Film Competition Award Winners By Year SDiFF2024 Oct 16-20, 2024 [ 1]
Artistic Director's Award: Drive Back Home Best Gala Film: Conclave Best Feature Film: Bob Trevino Likes It Best Documentary: Moses 13 Steps Breakthrough International: Mariana's Trench Best International Feature: Stranger's Case Best Drama Feature: The Uninvited Best Women's Film Series: We Are Dangerous Best Short Doc: Hello Stranger Best Short Narrative: The Last Ranger Best Shorts Track: Heartstrings Best International Short Film: Il Taglio Di Jonas Best Animation: Luki and the Lights Kumeyaay Award: Bring Them Home Best Student Film: Xander Audience Choice Awards:
Audience Choice Feature: Evergreen$ Audience Choice Documentary: Bring Them Home Audience Choice Short: Buscando Alma Audience Choice Gala: September 5 SDiFF2023 Oct 18-22, 2023 [ 2]
Artistic Director's Award: Fresh Kills Best Gala Film: American Fiction Best Feature Film: Blood For Dust Best Documentary: The Grab Breakthrough Documentary: Hidden Masters Best International Feature: Ariel: Back to Buenos Aires Best Drama Feature: Junction Best Comedy Feature: A Kind of Kidnapping Best Women's Film Series: Miranda's Victim Best Short Doc: Squid Fleet Best Short Narrative: Things Unheard Of Best Shorts Track: Global Consciousness Track Best International Short Film: Lambing Best Animation: American Sikh Kumeyaay Award: Before The Sun Best Student Film: The External-Internal Monologue of an Interdependent Insomniac Best Military: Brothers After War Audience Choice Awards:
Audience Choice Feature: Three Storey Comedy Audience Choice Documentary: Brothers After War Audience Choice Short: Desi Standard Time Travel Audience Choice Gala: The Holdovers SDiFF2022 Oct 19-23, 2022 [ 3]
Artistic Director's Award: American Murderer (dir. Matthew Gentile) Best Gala Film: The Banshees of Inisherin Best Feature Film: Freedom's Path Best Documentary: With This Breath I Fly Best International Feature: The Woman In the White Car Best Drama Feature: What We Do Next Best Comedy Feature: Róise & Frank Best Women's Film Series: The Moon & Back Best Ensemble Cast: Bleecker Best Short Doc: For the Bees Best Short Narrative: Shower Boys Best International Short Film: The Red Suitcase Best Animation: Tehura Kumeyaay Award: The Wind & the Reckoning Best Local Film: Don't Do It Best Student Film: Black Whole Valor Award: Mending the Line (dir. John Waller) Audience Choice Awards:
SDiFF2021 Oct 14-24, 2021 [ 4]
Best Feature Film: Queen of Glory (dir. Nana Mensah ) Best Documentary Feature: Holy Frit (dir. Justin Monroe) Best International Feature: Petite Maman (dir. Céline Sciamma ) Best Thriller Feature: The Boathouse (dir. Hannah Cheesman ) Best Drama Feature: The Beta Test (dir. Jim Cummings) Best Comedy Feature: They/Them/Us (dir. Jon Sherman) Best Ensemble Cast: Voodoo Macbeth Best Short Doc: The Bitter Root Best International Short: Good Morning, Ignacio (dir. Alan Jonsson Gavica & Leticia Fabián) Best Animation: Freebird Kumeyaay Award: Pictures of My People (dir. Mark Ruberg) Military Award: Do Not Hesitate Best Local Film: Cheyenne Best Student (College): Cheyenne Best Student (High School): Mazel Tov Chris Brinker Award: Women is Losers (dir. Lissette Feliciano)\ Audience Choice Awards:
SDiFF2020 Oct 15-18, 2020 [ 5]
Best Narrative Feature: Drunk Bus (dir. John Carlucci and Brandon LaGanke) Best Documentary: MLK/FBI (dir. Sam Pollard) Best International Feature: 150 Million Magical Sparrows (dirs. Brahmanand S. Singh , Tanvi Jain) Best Thriller Feature: Through the Glass Darkly (dir. Lauren Fash) Best Drama Feature: Farewell Amor (dir. Ekwa Msangi) Best Comedy Feature: Eat Wheaties! (dir. Scott Abramovitch) Best Ensemble Cast: Before/During/After (dir. Stephen Kunken , Jack Lewars) Best Short Documentary: Panthoot (dir. Richard Reens) Best Short Narrative: Last Queen on Earth (dir. Michael Shumway) Best International Short Film: Chen Chen (dir. Kargo Chen) Best Animation: To: Gerard (dir. Taylor Meacham) Kumeyaay Award: Invasion: The Unist'ot'en's Fight for Sovereignty ( dirs. Michael Toledano, Sam Vinal) Best Local Film: Anna (dir. Rich Underwood) Chris Brinker Award: The MisEducation of Bindu (dir. Prarthana Mohan) Artistic Director's Award: You Asked for the Facts: Bobby Kennedy at the Univ of Mississippi Audience Choice Awards:
