ON OCT 23, 2023, THE MYSTIC FILM FESTIVAL NAMED ITS 2023 WINNERS DURING AN AWARDS CEREMONY AT MYSTIC LUXURY CINEMAS IN MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT, WRAPPING UP FOUR DAYS OF FILM SCREENINGS, PANEL DISCUSSIONS, AND WORKSHOPS. WE HONORED SCREENWRITER JANET ROACH WITH THE 2023 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD.

Lifetime Achievement Award
JANET ROACH

Best Narrative Short
TART
Directed by Rose Schimm

Best Narrative Feature
KARAOKE
Directed by Moshe Rosenthal

Best Documentary Feature
FINDING HER BEAT
Directed by Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett

Best Documentary Short
INSIDE THE BEAUTY BUBBLE
Directed by Cheryl Bookout and Cheri Gaulke

Best International Film
AURORA’S SUNRISE
Directed by Inna Sahakyan

Best Emerging Director
NICHOLAS SENNOTT for THE NO PROBLEM ZONE

Best Director
VIVIAN KERR for SCRAP

Best Connecticut Film
THE 29th CONNECTICUT
Directed by Will Weinstein

Best New England Film
IN THE WHALE
Directed by David Abel

Best Conservation Film
OUT THERE: A NATIONAL PARKS STORY
Directed by Brendan Hall

Best Narrative Film Cinematography
ABOVE THE DESERT WITH NO NAME
Cinematography by Tamara Santos and Erick Turcios
Directed by Sonia Sebastián

Best Narrative Film Editing
INTERMEDIUM
Edited by Carson Bloomquist and Erik Bloomquist
Directed by Erik Bloomquist

Best Documentary Film Cinematography
OUT THERE: A NATIONAL PARKS STORY
Cinematography by Brendan Hall
Directed by Brendan Hall

Best Documentary Film Editing
WITCH HUNT
Edited by Anthony Sherin
Directed by Anthony Sherin and Geneviève Mathis

Human Rights Award
SEEDS OF CHANGE
Directed by Maximilian Armstrong

Best Costume Design
MARLEE CANDELL for DISCOVERING ELLA
Directed by Kathi Carey

Best Art Direction
MISOPHONIA
Directed by Linda Wingerter

Best Original Score
JOSÉ MONZÓN for THE FIREFLY JAR
Directed by Gary Fierro

Best Ensemble Cast Award
THE NANA PROJECT
Directed by Robin Givens

Best Actor Narrative Short
MICHAEL HAWKINS in INMATE
Directed by Enrique Lebron

Best Actress Narrative Short
SASHIA DUMONT in IN THE GREY
Directed by Paul Robinson and Sashia Dumont

Best Actor Narrative Feature
ANTHONY RAPP in SCRAP
Directed by Vivian Kerr

Best Actress Narrative Feature
EMILY KEEFE in INTERMEDIUM
Directed by Erik Bloomquist

Best Screenplay Narrative Feature
INSHALLAH A BOY
Written by Delphine Agut, Rula Nasser, and Amjad Al Rasheed
Directed by Amjad Al Rasheed

Best Screenplay Narrative Short
NOT THE SAME CLARENCE
Written by Brian Russell
Directed by Brian Russell and Samuel B Russell

Grand Jury Prize Narrative Feature
MY NEIGHBOR ADOLF
Directed by Leon Prudovsky

Grand Jury Prize Narrative Short
THE NO PROBLEM ZONE
Directed by Nicholas Sennott

Grand Jury Prize Documentary Feature
JOAN BAEZ I AM A NOISE
Directed by Karen O’Connor, Miri Navasky, and Maeve O’Boyle

Grand Jury Prize Documentary Short
A FEMINIST LENS: THE ART AND ACTIVISM OF PHOTOGRAPHER JOAN ROTH
Directed by Pamela French

Best Student Film
EVERY OTHER KID
Directed by Patrick Godino

Best Student Film Director
ELI CANTER for ARTBOY

Best Student Film Screenplay
THE TALE OF CAPTAIN FORTYHANDS
Written by Ella Genovese
Directed by Kyle Farmer

Audience Choice Award Narrative
RAMONA AT MIDLIFE
Directed by Brooke Berman

Audience Choice Award Documentary
MOLTEN
Directed by Matt Andrew and Hillary Federico

Audience Choice Award Student Film
EVERY OTHER KID
Directed by Patrick Godino