The awards are presented to filmmakers of the highest-scoring films in the

Narrative Feature Film
Presented to the filmmaker of the Festival audience’s choice of best non-documentary feature (60 min or more) of the entire Official Selection.

Short Film Audience Award
Presented to the filmmaker(s) of the Festival audience’s choice of best non-documentary short (30 min or less) of the entire Official Selection.

The final score is calculated by averaging audience ratings and multiplying by the fractional voting participation (that is, the number of people who choose to vote out of the total attendance at each screening). In the event of a close score ie. 1/10 of a percentage point, a tie is declared. Ratings and scores are entered on numeric scale via paper ballots and remain confidential.

2026 Recipients

Audience Feature Film Award: Comandante Fritz directed by Pavel Giroud

First runner up: Milly Queen of Merenge, directed by Leticia Tonos

Second runner up: I Swear, directed by Kirk Jones

Audience Documentary Film Award: Runa Simi, directed by Augusto Zegarra

First runner-up: Revolution’s Daughter, directed by Thaddeus D. Matula

Second runner-up: Perseverancia, un ensayo documental sobre Tomás Sánchez, directed by Juan Carlos Martín

Made In MIA Audience Award: The Mecca, The Legends of Traz Powell Stadium directed by Nicanson Guerrier

First runner-up: Tropical Park, directed by Hansel Porras Garcia

Second runner-up: An Instrumental Start – A Model for the Nation, directed by Brian Bayerl, Mike Huter

Short Film Audience Award: One Last Order directed by Lauren DeFilippo

First runner-up: The Floor Remembers, directed by Jayme Kaye Gershen

Second runner-up: Beast of the Seine, directed by Jon Portman

Past Recipients