DIFF Announces 2025 Grand Jury Prizes and Audience Awards
DIFF has announced the Grand Jury Prizes and Audience Awards for the 19th edition of the annual Dallas International Film Festival, which wrapped May 1 and included screenings of more than 125 films curated from submissions received from more than 100 countries.
Jurors included:
Narrative Feature Competition – Milan Chakraborty, Federica Pazzano, and Brennan Lane
Documentary Feature Competition – Claire St. Amant, Lindell Singleton, and Michael Rowley
Texas Feature Competition – Sara Madsen Miller, Norry Niven, and Jordan Ross
Short Film Competition – Gabe Van Amburgh, Laura Campbell, Brandon Oldenburg, Jennifer Prediger, Lizette Barrera, and Prithvi Raj Karreddula
Winners included:
Grand Jury Prizes
Best Texas Feature – A PORTRAIT OF A POSTMAN
Narrative Feature – OMAHA
Special Jury Mention for Directing – 40 ACRES
Documentary Feature – THE LIBRARIANS
Special Jury Mention for Cinematography – REMAINING NATIVE
Best Historical Award Feature Presented by Dallas County Historical Commission – A PORTRAIT OF A POSTMAN
Best Historical Award Short Film Presented by Dallas County Historical Commission – ODESSA, TX
Documentary Short – RED SANDS
Special Jury Mention for Director – LONDON, KY.
Animated Short – MOTHER’S CHILD
Narrative Short Presented by ShotDeck – TENEZ
Special Jury Mention for Screenplay – WHAT FREEDOM
International Short – DON’T LEAVE HOME
Student Short – FAMILY SUNDAY
Texas Short – ADO
Special Jury Mention for Directing and Cinematography – SWIMMING WITH BUTTERFLIES
Audience Awards
Documentary Feature – A PORTRAIT OF A POSTMAN
Narrative Feature – 40 ACRES
International Feature – HAPPY AS LARRY
Short Film – GEORGE
Music Video – Kai Straw, CHOKIN’
North Texas High School Showcase – FOREST FEUD
Screenwriting Competition
Texas Winner – HOW TO START A CULT
Pilot Winner – LATE BLOOMERS
Shorts Winner – THE BEST DAYS OF RICHARD DAVIS
Feature – UNBOUND
“We’re so excited to celebrate this year’s winners,” said James Faust, DIFF Artistic Director. “These films really moved us—some made us laugh, some made us cry, and all of them stayed with us. It’s been incredible to see audiences and jurors connect so deeply with the work, and we’re just really proud to help shine a light on these storytellers.”
The Festival was named in October as an Oscar® Qualifying Festival by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and was held at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Victory Park, in the AT&T Discovery District, the Harwood District, The Texas Theatre, and the Virgin Hotels Dallas.
About DIFF | Dallas International Film Festival
DIFF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts and culture organization established as Dallas Film Society, Inc. in 2006. Through year-round screenings, film series, educational programs, community partnerships, and film festivals, DIFF builds community and raises awareness of the world’s most approachable and inclusive art form.
Named by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an Oscar® Qualifying Festival, The Dallas International Film Festival is the signature presentation of the organization. Through curation of the broadest range of expression through film, DIFF serves as the region’s most powerfully inclusive and equitable platform for diverse, emerging and underrepresented voices. Since its founding, DIFF has screened more than 2,500 widely diverse new films from 60 countries, provided more than $1.1 million in awards and hosted more than 100,000 filmgoers and filmmakers.
DIFF is committed to celebrating films and their impact on society, honoring filmmakers and recognizing their contribution enhancing both the creative community and the city of Dallas, providing leadership in film education, and celebrating excellence in the art of film. More information is available at www.DIFFDallas.org.
INSTAGRAM – @WeAreDIFFDallas, FACEBOOK – @WeAreDIFFDallas
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