Atlanta Spotlight Film Festival

2025 Award Winners

The Best Films of 2025

Congratulations to all the filmmakers involved

Film of the Year

TO HELL WITH YOU – Jason Sheedy

Best Director

BIRTHDAY CAKE – Jesse Foy

Best Drama

[b]REACH – Rachel Hendrix

Best Narrative

THE RE-EDUCATION OF JANE BROWN – MK McGehee

Best Horror

OGUN ORU – Christopher Rucinski

Best Animated

TEASER TRAILER – JJ Gibson

Best Comedy

WATER BOTTLE – David F. Mewa

Best Documentary

A BUTTERFLY HAS BEEN RELEASED – Jason Zamer, Barry Koch

Best Local Director

THE FOURTH STAR – Carrie Anne Hunt

Best Local Short

BISHOP’S DAY – Christopher Kelly

Best Music Video

MESSEDUP – James Jones

Best Student Short

THE HAND OF DARKNESS – Rowan Kelley

Best Experimental

FLAY – Gwyneth Johnson

Best Micro Short

CLOSE THE DOOR – Michelle Ford

Jury Award

BAD TAT – Cole Kelley

Audience Choice

FIVE O’CLOCK SOMEWHERE – Jonathan Milograno

Best Performance

Ashley Crane - THE KITCHEN TABLE

Best Ensemble

NIGHT SHIFT AT NED’S – Hagen Mattingly

Spotlight Icon Award

Catherine Dyer

Atlanta Spotlight Film Festival

The Event

The Atlanta Spotlight Film Festival is not a typical film festival. We present the Best of the Year Showcase, where selected films compete for top honors in front of a live audience. Every film chosen is automatically nominated for an award in its category.

Categories include: Best Drama, Best Comedy, Best Horror, Best Documentary, Best Director, Best Local Film, Audience Choice, and more.

What you can expect if selected:
Your film screened in Atlanta at our year-end showcase
Automatic nomination for an award in your category
A chance to win our crystal Spotlight trophy
Networking with fellow filmmakers and a live audience experience

View the 2025 nominees

How Films Are Judged

All submissions are reviewed by a panel of experienced film professionals, including:

Independent filmmakers
Festival programmers
Industry consultants
Critics and past award winners
Audience Members at our annual events

Films are judged on originality, storytelling, emotional impact, direction, editing, pacing, cinematography, sound, and overall artistic merit.

Atlanta Spotlight Film Festival Awards

Awards - Atlanta Spotlight Film Fesival