Audience Choice Documentary: The Mustangs: America's Wild Horses Audience Choice Short: Feeling Through (dir. Doug Roland) Audience Choice Gala: Nomadland Audience Choice Feature: Drunk Bus SDiFF2019 Joey Travolta directed Carol of the Belles, Winner of the 2019 Audience Award for Best Feature Film Award Oct 15-20, 2019 [ 6] [ 7]
Best Narrative Feature : The Steed (dir. Erdenebileg Ganbold) Best Documentary: Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching Wa r (dir. Kerry David) Best Short Film: Long Time Listener, First Time Caller (dir. Nora Kirkpatrick) Best International Short Film: Portraitist (dir. Cyrus Neshvad) Best Animation: Riptide Best Global Cinema: Philophobia (dir. Guy Davies) Kumeyaay Award: Angelique's Isle (dir. Marie-Hélène Cousineau , Michelle Derosier) Best Ensemble Cast: Inside Game (dir. Randall Batinkoff ) Best Original Screenplay: Love in Kilnerry (dir. Daniel Keith) Best World Premiere: 100 Days to Live (dir. Ravin Gandhi ) Best Student Film: Sonora Best Local Film: Flourish (dir. Christopher Allan Francis, Nicole Franco) Best Comedy Film: Babysplitters (dir. Sam Friedlander) Best Thriller Feature: Safe Inside (dir. Renata Gabryjelska) Litecoin Filmmaker Award: Philophobia Artistic Director's Award: Safe Spaces (dir. Daniel Schechter ) Audience Choice Awards:
Studio Film: Marriage Story (dir. Noah Baumbach ) Feature Film: Carol of the Bells (dir. Joey Travolta ) Documentary: Breaking Their Silence, Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War (dir. Kerry David) Short Film: Men of Vision (dir. Frank Todaro) SDiFF2018 Garrard Conley & Joel Edgerton , writer and director of Boy Erased Oct 10-14, 2018 [ 8] | Jury Awards:
Best Animation: The Driver is Red (dir. Randall Christopher) Best Student Film: Learning to Swim Best Global Cinema: My Name is "Batlir", Not Butler (dir. Stare Yildirim) Kumeyaay Award: Indian Horse Most Inspirational Film: The Push (dir. Grant Korgan, Brian Niles) Best World Premiere: Electric Love (dir. Aaron Fradkin) Best Local Film: Daisy Belle (dir. William Wall ) Best Local Breakout: Romance is Dead (dir. Todd Jackson) Best Short Film: Akeda (dir. Dan Bronfield) Best Short Comedy Film: Hero (dir. Drew and Nate Garcia) Best Documentary: Stroop: Journey into the Rhino Horn War Best Thriller: Rust Creek Best Breakout Feature: I May Regret (dir. Graham Streeter ) Best Feature Film: Tiger Artistic Directors' Award: Soufra (dir. Thomas A. Morgan) Audience Choice Awards:
Best Documentary: Soufra Best Feature: I May Regret Best Short: Your Call Is Important To Us Best Studio: Boy Erased SDiFF2017 Audience Choice Award Winner for Best Studio Film Oct 4-8, 2017 [ 9] | Jury Awards:
Best Narrative Feature: The Bachelors (dir. Kurt Voelker) Best Documentary: The Last Animals Best Short Film: The Foster Portfolio Best Foreign Short: Ostoja Will Move Your Piano Best Animated Short: Green Light (dir. Seong-Min Kim) Best Global Cinema: The Divine Order Kumeyayy Eagle Award: Waabooz (dir. Molly Katagiri) Best Military Film: Apache Warrior (dir. David Salzberg, Christian Tureaud) Best Ensemble Film: Butterfly Caught (dir. Manny Rodriguez Jr.) Best World Premiere: Dismissed (dir. Benjamin Arfmann) Best Comedy Feature: The Lonely Italian (dir. Lee Farber) Best Breakthrough Feature: Selling Isobel Chairman's Award: Dog Years (dir. Adam Rifkin) Audience Choice Awards:
Best Documentary: Resistance is Life ( dir. Apo W. Bazidi) Best Feature: Life Hack Best Short: The Dog With the Woman (dir. Phoebe Arnstein, Stephen Ledger-Lomas) Best Studio: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri SDiFF2016 Kevin Pollak accepted the Best Comedy Award in 2016 for The Late Bloomer which he directed. Sept 28-Oct 2, 2016 [ 10] | Jury Awards:
Audience Choice Awards:
SDFF2015 Sep 30-Oct 4, 2015 [ 11] | Jury Awards:
Best Narrative Feature – Diablo Best Documentary – India's Daughter Best International Film – Victoria Best Narrative Short – SubRosa (dir. Thora Hilmarsdottir) Best Animated Film – SOAR (dir. Alyce Tzue) Best Military Film – No Greater Love (dir. Justin Roberts) Kumeyaay Award – For Blood (dir. Chadwick Pelletier, John T. Connor) Chairman's Award – Kidnap Capital Audience Choice:
SDFF2014 Sep 24-28, 201 4 [ 12] [ 13] | Jury Awards:
Best Narrative Feature: Where the Road Runs Out (dir. Rudolf Buitendach ) Best Documentary: Waiting for Mamu Best International: Schimbarev (dir. Álex Sampayo) Best Narrative Short: The Bravest, The Boldest (dir. Moon Molson) Best Animated Film: The Dam Keeper Kumeyaay Award: Sycuan: Our People. Our Culture. Our History. U-T San Diego Award: Where the Road Runs Out Chairman's Award: The Hornet's Nest Audience Choice:
SDFF2013 Oct 2-6, 2013 [ 14] | Jury Awards:
SDFF2011 [ 17]
Audience Choice:
SDFF2010 Audience Choice:
Mira Sorvino won the Best Actress Award in 2009 SDFF2009 [ 18]
Audience Choice:
SDFF2008 [ 19]
Best Feature - Summerhood (dir. Jacob Medjuck) Best Actress - Sasha Alexander - The Last Lullaby Best Actor - Michael Tassoni - The Appearance of a Man (dir. Daniel Pace) Heineken Red Star Award - The Appearance of a Man Physical Graffiti Best Action Sports Story - Against the Grain Best Short - In the Name of the Son Best Documentary - Uncounted (dir. David Earnhardt) Best Music Video - Greg Laswell - How the Day Sounds Best San Diego Short - Residue Audience Choice:
SDFF2007 Paul Schrader won Best Screenplay in 2007 Sept 27-30, 2007 [ 20] [ 21]
Best Feature Film: Intervention (dir. Mary McGuckian ) Best Documentary - Kurt Cobain: About A Son Best Short - Rory Kindersley, “Slingers ” Best Director - Alfredo De Villa , Adrift in Manhattan Best Screenplay - The Walker , written by Paul Schrader Best Cinematography - The Northern Kingdom , Mark Schwartzbard Best Actor - Brian Petersen, Coyote Best Actress - Jennifer Tilly , Intervention Best Female Filmmaker - Annie Sunderberg, The Devil Came on Horseback Best San Diego Filmmaker - Greg Durbin, “Passing Through” Best Music Video - "Paramount" by Deadarm, Cleopatra, Kb. Directed by Carlos Florez Heineken Red Star Award - Killing Zelda Sparks SDFF2006 Sept. 27 – Oct. 1, 2006 [ 22] [ 23]
Best Feature Film - Danika Best Director - Jordan Albertsen, The Standard Best Screenplay - Tim Boughn, Neo Ned Best Documentary -- Chasing the Horizon Best Short - "Olyver Brody" Best Female Filmmaker - Heather MacAllister, The Narrow Gate Best Actor - Ryan Donowho , The Favor Best Actress - Regina Hall , Danika San Diego Filmmaker - "Nothing To Do With Amy" Felicity Huffman won Best Actress in 2005 Best Music Video - "Just Go", Misdirection Best Music Video Director—Fernando Apodaca, "Life Wasted ", Pearl Jam Audience Choice:
Best Feature - Neo Ned Best Documentary - The Creek Runs Red SDFF2005 Sept 21-25, 2005 [ 24]
Best Feature Film - "Innocent Voices ," (dir. Luis Mandoki ) Best Documentary - "Earthlings ," (dir. Shaun Monson ) Best Short Film - "Apartment 206 ," (dir. Gregory Zymet) Best Screenplay - "When Do We Eat ," (dir. Nina Davidovich & Salvador Litvak ) Best Actor - Carlos Padilla Lenero, "Innocent Voices " Best Actress - Felicity Huffman , "Transamerica " Best Director - Christopher Jaymes , " In Memory of My Father " San Diego Feature Film - "Everyone Their Grain of Sand", (dir. Elizabeth Bird) San Diego Filmmaker – Canaan Brumley, " Ears, Open. Eyeballs, Click. " Crystal Vision – Gable-Cook-Schmid Public Relations Audience Choice:
SDFF2004 Sept 29 - Oct 4, 2004 [ 25]
Night of the Stars Honorees SDiFF2024
October 17, 2024 [ 27]
SDiFF2023
No awards banquet was held in 2021 due to the 2023 SAG/AFTRA strike .
SDiFF2021 Oct 14-24, 2021
No awards banquet was held in 2021 due to COVID-19 protocols about social distancing.
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