woman can save this priest, who must make a choice. For not all sins can be forgiven. Having directed name actors such as John Heard, Robert Picardo, William Devane, Jeremy London, Ryan Hurst, and Christian Barber, Russ Emanuel grew up in both Japan and the United States, garnering an international viewpoint of the world throughout his childhood. After graduating from the University of Southern California to study Cinema-Television, International Relations and Japanese, (and gaining more production experience at the UCLA Extension Program), he founded Russem Productions in 2002 in order to promote his short films including HER KNIGHT (2003), the award-winning GIRL WITH GUN (2005), and the documentary RESTORATION OF PARADISE (2014). He also produced several shorts including MAVET (2004), the zombie-flick THE DIARY (2004), the vampire film PERFECT RED (2006), and CULT 11 (2010) and THE MEETING (2013) television serie s (which he also directed two episodes each). Presently, OCCUPANTS (2015) marks Emanuel's fourth foray into feature filmmaking, after having directed P.J. (2007), CHASING THE GREEN (2009), and THE LEGENDS OF NETHIAH (2012). His current projects are THE ASSASSIN'S APPRENTICE (2017) and COLLAR (2017). |
Reclamation |
Beside me |
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NO TRAILER AVAILABLE |
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USA |
USA/CHINA |
China |
If I Could Run Drama Feature Shawn Wellingl A young girl in 1960 loves to run and joins a boys running team. Setbacks, bullying and ridicule face her. Finding a lost, injured dog proves out to be her strength and salvation. An inspiring, heartwarming story for the entire family! |
Lost In Apocalypse Horror Sky Wang Also: Award of Outstanding Excellence: Direction A group of seemingly unrelated individuals fight their way out of a virus-infested hotel, only to find themselves at a worse place than before. Sky Wang, Chinese American writer/director , born in Mainland China and immigrated to the West in his formative years. Having lived in the UK, Canada, and the USA, Sky grew up appreciating people and stories of all types and origins. Graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a film degree, and during the time of his studies, Sky directed numerous shorts and received many festival accolades. With one foot in the American film industry, Sky also pursues projects in the Greater China region, where he directed his first Chinese feature film in 2017. |
Winter In My Heart Art-House Ye Tian Yang
Xiaoyong who works in the
United States received a call from his father's mistress, Bai Ju, informing him that his father, Yang qingshan, was seriously ill and told him to return home soon. When Yang Xiaoyong's mother died, Yang Qingshan sold his property and left Shanghai with all the money he had, returning to the northeast where he had worked as a young man, and stayed together with Bai Ju. The incident has long rankled Yang and chilled the relationship between his father and son. After seeing Bai Ju in the northeast, Yang let off his anger on the woman who had destroyed his family. But Bai Ju gave him a book, named Brave,from which he could learn about his father. With the book's content and seeing the vast northeast snow plains, an icy past begins to crack. Memory and reality interweave the complicated relationship between people's fates and the times. Ye Tian,young film director,film director of Shanghai Film Group, the member of Shanghai Film Artiest, the member of Shanghai Film Critics, MA. Since 2003,Ye Tian begins his creation on documentary and feature film now he is a film director of Shanghai Film Group. His work Documentary The Face won “Best Short Documentary” of Golden Panda Award of the 9th Sichuan International TV Festival. Digital Film Shanghai Diary is enrolled in the unit of “Chinese New Film Exhibition” of the 14th Shanghai International Film Festival. And as an exhibition work in 20th Shanghai Critics Awards. Film Chen Jialing is enrolled in “Honor Exhibition” Unit in the 9th Roma International Film Festival; Won “Best Documentary” Award of Sino-Australia International Film Festival ;Won “Best Documentary” Award of Sino-US International Film Festival. |
