top of page
THE FESTIVAL
Festigious is a monthly film and screenplay competition dedicated to celebrating outstanding independent filmmaking from around the world. Each month, our jury selects the winners through private screenings and evaluations.
In addition to the monthly competition, Festigious hosts an annual competition recognizing the year's most outstanding projects across a wide range of categories, including Narrative Film, Documentary, Screenplay, and more. The annual jury also selects the prestigious Best of Fest winner from a small group of exceptional nominees.
Our mission is twofold: to support and promote independent filmmakers worldwide, and to champion greater gender equality across the film industry.
Festigious on IMDb: www.imdb.com/event/ev0003920
The Festival
REVIEWS
WHAT FILMMAKERS SAY #1
It is difficult to express my respect for this festival and especially for the people behind it. They worked hard to keep me informed at every step in the process. I was in fact told extremely early that my film had been accepted, and then Roy Zafrani kept me up to date on a level only matched (but not surpassed!) by the Festigious partners with whom he is also associated.
I cannot recommend this online festival highly enough!
— Eric Player, Director of "Moment of Anger"
SUBMIT YOUR FILM
Submit
If your project includes at least one woman in a key crew role*, we'd be happy to offer you a special 20% submission discount. Simply use the code festigious20fem when submitting through FilmFreeway.
* In one of the following key roles: Director, Producer, Cinematographer, Editor, Composer and Writer.
SPECIAL DISCOUNT
Film Reviews
Picture Taker: Film Review
Picture Taker / Written and Directed by Joe Zappa David Andrew James as Snoop True film noir relies on atmosphere, perspective, and a sense of impending dread. In Picture Taker, writer-director Joe Zappa delivers all three with breathtaking precision, crafting a dark psychological thriller that honors noir traditions while pushing into terrifying new territory. The story follows a private eye, played with magnetic vulnerability by David Andrew James, who takes on a routine as
Chronically Yours: Film Review
Chronically Yours / Directed by Jacob Godbey Chronically Yours is a deeply personal documentary that follows Aubrey, a 27-year-old woman navigating life with Multiple Sclerosis while preparing for something that feels both exciting and intimidating: a first date. Through her experiences, director Jacob Godbey explores the daily realities of living with a chronic illness, from physical limitations and uncertainty to questions of identity, independence, and connection. What mak
Texas Rhapsody: Film Review
Texas Rhapsody Written by Sam Pfiester Directed by Taylor Stanley Inspired by real stories and grounded in the experiences of the people portraying them, Texas Rhapsody is a thoughtful and deeply human drama that explores immigration, family, opportunity, and the many different paths that lead people to America. One of the film's most remarkable achievements is its casting. Working with non-professional actors who are essentially playing versions of themselves is never easy,
A Close Divide - Screenplay Review
Jesse Dorian's "A Close Divide" is a bold and unsettling screenplay that pushes into difficult, taboo territory while maintaining a...
Review: Unmasking Autism by Marlow Jean Paniccia
At just 14 years old, Marlow Jean Paniccia has created something remarkable: Unmasking Autism: The Art of Being Different is not just a...
A Silent Dream: The Mesmerizing Power of Ice Breath
When I watched Ice Breath , I felt like I was being transported into a dream: one where time slows, and nature’s voice speaks without...
WINNERS
Winners - June 2026
Best Picture UNbecoming - Patrick Moreau Best Narrative Feature Texas Rhapsody - Sam Pfiester, Taylor Stanley Best Narrative Short The Messenger - Dong Hwa Park Best Indie Feature Call me Joe - Franco Ceredi Best Drama Texas Rhapsody - Sam Pfiester, Taylor Stanley Best Comedy Walter's Internal Battle - Dean Attari Best AI Film The Petrified Keel - Albert Verges, Pau Castel Best Inspirational Film CastelLact Project - Jose M. Soriano, Carmen I. Saéz Lleó Best Documentary Featu
Winners - April 2026
Best Picture Memory for Burial - Charlotte Jarrix, Maud Guillaumin Best Narrative Film Wallie's Gals - Mary C. Ferrara Best Indie Film Eight Ball - Oliver Crooms Best Comedy Wallie's Gals - Mary C. Ferrara Best AI Film DjinnAI - Dana Gaidarzhy Best Inspirational Film A Cup of Faith - Angelo Oddo Best Musical/Dance Film Crazy Lady - Megan Beattie, Daria Rountree Best Web/TV Pilot Amber B - Jennifer Treur Best Documentary Feature Memory for Burial - C
Winners - February 2026
