WE THANK THE MOST HIGH GOD FOR THE CREATIVE TALENTS OF OUR 2024 WINNERS!

UMFF 2024 showcased a powerful collection of films, animations, documentaries, writers, and new media projects that have inspired and captivated audiences across the world. Each winner demonstrated exceptional creativity, vision, and dedication to storytelling, shining a light on diverse voices, and fresh perspectives. We are thrilled to celebrate these talented content creators, whose work not only reflects the heart of independent filmmaking but also champions cultural diversity, social awareness/change and innovation. Thank you to all UMFF participants, and congratulations to our winners for their outstanding achievements!

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AFROFUTURISM

AFROFUTURISM BEST FEATURE FILM - WINNER

They Came For Us, directors Cornelius Newman, Decarlo Tatum, Jr. - Feature Film - United States

AFROFUTURISM BEST SHORT FILM - WINNER

In The Matchbox, director Mike Rae Anderson - Short Film - United States

AFROFUTURISM BEST SHORT FILM - 2ND PLACE WINNER

Harlem Fragments, director Cameron Tyler Carr - Short Film - United States

AFROFUTURISM BEST SHORT FILM - 3RD PLACE WINNER

Enipheres, directors Lynne Newton, Mike Breyer, Rachel F. Betts - Short Film - United States

AFROFUTURISM BEST SHORTY-SHORT FILM - WINNER

Hadaya:2033, director Alika Mteuzi - Short Film - United States

AFROFUTURISM BEST COMIC BOOK - WINNER

Born Again, writer Ronald Cromartie - Comic Book - United States

AFROFUTURISM BEST COMIC BOOK - 2ND PLACE WINNER

Illumination Paradox-A Graphic Novel, submitter Lynne Newton - Comic Book - United States

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ANIMATION

BEST ANIMATION - WINNER

If(fy), directors Lesego Vorster, Ross Lelliott, Osiokeh Ikharo - United States -

BEST INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION - WINNER

Ana Morphose, director Joao Rodrigues - Portugal

BEST INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION - WINNER

Mini Me In Motion, submitter Wide Angle Youth Media - United States

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BLACK-OWNED MEDIA

BEST BLACK-OWNED MEDIA PROJECT - WINNER

Rotation, director Küf Knotz - Music Video - United States

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COLLEGE STUDENT SHORTS

BEST COLLEGE STUDENT SHORT FILM - WINNER

Janitor 988, directors Justin Edwards, Karla Ojeda - United States

BEST COLLEGE STUDENT ANIMATION - WINNER

Juveniles Episode 1 "Pilot", director Justin Word - Animation - United States

BEST COLLEGE STUDENT STOP MOTION ANIMATION - WINNER

Manna, director Ariel Wills - United States

BEST COLLEGE STUDENT INTERNATIONAL ANIMATION - WINNER

Anansi the Spider, director Jared Hall, Animation, Jamaica

BEST LGBTQ COLLEGE STUDENT SHORT FILM - WINNER

The FOBBITS, director James Williams III - United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL LGBTQ COLLEGE STUDENT SHORT FILM - WINNER

A Pearl in the Ocean, director Vasundhara Jadhav - LGBTQ - India

BEST PERIOD-PROJECT - COLLEGE STUDENT SHORT FILM - WINNER

Spare Me, director Wilderley Mauricette - United States

BEST WOMAN DIRECTOR - COLLEGE STUDENT SHORT FILM - WINNER

Spare Me, director Wilderley Mauricette - United States

BEST CHEMISTRY PROFESSOR - COLLEGE STUDENT SHORT FILM - WINNER

Mr. Adams' Chemical Element, director Henry Mei - United States

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - COLLEGE STUDENT SHORT FILM - WINNER

Shahroor, directors Yafa Ezzat Shahroor, Mo'men Ghanim Hasanain - State of Palestine

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COMMERCIALS

BEST COMMERCIAL - WINNER

Mumbo Sauce, director Thaddeus W Jones - United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL - WINNER

Darcy's ,The Ice World, director Hiroki Maeda, Japan

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DOCUMENTARIES

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - WINNER

The People, United! A Cinematic Diary, director Crosby Tatum - United States

BEST YOUTH-FOCUSED DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - WINNER

This Time Round, directors Francisco J. Nunez, Ansley Sawyer - United States

BEST ELECTION-FOCUSED DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - WINNER

Does My Vote Count? - director Emily L Karlsson - United States

BEST CULTURAL/SOCIAL ISSUES DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - WINNER