NO TRAILER AVAILABLE . |
NO TRAILER AVAILABLE |
NO TRAILER AVAILABLE |
USA |
FRANCE |
USA |
Private Life LGBT Gregory L. Williamson Also: Award of Outstanding Excellence: Direction, Gregory L. Williamson Award Of Excellence: Script/Writer, Gregory L. Williamson When Eric, a young reclusive Gregory L. Williamson is a Gregory just completed a Master of |
Beating Heart DRAMA Laurent Caujat Also: Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Lead Actor, Pascal Mottier Award Of Excellence: Original Score, Ibrahim Maalou Since he is unemployed, Julian is a real house-husband taking care of his daughter with love. He took on debts without telling his wife. To get out of it, he will improvise as an outlaw. "A Coeur Battant" explores the madness of a society defined by profit. For my first feature film, I wanted to do a social thriller, built on true characters with a cheeky rebel smile. The original score improvised by Ibrahim Maalouf distills a wild poetry and punctuates the story with elegant blues melodies. Dreams against money always the same song, fight for ours aspirations always my same will. |
Curing The Incurable? DOCUMENTARY Gary Null The Chicken cup is a treasure that passed by the Emperor of Ming, Jin guards are the imperial guards of Ming Dynasty who got the mission to protect the Chicken Cup. And after hundreds of Years, the Chicken Cup still exist also the only survived Jin guard He Xingyun. The treasure hunters willing to kill him and get the Chicken Cup, He Xingyun then passes on his mission to the young boy Li Moxun, the battle went on again. |
USA |
CHINA |
USA |
The Blues Crab Animation (Domestic) Ari Rubenstein An old gnarled crab tells his story of loss and sorrow, hoping to save a couple young crabs from the life of blues he's led Ari Rubenstein Since the early 1990's, Ari has
been immersed in thearts and technology of CGI
(computer graphic imaging). This passion eventually narrowed
a focus on visual effects(VFX) for feature films. In 1997, Ari joined Xaos Inc., in
San Francisco, an early pioneer In January 1998, Ari founded Curv
Studios, a VFX production Under Ari's creative supervision,
Curv initially developed 3D animated communications tools
for silicon valley tech companies, continuing in this
vein, Curv produced 3D animation and 2D compositing for game
cinematic, television documentaries, IMAX and feature films. In 2003 Ari joined Tippett
Studios in Berkeley, CA, to work on At Tippett Ari
was fortunate to learn directly from vfx and animation pioneer
Phil Tippett and his partner Tippett Studio's crew comprising
some of the most seasoned and seminal craftsman in the
industry. In late 2005 Ari joined Blue Sky
Studios in New York to work During his time at Blue Sky Ari
has contributed to a variety of creative techniques and
technology which have advanced the aesthetic quality of Blue Sky's
films over the years. |
Searching for the Lotus-Born Master Documentary (Foreign) Laurence Brahm A documentary expedition team crosses the Himalayas retracing the footsteps of the "Lotus-Born Master," an Eight Century guru considered the founder of Tibetan Buddhism. The expedition seeks to prove the legend true, discovering that he may also be the founding father of quantum physics. |
Awesome GAl Tight Shorts (Domestic) Frank M. Calo An abused teen from the hollers of West Virginia and a horse abused by the cruel method of soring meet by chance and heal their broken lives. Based on a true story. Frank M. Calo FMC Productions was founded by Frank M. Calo, a New York independent film producer. Mr. Calo brings more than 20 years of industry in a broad range of capacities. His critically acclaimed "The Believer" starring Ryan Gosling won the 2001 Sundance Festival along with many other awards. Mr. Calo has directed reality TV shows such as Pay it Forward and Taxi Wars. He also presents production seminars. Awesome Gal is a story that needs to be told. The cruel practice of soring Tennessee Walking horses needs to brought to national attention through a heartwarming, true story. |
9,8 m/s2 |
USA |
Loose Shorts |