Best Picture The Three Of Us - Claudia Ventura Best Indie Film The Three Of Us - Claudia Ventura Best AI Film Marked for SNUFF - Pavel Karusev Best Inspirational Film The Foxhole - John Kestner Best Music Video You Are Special - Anna Khanina, Ilia Noyabrov Best Student Film The Decision - Carel (Carlito) Lee Pearce Best Commercial Space Odyssey - Jorge Ospina Best Original Story The Three Of Us - Claudia Ventura Screenplay of the Month The Final Fight -
Winners - December 2025
Best Picture Pinocchio and the Water of Life - Victor Luckysov Best Narrative Film Scar - Wang Heran Best Indie Feature Do You See Her? - Caridad Polee, Matthew Villescas Best Indie Short RED - Borja Ros Best Drama The Crossing - Bingan Li Best Comedy The Funeral - Nick Casal Best Dark Comedy The Higher-up Says - Deng Weixiong Best AI Film Railbound - Jonathan Perry, Alex Naghavi Best Parody The Funeral - Nick Casal Best Documentary After 30 Years Back
Winners - October 2025
Best Picture See - Erika Waldorf, Krystle Hosmer Best Narrative Film See - Erika Waldorf, Krystle Hosmer Best Indie Film Float - Yam Presberg Best Drama Before the next step - Zou Zheng Best Comedy Sunday League - Jamie Bourne Best AI Film Echoes in the Grey: The Stardust Drifter - Misha George Best Sci-Fi Requiem Zone IV - Legacy of The Gravelord - Leonidas Alexandrou Goudelis Best Documentary Feature Brown & Bonded - James Evans Best Documentary Short
Winners - September 2025
Best Picture Sweet Störy - Sarah Justine Kerruish, Matt Maude Best Narrative Film The Cage - Zhuoxi Sun Best Indie Film MEASURED - Luis Oliveira Best Drama Who will take care of you when you're old? - Sašo Dudić Best Dark Comedy MEASURED - Luis Oliveira Best AI Film Wings of love - Younjae Lee Best Inspirational Film The Colors of Silence - Miguel Angel Urina, Jorge Ospina, Silvana Barahona, Liliana Pinilla Best Documentary Feature Sweet Störy - Sarah Justi
Annual Nom&Win
12th Annual Festigious 2026 - The Nominees
Behind every great independent film is a community of artists who said "yes" to a dream, working against the odds to bring something beautiful into the world. As we look at the official nominees for the 12th Annual Festigious Awards, we don't just see incredible pieces of cinema - we see the heart, hustle, and soul of creators who poured everything they had into the frame. Leading our celebration this year with a spectacular 7 nominations is Eva's Conundrum, a wonderfully ima
11th Annual Festigious 2025 - The Nominees
For eleven years, Festigious has dedicated itself to honoring the fierce, independent spirit of creators who push the boundaries of visual storytelling. Narrowing down the immense caliber of international entries this season was a profound challenge, but the official nominees for 2025 reflect a breathtaking mastery across wildly diverse genres -from haunting thrillers to deeply moving documentaries. Leading the competitive field this year with 5 nominations each are two extra
10th Annual Festigious 2024 - The Winners
Best of Fest Dying to Sleep - Paris Dylan Best Narrative Feature Roop Nagar Ke Cheetey - Vihan Suryavanshi Best Narrative Short Ginny's Enterprise - Suzanne Marie Moreau Best Indie Film I Do Not - Nkoyo Armstrong Best Documentary CANCER/EVOLUTION - Maggie Jones, Brad Jones Best Animation Dog Days - Hailey Bair Best Music Video Affentanz - Hunter - Cyprian Hercka Best Student Film Cells - Sitong Xue, Jinyang Wang Best Director Hey Alexa - Xochi Blymyer Best First Time Director
9th Annual Festigious 2023 - The Winners
Best of Fest Gaganachari - Arun Chandu Best Narrative Feature Gaganachari - Arun Chandu Best Narrative Short Aping Edwin Porter - James O'Donnell Best Indie Film Goggles - Brenda Laidman, Anna Nadtotchii Best Documentary Feature Girl Unscripted - Tara Veneruso Best Documentary Short Bang On Time - Christoph Handl Best Animation A-Hâ's Egg Cake - Raymond Lau Best Music Video UMA2RMAN - Atomic love - Vitaliy Kapitonov Best Student Film In Sky, Full of Stars - Shun Sean Lee Best
10th Annual Festigious 2024 - The Nominees
We're excited to announce nominees for the 10th annual Festigious 2024: Best of Fest 2024 Affentanz - Hunter - Cyprian Hercka Phoenix Incident - Keith Arem Roop Nagar Ke Cheetey - Vihan Suryavanshi Dying to Sleep - Paris Dylan Boss of the Toss - Chris Harboldt Aftermath - Gergo Elekes, József Gallai Best Narrative Feature Goodbye, White Guy - Milos Ajdinovic REVEILLE - Michael Akkerman Roop Nagar Ke Cheetey - Vihan Suryavanshi Natura - Mickael Perret Two Birds and a Stone. -
9th Annual Festigious 2023 - The Nominees
We're excited to announce nominees for the 9th annual Festigious 2023: Best of Fest 2023 The Crossing - Tomas Simonsen Girl Unscripted - Tara Veneruso Gaganachari - Arun Chandu Murder, Anyone? - James Cullen Bressack In Sky, Full of Stars - Shun Sean Lee Tito - Anthony Notarile, Andy Tworischuk Best Narrative Feature The Crossing - Tomas Simonsen Gaganachari - Arun Chandu Murder, Anyone? - James Cullen Bressack Tnaash - Boudy Sfeir Meet My Pet Monster - James Matthew Storm Ho
Contact Us
CONTACT US
festigious (at) gmail.com
bottom of page