2026 UKY FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS

• Best Narrative Film - “The Color of the Walls” by Sofia Ceccarello (Media Arts and Studies)

• Audience Choice - “The Color of the Walls” by Sofia Ceccarello (Media Arts and Studies)

• Best Writing - “The Color of the Walls” by Sofia Ceccarello (Media Arts and Studies)

• Best Experimental Film - “Be.” by Noah Childress (Digital Media Design)

• Best Sound Design - “Be.” by Noah Childress (Digital Media Design)

• Best Documentary - “Nothing Lasts But A Moment” by Cadence Gormley (Integrated Strategic Communications)

• Best Animation - “bitemare” by Merritt Manire Major Digital Media Design, Arts Admin, Creative Entrepreneurship Animation

• Best Cinematography - SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY by Autrey Brown (Theatre)

• Best Performance - “The Everett Commune” by Lelia Branstetter (Digital Media and Design)

• Honorable Mention - “To Succumb” by Benjamin Ingram (Digital Media Design & Theatre)

Official 2026 UKY Student Film Selections Screening Order

1. “Be.” by Noah Childress (Digital Media Design)

2. “Out the Window”Sora Price (Psychology)

3. “The Perfect Omelette - Jackson LaCroix (Integrated Strategic Communication)

4. “Day In The Life” by Benjamine Branscum (non-degree seeking)

5. “The Everett Commune” by Lelia Branstetter (Digital Media and Design)

6. “Delilah, Delilah, Delilah.” by Cassie Speltz (Digital Media Design)

7. “Blood On The Hands” by Cole Ledweg (Digital Media Design, Certificate in Filmmaking & Dramatic Writing, Minor in Art History)

8. “Broken Love” by Jarod Simich (Media Arts and Studies)

9. “Twin Paths” Director: Isaac Smith and Peyton Gasser, Producer: Riley Moses (Media Arts and Studies)

10. SEE YOU SPACE COWBOY by Autrey Brown (Theatre)

11. “The Color of the Walls” by Sofia Ceccarello (Media Arts and Studies)

12. “Nothing Lasts But A Moment” by Cadence Gormley (Integrated Strategic Communications)

13. “To Succumb” by Benjamin Ingram (Digital Media Design & Theatre)

14. “bitemare” by Merritt Manire Major Digital Media Design, Arts Administration, Creative Entrepreneurship Animation

15. "Connection" by Milla Hill (Media Arts and Studies)

16. “Home Video” by Seven Kessler (Theatre)

17. “BowLerz” by Ahulani Bailey (Theatre)

Film Categories and Descriptions

ANIMATION

An animated film is defined as a motion picture in which movement and characters’ performances are created using a frame-by-frame technique. Some of the techniques of animating films include but are not limited to hand-drawn animation, computer animation, stop-motion, clay animation, pixilation, cutout animation, pinscreen, camera multiple pass imagery, kaleidoscopic effects created frame-by-frame, and drawing on the film frame itself.

DOCUMENTARY

A nonfiction motion picture dealing creatively with cultural, artistic, historical, social, scientific, economic or other subjects. It may be photographed in actual occurrence, or may employ partial reenactment, stock footage, stills, animation, stop-motion or other techniques, as long as the emphasis is on fact and not on fiction.

EXPERIMENTAL/ART

A film that primarily explores the medium of film or video itself, they are not fundamentally narrative, and/or their dominant element is abstraction or artistic expression.

FICTION

A live action film uses imagery created primarily through practical photographic techniques used to capture physical actors, props, sets, and locations.

Judging and Scoring

All submitted films will be screened by the UK Film Festival Selection Committee. Film selected to show at the festival will be forwarded to an award winning panel of local industry professionals to be scored. Films are scored on a scale of 1-10 in the following...

• Overall Quality - Directing, Editing, Production Value and Overall Execution

• Story/Theme - Writing, Story Elements and Structure, Theme

• Visual Elements - Cinematography, Visual Effects, Production Design

• Audible Elements - Sound Design, Sound Effects, Dialogue Quality, Music

• Character Development and Performances - Performance of the film entire cast, Character Depth

2026 Awards - Sponsored by: Courage Media

Category Awards:

• Best Narrative Film - Awarded to the narrative fiction film with the highest combined judges scores.

• Best Experimental Film - Awarded to the experimental film with the highest combined judges scores.

• Best Documentary - Awarded to the documentary film with the highest combined judges scores.

• Best Animation - Best animated film with the highest combined judge scores.

Technical Achievement Awards (NEW):

• Best Writing - Awarded to the film with the highest combined judges scores in the Story/Theme scoring category.

• Best Cinematography - Awarded to the film with the highest combined judges scores in the Visual Element scoring category.

• Best Sound Design - Awarded to the film with the highest combined judges scores in the Audible Elements scoring category.

• Best Performance - Awarded to the film with the highest combined judges scores in the Character Development and Performance scoring category.

Additional Honors:

• Audience Choice - Selected by the live viewing audience the night of the show.

• Honorable Mention - Award determined by the selection committee for a film that does not receive an award in another category.  

Sponsors/Partners:

• Courage Media

• The Media Collaboratory