Outstanding Excellence Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Lead Actor, Pasha D. Lychnikoff Award Of Excellence: Lead Actress, Lyanka Gryu Award Of Excellence: Direction, Michael Vaynberg |
Team Teenettes |
Canada |
Sci-fi |
Outstanding Excellence |
The End of the World |
USA |
Drama |
Outstanding Excellence |
Underneath the Same Moon |
USA |
Drama Comedy |
Drama: Outstanding Excellence Comedy: Excellence Award Of Excellence: Lead actor, Anderson Davis Award Of Excellence: Lead actress, Sara Ball Award Of Excellence: Supporting Actress, Meg Cashel Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Direction, Bob Wasson Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Script/Writer Tom Arndt Award Of Excellence: Original Score |
UNMASKED |
Canada |
Drama |
Outstanding Excellence |
YOROZUYA DETECTIVE STORY |
Japan |
Sci-fi |
Outstanding Excellence |
17 Minutes |
AU |
Loose Shorts |
Excellence |
500 |
Romania |
Loose Shorts |
Excellence |
Already Dead |
UK |
Horror |
Excellence |
As the Earth Turns |
USA |
Loose Shorts Sci-Fi |
Excellence Both Categories Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Direction, Richard Lyford, Award Of Excellence: Original Score, Ed Hartman Award Of Excellence: Sfx:Visual, Richard Lyford Award Of Excellence: Original Concept Award Of Outstanding Excellence: Viewer Impact: Entertainment Value |
Audition |
France |
Loose Shorts |
Excellence |
Ballad of a Righteous Merchant |
USA |
Documentary |
Excellence |
BAXTER AND ME |
AU |
Documentary |
Excellence Award of Exceptional Merit: original Song, Elizabeth Drake Composer Gillian Leahy and Sue Brooks for final song in film |
Boomer Bands |
USA |
Documentary |
Excellence |
Burkas2Bullets60 |
Canada |
Documentary |
Excellence |
Dystopia (Animation) |
Switzerland |
Animated |
Excellence |
Flying on the Wings of Time -
Chapter Two - "Nostalgia" |
USA/Argentina |
Documentary |
Excellence |
House Of Stronzo |
USA |
Documentary |
Excellence |
I Will Not Write Unless I Am Swaddled In Furs |
New Zealand |
Tight Shorts |
Excellence |
Jeep Commercial Spec |
USA |
TV Commercials |
Excellence |
Lisa At Large |
USA |
TV Show |
Excellence |
Lord Of Hope |
USA |
Loose Shorts |
Excellence |
Mechanicalife |
Japan |
Animation |
Excellence |
PAMdemonium |
AU |
Documentary |
Excellence |
Protecting Tony |
USA |
Loose Shorts |
Excellence |
RAIN |
Canada |
Tight Shorts |
Excellence |
Saved By Grace |
USA |
Tight Shorts |
Exceptional Merit Award Of Excellence: Screenplay Award Of Excellence: Lead Actor, Spencer Trinwith |
South Texas Gentle Men of Steel -
Los Padres |
USA |
Documentary |
Excellence |
SURVEILLANCE |
UK |
Student |
Excellence |
The Evil I've Seen |
USA |
Loose Shorts |
Excellence |
The Great Lakusta |
Canada |
Tight Shorts |
Excellence |
The Hello Girls: The Story of
America's First Female Soldiers |
USA |
Documentary |
Excellence |
The Living Soul Television Show |
USA |
Documentary TV Show |
Excellence BOTH |
The Necropath |
USA |
Loose Shorts |
Excellence |
The Quiet Place |
USA |
Student |
Excellence |
The Silence Of OM |
Taiwan |
Art-house Film |
Excellence Award Of Excellence: Direction, Leading Lee Award Of Excellence: Original Score, Cheng-Hsien Yu |
The Silent Soldier and the Portrait |
USA |
Documentary |
Excellence |
UnderSee |
Canada |
Animation |
Excellence |
United Hopes |
USA |
Student Documentary |
Excellence |
Victor Goodview |
USA |
Drama |
Excellence |
A Moment In Time |
USA |
Drama Feature |
Exceptional Merit |
A.S. Inc. |
USA |
Student |
Exceptional Merit |
Almost Grownups Episode 2 - The
Dysfunctional Pirates |
USA |
Comedy |
Exceptional Merit |
Bigger Picture |
Canada |
Student |
Exceptional merit |
Binding the Shattered Harp |
USA |
Tight Shorts |
Exceptional merit |
Body Farm |
USA |
Horror |
Exceptional Merit |
Butterfly |
USA |
LGBT and Student |
Exceptional Merit BOTH |
Call for Fire |
USA |
Zero Budget |
Exceptional Merit |
Covenant |
Canada |
Horror |
Exceptional Merit |
cupid is not a terrorist |
Switzerland |
Tight Shorts |
Exceptional Merit |
Enlightenment |
Mexico |
Student |
Exceptional Merit |
God's River |
USA |
Documentary |
Exceptional Merit |