Have You Seen Teri? - director K Dene Chinn - United States

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT - WINNER

Even Me 2.0, director Megan T. Ebor - United States

BEST HIP-HOP DOCUMENTARY SHORT - WINNER

The HoodTrophy Bino Story: Breaking the Generational Curse, director Sam "Gebar" Gebremiche - United State

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT - WINNER

Mushroom's Quest, director Dave Johnson - United Kingdom

BEST INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY DOCUMENTARY SHORT - WINNER

The Language of Light: Ricky Maynard, director Fiona Cochrane - Australia

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTS-FOCUSED DOCUMENTARY SHORT - WINNER

Journey in India: The Land of Colors, director JC Antunes - France

BEST ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT - WINNER

INSECTS: Preparing for Future Food Supply, director Ryan Won Sull - Republic of Korea

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FEATURE FILMS

BEST FEATURE - WINNER

Lipstick, director Kimberly D Conner - United States

BEST PERIOD-PIECE - FEATURE - WINNER

Box Brown: A Box Marked Freedom, directors Robert Alan Underhill, Aravind Ragupathi - United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE - WINNER

MADO, director MAO - Japan

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GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE FILMMAKERS

BEST GEORGIA GWINNETT COLLEGE SHORT FILM - WINNER

Sonny's Final Battle, directors Ana Morales-Carmona, Gianna Briceño - United States

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GEORGIA-PRODUCED FILMS

BEST GEORGIA-PRODUCED SHORT FILM - WINNER

After 8:46, director Shashone Lambert Short - United States

BEST GEORGIA-PRODUCED DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM - WINNER

About a Bowshot Away, director Sangsun Choi - United States

BEST GEORGIA-PRODUCED SHORT FILM - WOMEN PRODUCED

Chronically Online, director Audra Nicole Davison - United States

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LGBTQ PROJECTS

BEST LGBTQ WEB SERIES - WINNER

The Deloach and Gene Show, drectors Franklin Anthony, David Bazemore - United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL LGBTQ SHORT FILM - WINNER

A Pearl in the Ocean, director Vasundhara Jadhav - India

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MUSIC VIDEOS

BEST MUSIC VIDEO - WINNER

Fireflies, directors Sloane Warren, Travis Hall - United States

BEST HIP-HOP/NEOSOUL MUSIC VIDEO - WINNER

Rotation, director Küf Knotz - United States

BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS MUSIC VIDEO - WINNER

McKenna Michels MONSTER, director Nicholas Nephi Peterson - United States

BEST POLITICAL MUSIC VIDEO - WINNER

Kamala (Remix), submitter Cherita Brent - United States

BEST VINTAGE MUSIC VIDEO - WINNER

Just Say Yes, directors Josh Shreve, Goldy Locks - United States

PHOTOGRAPHY

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY - WINNER

Explorer, submitter Katie Reihner - United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY - WINNER

The People of Calcutta, submitter Debaudh Majee - India

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PODCASTS

BEST PODCAST - WINNER

Lucidus Somnia, submitter Ric de Barros - United States

BEST FANTASY FOLKLORE PODCAST - WINNER

Dr. Apples Podcast - STORYTIME - The Tone-Deaf Troubles in the Enchanted BAZAAR, director Lacye A Brown - United States

BEST MIND, BODY & SOUL PODCAST - WINNER

The Heart Helper Podcast, directors Jodie S Smith, Dame Dozha - United States

BEST SCI-FI PODCAST - WINNER

Alpha 8 Podcast, submitter Stephanie Elie - United States

BEST SOCIALLY-CONSCIOUS PODCAST - WINNER

LTAR: Kwanzaa 2022, submitter Lanita Duke - United States

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PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA)

BEST PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA) - WINNER

Not Doing That, director Julie Huang - United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (PSA) - WINNER

Take Note, directors Lewis Mitchell, Owen Seabrook - United Kingdom

SCRIPTS

SCRIPT - BEST SHORT FILM - WINNER

True Color, writer Melis Olcum Uzan - Short Film - United States

SCRIPT - BEST SHORT FILM - 2ND PLACE WINNER

Quieted, writer Myeshia C. Babers - Short Film - United States

SCRIPT - BEST TV PILOT - WINNER

Still Got It - The Pilot, submitter Barry J. Tidwell - Spec/TV Series - United States

SCRIPT - BEST TV PILOT - 2ND PLACE WINNER

Buzzard, writer Robert LaLoggia Hopkins in Script - Spec/TV Series - United States

