The 24th Annual New Hampshire Film Festival Announces 2026 Award Recipients

PORTSMOUTH, NH (October 18, 2026) – The New Hampshire Film Festival (NHFF) closed four inspiring days of screenings, conversations, and community tonight with the announcement of its 2026 audience choice award winners, adding to the 19 earlier awards presented this afternoon at the official awards ceremony. A dynamic program of premieres, panels, morning coffee chats and special events animated downtown Portsmouth, with attendees joining filmmakers, students and industry professionals for an unforgettable experience.

NHFF recognizes outstanding achievements across features, shorts and New Hampshire related films with its celebrated solid granite awards, an homage to the Granite State affectionately known as the Grannys. Weighing in at 20 pounds, the Granny is surely the most physically significant award in the film industry. As an Academy Award®-qualifying festival for short films, NHFF continues to be a pivotal platform for emerging and established filmmakers alike.

Below is the full list of award winners at the 24th Annual New Hampshire Film Festival:

JURIED AWARDS
NHFF bestowed seven juried awards. Jurors are selected from a pool of film industry professionals, short and feature-length filmmakers, and previous award-winners, including members of The Academy.

• Grand Jury – Narrative: Test (dir. Sam McConnell)
• Grand Jury – Documentary: The Life We Leave (dir. J.J. Gerber)
• Shorts Jury Award – Live Action (Academy Award® Qualifying): Bruised Sky (dir. Gary Kent)
• Shorts Jury Award – Documentary (Academy Award® Qualifying): A Woman’s Place Is Everywhere (dir. Fanny Texier)
• Shorts Jury Award – Animation (Academy Award® Qualifying): les bain des sirènes (Sisters’ Song) (dir. Lola Degove) 
• LensProToGo New Hampshire Short Film of the Year: A Woman’s Place Is Everywhere (dir. Fanny Texier)
• Best Screenplay: Eureka (written by Diana Nicole Harvey)

FESTIVAL AWARDS
NHFF bestowed five awards decided upon by the Festival’s film programming team.

• Best Narrative Feature: Look Back (dir. Hirokazu Koreeda)
• Best Documentary Feature: It Goes That Quick (dirs. Ashley Connor, Joe Stankus)
• Best Short – Drama: Night of Silence (dir. Henry Armstrong)
• Best Short – Comedy: Lucky Liam (dirs. Thomas Hefferon, T.J. Hundtofte)
• Best Student Film: Chicken Lady (dir. Shuqi Yuan)

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS
Another sure measure of success for filmmakers is winning over the crowd. NHFF bestowed two awards decided upon by the Festival audience, factoring in votes via mobile app, screening attendance, social media attention and festival buzz.

• Audience Choice – Narrative: See You When I See You (dir. Jay Duplass)
• Audience Choice – Documentary: Joybubbles (dir. Rachael J. Morrison)

NEW HAMPSHIRE AWARDS
NHFF is dedicated to promoting films, filmmakers, producers and actors with an affiliation to the state of New Hampshire. The Festival’s New Hampshire Program is a unique, important selection of films that spotlight the creative film talent alive and well in the state. New Hampshire is known for its independent spirit, so it is no surprise to see this reflected in the independent film community.

• New Hampshire Filmmaker of the Year: Amy Jenkins (Adam’s Apple)
• Best New Hampshire Feature – Narrative: Road To L’Etape Du Tour (dir. Julia Coulter)
• Best New Hampshire Feature – Documentary: Entangled Minds (dir. Julie Mallozzi)
• Best New Hampshire Short – Narrative: How the Lonely Keep (dir. Nathan Sellers)
• Best New Hampshire Short – Documentary: Vivian Campbell: Between Stages (dir. Michael Venn)
• Best New Hampshire Performance: Julia Coulter (Road To L’Etape Du Tour)

VAN MCLEOD AWARD
Named for Van McLeod, the late Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Cultural Resources, this award honors an individual with ties to the state of New Hampshire and who has made a significant contribution to the film and/or television industry. An icon in the state’s cultural community, Van’s work has had an enormous impact on New Hampshire’s film industry.

• Van McLeod Award: Amy Greene

The Festival received Academy Award® qualifying status in 2021 for its Live Action Shorts Jury Award and Animation Shorts Jury Award, and with the addition of the Documentary Shorts Jury Award for its 2025 edition the Festival expanded its recognition to three categories. Short films that receive these prestigious juried awards will now qualify to enter the Short Films competition for the concurrent Oscar® season. Recipients will be eligible for Academy Awards® consideration without the standard theatrical run, provided they comply with the Academy’s rules.

For updates on next year’s festival and film and screenplay submissions deadlines, please visit www.nhfilmfestival.com

The festival’s mission is to inspire audiences with thought-provoking cinematic stories, provide a platform for emerging artists to advance their craft, and connect filmmakers with the community and industry leaders. Featuring a curated selection of independent films, panels, and networking opportunities, NHFF is a draw for filmmakers and cinephiles alike. In 2024, the festival moved its operations to The Music Hall, a nonprofit organization bringing year-round performing arts and film programming to New Hampshire. The Music Hall’s beautifully restored main venue has served as a festival screening location since 2004, featuring state-of-the-art technology and a seating capacity of nearly 900. The Music Hall Lounge, 3S Artspace, Thaxter Hall at St. John’s Episcopal Church and the historic Moffatt-Ladd House further enhance the festival’s unique screening experience, showcasing diverse venues steeped in history and creativity.

Festival sponsors include Key Auto Group, Aland Realty, Needham Bank, INHOUSE Digital, StudioLab, and TownSquare Media, the official New Hampshire Film Festival media sponsor.