Durango Independent Film Festival
2026 JURY AWARD WINNERS
Jury Award – Best Narrative Feature
The Color of Exile: Africa Blanca
Director: Azlarabe Alaoui Lamharzi
Jury Award – Best Performance Actor Narrative Feature
Bryan Mittelstadt in Quiet After Supper
Jury Award - Best Documentary Feature
Voices: The Danny Gans Story
Director: Andrew Davies Gans
AND
Yanuni
Director: Richard Ladkani
Jury Award - Best Documentary Short
The Birds
Directors: David Allen and Martin Dohrn
Jury Award – Best Native Cinema Film
Yiyíistsʼą́ą́ʼ (Listen)
Director: Malakye Tsosie
Jury Award – Best Adventure Film
A Life Outside: American Mountain Guides
Director: Mat Hames
Jury Award - Best Live Action Narrative Short
Grossness of Closeness
Director: Cathal Power
Jury Award - Best Animated Short
Beast of the Seine
Director: Jon Portman
2026 AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Audience Award – Best Narrative Feature Film
AONTAS
Director: Damian McCann
Producer: Christopher Myers & Orfhlaith Ni Chearnaigh
Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature Film
Lost Wolves of Yellowstone
Director: Thomas Winston
Producer: Thomas Winston | Grizzly Creek Films
Audience Award – Best Documentary Short
What the River Knows
Director: Diego Riley & Will Buckley
Producer: Good Intentions Paving Co
Audience Award - Best Narrative Short Film
SAVERIO
Director: Ellen Ancui
Producer: Connie Jo Sechrist & Ellen Ancui
Audience Award - Best Animated Short
Beast of the Seine
Director: Jon Portman
Producer: Andrew Ackerman | Most Improved Productions
Audience Award – Best Native Cinema Film
Dream Touch Believe
Director: Jenna Naranjo Winters
Producer: Jenna Naranjo Winters, Bill Stengel, & Stephen Kobren
Audience Award – Best Adventure Film
Adapted
Director: Paul Bikis
Producer: Paul Bikis | Step Forward Films
Audience Award – Best Family Film
Forevergreen
Director: Nathan Engelhardt & Jeremy Spears
Producer: Steph Gortz & Jennifer Gandrup Sackheim
Audience Award – Best REEL Learning Film
Director: Carrie McCarthy & Mark Pedri
Producer: Carrie McCarthy & Helena Vilaplana Carnerero