The 13th edition of the Chattanooga Film Festival, aka “Summer Camp for Cinephiles,” is officially in the books. After a fantastic week of screenings, our panel of judges and film fans have spoken.

CFF salutes all our award winners! We extend a heartfelt thanks to our patrons, sponsors, and staff, and offer our congratulations to all the filmmakers—whether they took home an award or not. We can’t wait to set up camp again next year.

Audience Awards

• Narrative Feature: Orfeo – Directed by Virgilio Villoresi
  • A pianist falls for a mysterious woman who vanishes into a supernatural realm. Following her through a doorway, he encounters fantastical beings and must navigate a dreamlike afterlife to find her, guided by music and memories.
• Documentary Feature: Blood & Guts – Directed by Carlye Rubin and Katie Green
  • The lines between real life and reel life are muddied in the story of the Adams, an unconventional family who makes independent horror films. While they may vomit blood onto one another, lack boundaries and make frequent use of the f-word, they also face what every family must: change.
• Short: Scissors – Directed by Hannah Alline
  • Follows a slasher with a grudge who meets his match when a group of queer friends on a weekend getaway turns his killing spree into a bloody night he never saw coming.

Jury Awards

• Best Feature: Jump Scare – Directed by Donnie Hobbie
• Best Short: Xolo – Directed by Matthew Serrano
• Best Documentary: First Feature – Directed by Curtis Matzke
• Best First Feature: Sender – Directed by Russell Goldman
• Bad Night Good Movie Award: Big City Pizza – Directed by Dusty Saunders
• Dangerous Visions Award (Feature): The King of Black Goo – Directed by Andrew Zappin
• Dangerous Visions Award (Short): Nebuchadnezzar – Directed by Samuel Ogunremi
• Let’s Get Physical Special Jury Prize: Dead Media – Directed by Joseph Scrimshaw
• Jeff Burr Prize: On Gallows Hill – Directed by Ed Shimborske
• Pride Award: Camp – Directed by Avalon Fast
• Cult Classic Award: Bunny Rabbit – Directed by James Branson
• Tennessee Filmmaker Award: The Recluse – Directed by Matt Webb
• Student Filmmaker Award: The Damned Thing – Directed by Christopher Lewis
• Sonic Cinema Prize: The Obsessed – Directed by Wataru Takahashi
• CFF Mantra Special Jury Prize: Enduring Destiny – Directed by Thomas Reilly-King
• Short & Sour Special Jury Prize: Assets & Liabilities – Directed by Zach Weintraub
• Best Cinematic Universe Tie: Frogman Returns / Grind – Directed by Anthony Cousins, Ed Dougherty, Brea Grant, and Chelsea Stardust

About the Chattanooga Film Festival

The Chattanooga Film Festival is a 501(c)(3) non-profit run entirely by a small but passionate crew of volunteers. All proceeds from the festival’s ticket and badge sales and donations go directly to the staging of each year’s festival. For more information, visit chattfilmfest.org.