SCRIPT - BEST FEATURE FILM - WINNER

The Child Support Avenger, writer Jermaine Jones - Feature Film Script- United States

SCRIPT - BEST FEATURE FILM - 2ND PLACE WINNER

The Senior Year, writer Bill Liggins - Feature Film Script- United States

SCRIPT - BEST FEATURE FILM - 3RD PLACE WINNER

A Lowcountry Novel, writer Sarah Elizabeth - Feature Film Script - United States

SCRIPT - BEST STAGE PLAY - WINNER

Chosen, writer Nicole Howard - Feature Film/Stage - United States

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SHORT FILMS

BEST SHORT FILM - WINNER

Ownership, director Yvonne Huff Lee - United States

BEST MUSIC-DRIVEN SHORT FILM - WINNER

Black Metal, director Michael Hyon Johnson - United States

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SHORT FILMS - WOMEN DIRECTORS

BEST SHORT FILM - WOMEN DIRECTORS - WINNER

Hard, director Eboni Price - United States

BEST COMEDY SHORT FILM - WOMEN DIRECTORS - WINNER

Meet B.O.B., director Tracy Crews - United States

BEST INTERGENERATIONAL SHORT FILM - WOMEN DIRECTORS - WINNER

Granny's Daughters, director Summer J Robinson - United States

BEST GRIEF-FOCUSED SHORT FILM - WOMEN DIRECTORS - WINNER

Nice Shoes, director Nkenge Jones - United States

BEST FREEDOM-FORWARD SHORT FILM - WOMEN DIRECTORS - WINNER

The Price of Freedom, director Lori Webster Fore - United States

BEST POLICE VIOLENCE SHORT FILM - WOMEN DIRECTORS - WINNER

Welcome, director Drica Armstrong - United State

BEST BLACK LOVE SHORT FILM - WOMEN DIRECTORS - WINNER

Spark, director Honesty Taszhé Gant - United States

BEST ANTI-BLACKNESS COMEDY SHORT FILM - WOMEN DIRECTORS - WINNER

Karen's Judgment Day, director Joy Shannon - United States

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TRAILERS

BEST COLLEGE STUDENT TRAILER - WINNER

Juveniles Interview Trailer, director Justin Word - United States

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TV PILOTS/SERIES

BEST TV PILOT/SERIES - WINNER

Swipe, director Kaleigh Fitzgerald - United States

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VIDEOPALOOZA – Youth Filmmakers

BEST SHORTY-SHORT FILM - HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKER

Crescendo, director Alexa Jeong - High School Students and Teen Filmmakers - United States

BEST SCI-FI SHORT FILM - HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKER

My Dark Angels, director Azza Brummer - High School Students and Teen Filmmakers - United States

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM - HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKER

Guiding Light, director India Anne Mitchell - Middle School Student Films - United States

BEST COMING OF AGE SHORT FILM - HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKER

Falling For You, director Kate Ellis - High School Students and Teen Filmmakers - United States

BEST POLITICAL HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKER SHORT FILM

America Divided, director Asher Elias Anantham - United States

BEST CULTURAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM - HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKER

Thunderbird and Killer Whale: S-hwuhwa’us & Qul-lhanumutsun, director Jason Cheng - High School Students and Teen Filmmakers - Canada

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM - HIGH SCHOOL FILMMAKER

The Rise and Fall of Hong Kong Cinema, director Nicholas Gao - High School Students and Teen Filmmakers - Hong Kong

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VIRTUAL REALITY

BEST VIRTUAL REALITY FILM - WINNER

Reimagined Volume III: Young Thang, director Melissa Joyner - United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL REALITY VIDEO - WINNER

The Duguesclin Tower, director Ronan LIOT - France

BEST VIRTUAL REALITY TRAINING VIDEO - WINNER

Police Dispatch: Day of Babies, director Eric R. Williams - United States

BEST SPORTS VIRTUAL REALITY VIDEO - WINNER

Pitched Together, director Diego Bonilla - United States

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WEB SERIES

BEST WEB SERIES - WINNER

Your Democracy, director Gloria Jene’ Browne-Marshall - United States

BEST INTERNATIONAL WEB SERIES - WINNER

Slab, You Can Bet! - director Renata Freire - Brazil

BEST INTERNATIONAL FANTASY WEB SERIES - WINNER

D dot H, directors Meegwun Fairbrother, Mary Galloway - Canada

BEST COMEDY WEB SERIES - WINNER

Shirley & Ross, director C.G. Reeves - United States