2023 Indie Memphis Film Festival
Award Winners

Winner by Category

JURY AWARDS

NARRATIVE FEATURES

Awarded by jury members Zeba Blay, Kyle Brett, Robert Daniels, Robyn Citizen

  • Best Narrative Feature, MOUNTAINS (Dir. Monica Sorelle) - $1000 Cash Prize

  • Duncan Williams Best Screenplay Award, THE FEELING THAT THE TIME FOR DOING SOMETHING HAS PASSED (Dir. Joanna Arnow) - $1000 Cash Prize


    DOCUMENTARY FEATURES

Awarded by jury members Zia Anger, Nia Hampton
(Sponsored by Classic American Hardwoods)

  • Best Documentary Feature, GOING TO MARS: THE NIKKI GIOVANNI PROJECT (Dirs. Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson) - $1000 Cash Prize

  • Special Jury Mention: Documentary Feature, MISSISSIPPI RIVER STYX (Dirs. Andy McMillan, Tim Grant)


HOMETOWNER

Awarded by jury members Alison Inman, Kristen Warner

  • Best Hometowner Feature, SPIRIT OF MEMPHIS (Dir. Alicia Ester) - $1000 Cash Prize

  • Special Jury Mention: Hometowner Feature, I AM (Dir. Jessica Chaney)

  • Best Hometowner Narrative Short, ETTO (Dir. Zaire Love) - $500 Cash Prize

  • Best Hometowner Documentary Short, SLICE (Dir. Zaire Love) - $500 Cash Prize


DEPARTURES

Awarded by jury members Aaron Hunt, Alex Huggins, Lydia Ogwang

  • Best Departures Feature, LA BONGA (Dirs. ​​Sebastián Pinzón Silva, Canela Reyes) - $500 Cash Prize

  • Special Jury Mention: Departures Feature, REJEITO (Dir. Pedro de Filippis)


SOUNDS

Awarded by jury members Clyde Folley, Morgan Rhodes, Jamila Wignot

  • Best Sounds Feature, EVEN HELL HAS ITS HEROES (Dir. Clyde Petersen) - $500 Cash Prize

  • Best National Music Video, "SLUT" by POLLYANNA (Dir. Jasia Ka)

  • Best Hometowner Music Video, "IF YOU FEEL ALONE AT PARTIES" BY BLVCK HIPPIE (Dir. Lawrence Shaw)


SHORTS

Awarded by jury members Rachael Acosta, Jeanelle Augustin, Xenia Matthews

  • Best Documentary Short, THIS IS NOT A SPORTS FILM (Dir. Lily Ahree Siegel) - $500 Cash

  • Best Narrative Short, BENEDICTION (Dir. Zandashé Brown) - $500 Cash Prize

  • Best Departures Short, AMMA KI KATHA (Dir. Nehal Vyas)


indiegrants

Awarded by jury members Blair Barnes, Alece Oxendine, Christopher Yogi
(Sponsored by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission and Mark Jones, with Rentals and Donations Provided by Firefly Grip & Electric, LensRentals, Archer Recording Studio, and VIA)

  • 55 SOUTH by Alicia Ester - $15K Grant ($7.5K cash, $7.5K In-Kind Filmmaking Services)

  • FRIEND SHAPED by Lo Norman - $15K Grant ($7.5K cash, $7.5K In-Kind Filmmaking Services)


POSTER DESIGN

Awarded by jury members Richard Echols, Kathryn Hicks, Allie Mounce

  • Jury Award for Best Poster Design, AN EVENING SONG (FOR THREE VOICES)

 
 

FESTIVAL AWARDS


RON TIBBETT SOUL OF SOUTHERN FILM AWARD

MISSISSIPPI RIVER STYX (Dirs. Andy McMillan, Tim Grant)


CRAIG BREWER EMERGING FILMMAKER

DONNA AND ALLY (Dir. Connor Mahony)


VISION AWARD

Molly Wexler


INDIE AWARD

Laura Jean Hocking


BEST AFTER DARK

BE THYSELF (Dir. Daniel Rosendale)

AUDIENCE AWARDS


NARRATIVE FEATURE

LATE BLOOMERS (Dir. Lisa Steen)


DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

BLACK BARBIE: A DOCUMENTARY (Dir. Lagueria Davis)


SOUNDS FEATURE

THE BLUES SOCIETY (Dir. Augusta Palmer)


DEPARTURES

THE TASTE OF MANGO (Dir. Chloe Abrahams)


HOMETOWNER FEATURE

THE FIRST CLASS (Dir. Lee Hirsch)

NATIONAL NARRATIVE SHORT

HICKEY (Dir. Giovanna Molina)


NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT

PLEASE ASK FOR IT (Dir. Allison Waid)


DEPARTURES SHORT

PREP (Dir. Raymond Knudsen)


HOMETOWNER NARRATIVE SHORT

r.e.g.g.i.N (Dir. A.D. Smith)


HOMETOWNER DOCUMENTARY SHORT

SLICE (Dir. Zaire Love)


HOMETOWNER MUSIC VIDEO

"ARKANSAS IS NICE" by BAILEY BIGGER (Dir. Joshua Cannon)


NATIONAL MUSIC VIDEO

"SO MISUNDERSTOOD" BY JAKLYN (Dirs. Seretse Njemanze, Jehnovah Carlisle)


POSTER DESIGN

JUVENILE: 5 STORIES (Dirs. Joann Self Selvidge, Sarah Fleming)

 

2023 Festival Sponsors