Past Festivals

2025

April 24, 25, and 26

View the archived 2025 schedule page, program booklet, and extended details about 2025 competition films.

  • ISU Filmmakers - Fan Favorite Awards

    • 1st Place: Revolution in the Wind by Mustafizur Rahat

    • 2nd Place: A Look at the Ex-Guitarist of Midwestern Rock Band 'Left of Passage' by Jack Sinks

    • 3rd Place: The House on Garling by Aaron Wolf, Jac Vonachen, Austin Feaman, Marz’ja Ray, and J.D. Lopatowski

    Competition Filmmakers - Category Awards

    • Best High School Narrative Film: Purgatory by Owen McCourt

    • Best High School Animation/Experimental: EX1L3D by Simon Finkel and Cameron Janitschke

    • Best High School Documentary: Guiding Light by India Anne Mitchell

    • Best College/University Narrative Film: Don Chingón by Carlos Lerma

    • Best College/University Animation/Experimental: Escalate by Owen Elliott

    • Best College/University Documentary Film: Mail Myself to You by Imogen Pranger

2024

April 26, 27, and 28

View the archived 2024 schedule page and program booklet.

  • Competition Filmmakers - Category Awards

    • Best High School Narrative Film: Alex Fako, Manners & Mannerisms

    • Best High School Animation: Renee Shi, American Dream

    • Best High School Documentary: Max Rideout, metamorphosis

    • Best College/University Narrative Film: MingHao He, Love is a Crime

    • Best College/University Animation: Marissa Hicks, Dreamwalker

    • Best College/University Documentary Film: Johnny Martinez, VHS Girl

    ISU Filmmakers - Fan Favorite Awards

    • 1st Place: Adam Bloemer, The Flute Man

    • 2nd Place: Jameel Mukarram, Threads of Consciousness

    • 3rd Place: Wyatt Saia, Knuckle Drop

2023

View the archived 2023 schedule page for the inaugural festival, April 27-29.

  • ISU Filmmakers - Fan Favorite Awards

    • 1st Place: Portrait of Jelani: Grief, Art & Memory, directed by Anthony Fisher, Courtney Ossola, Marcus Pruitt, and Aracely Zarco

    • 2nd Place: Everything In Between, directed by Janie Greenwald

    • 3rd Place: Nostalgia, directed by Anna Gsell

    Competition Filmmakers - Category Awards

    • Best High School Narrative Film: Voice, directed by Sophia Winters

    • Best High School Animation: Rooted, directed by Owen Michael Elliott

    • Best College/University Narrative Film: The Plan, directed by Zaknafein Luken

    • Best College/University Documentary Film: To Be Frank, by Derek Hackert

    • Best College/University Animation: The Trail Beyond Highland Road, by Eli Copperman