Heel on Red:The Life and Photography of Sam Holden |
USA |
Art-house Film |
Exceptional Merit |
Indelible Winter |
USA |
Art-house Film |
Exceptional Merit |
Irena Sendler - More Than a Footnote |
USA |
Student |
Exceptional Merit |
Little Rose |
USA |
Zero Budget |
Exceptional Merit |
Lungs of London |
UK |
Webisode |
Exceptional Merit |
Marked Web Series Episode 1: Scars
Re-opened |
Canada |
Webisode (Pilot) |
Exceptional Merit |
Medea |
USA |
Art-house Film |
Exceptional Merit Award Of Exceptional Merit: Lead Actor, Ed Berkeley Award Of Excellence: Lead Actress, Andronica Marquis Award of Exceptional Merit, Cinematography, Colten Becker Award Of Excellence: Direction, Andronica Marquis Award Of Exceptional Merit: Editing, Mark Oguschewitz Award Of Excellence: Coustume Design, SophiaThoreson Award Of Excellence: Original Score, Pat Marquis Award Of Excellence: Content/Message Delivery |
My Name Was January |
Canada |
LGBT |
Exceptional Merit |
REBIRTH (PUNARJANAM) |
India |
Inspirational |
Exceptional Merit Award Of Excellence: Lead Actor, AMAR JYOTI JHA |
Reliving Marilyn |
Canada |
Drama |
Exceptional Merit |
Requiem |
USA |
Drama |
Exceptional Merit |
Still, We'll Always Be Children |
Canada |
Inspirational and Tight Shorts |
Exceptional Merit Both |
The Gift of the Magi |
USA |
Student |
Exceptional Merit |
The Middle of Nowhere |
USA |
TV Show |
Exceptional Merit |
The Perception Of Time |
USA |
Art-House Film |
Exceptional Merit |
The Radicalization of Jeff Boyd |
Switzerland |
Drama Feature |
Exceptional Merit |
The Red Thread |
USA |
Tight Shorts |
Exceptional Merit |
The River |
USA |
LGBT and PSA |
Exceptional Merit Both |
Top Coat Cash |
USA |
Drama |
Exceptional Merit |
Upstate Story |
USA |
Zero Budget |
Exceptional Merit Award Of Exceptional Merit: Original Score Award Of Exceptional Merit: Script Writer, Shaun Rose, Andrea Stangle, Bruce Rose Sr. Score- Jacob W. Veitch Award Of Excellence: Direction, Shaun Rose
|
A Season Of Change |
USA |
Inspirational |
Merit |
Blackout |
USA |
Student |
Merit |
Conservation Invasion |
USA |
Student |
Merit |
Expectations |
USA |
Student |
Merit |
Fall |
Canada |
Tight Shorts |
Merit |
Fearless Visionaries Tear the Veil |
USA |
Documentary |
Merit Award Of Excellence: Content/Message Delivery |
Flowers of Marrakech |
USA |
Student |
Merit |
How To Get A Boyfriend |
USA |
Tight Shorts |
Merit |
Identification |
Hungary |
Loose Shorts |
Merit |
Lulu en el Jardin |
USA |
Student |
Merit |
Lyrics from a Bleeding Heart |
USA |
LGBT |
Merit |
Moris |
Israel |
Inspirational |
Merit |
Morning Run |
USA |
Alternate Media |
Merit |
Never Alone |
USA |
Art-house Film Tight Shorts Inspirational |
Merit ALL 3 MAIN Categories Award Of Exceptional Merit: Script Writer, Ronnie Michael, Dexter Clay, Ariel Michael Award Of Exceptional Merit: Vierwer Impact: Inspirational Award Of Exceptional Merit: Original score Award Of Excellence: Content/Mesage Delivery Award Of Merit: Cinematography, Alex Barlcay Award Of Excellence: Direction, Ronnie Michael |
Nothing But, Television Comedy
Pilot |
USA |
TV Show |
Merit |
Nothing Special |
Canada |
Zero Budget |
Merit |
Pǔ YĆ¹n |
India |
Student |
Merit |
Raghni |
India |
Student |
Merit |
The Campaign for Camelot |
USA |
Webisode (Pilot) |
Merit |
The Chinese Famine |
UK |
Student |
Merit |
The Delivery Driver |
USA |
Student |
Merit |
The Facts Of Life |
USA |
Zero Budget |
Merit |
Toilet Man |
USA |
Student |
Merit |
Old Hearts Cafe |
USA |
Tight Shorts |
Kudos |
The Crazy Star |
Austria |
Zero Budget |
Kudos |
The Dental Plan |
Canada |
Drama |
Kudos |
ADORE THE WORLD/ivo bol |
Netherlands/China |
Award Of Excellence: Sound Editing |
A NIGHT DREAM |
Italy |
Award Of Merit: Original Concept |
Betrayed |
USA |
Award Of Excellence :Custume Design |
Half-Breed |
USA |
Award Of Merit: Stunt/Fight
Choreography, Blackhawk Walters |
Miss Bonita Springs 1967 |
USA |
Award Of Merit :Lead actress,
Deborah Smith Ford |
PEGASUS, FLY! |
UK |
Award Of Merit: Lead Actor, Tymoteusz Kulig |
Savannah |
AU |
Award Of Outstanding Excellence:
Original Song, Ivy-Jane Browne |
Synthetic Phoenix |
USA |
Award Of Excellence:
Content/Message Delivery |