Film Festival 2026
Awards & Jury
FIPRESCI: BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM
SIRĀT
Directed by: Oliver Laxe
FIPRESCI: BEST INTERNATIONAL SCREENPLAY
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Written by: Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier
Directed by: Joachim Trier
FIPRESCI: BEST INTERNATIONAL FIRST FEATURE
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Directed by: Sarah Goher
FIPRESCI: BEST ACTRESS (ENSEMBLE) IN AN INTERNATIONAL FILM
Nina Ye, Janel Tsai, and Shi-yuan Ma, LEFT-HANDED GIRL
Directed by: Shih-Ching Tsou
FIPRESCI: BEST ACTOR IN AN INTERNATIONAL FILM
Milan Ondrík, FATHER
Directed by: Tereza Nvotová
YOUNG CINEASTES AWARD
REMAINING NATIVE
Directed by: Paige Bethmann
DESERT VIEWS AWARD
BELOVED TROPIC
Directed by: Ana Endara
NEW VOICES NEW VISIONS AWARD
3670
Directed by: Joonho Park
BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD
NATCHEZ
Directed by: Suzannah Herbert
IBERO-AMERICAN AWARD
RUNA SIMI
Directed by: Augusto Zegarra
DESERT VIEWS JURY
Anne Grey | Rancho Mirage
Margaret Merciera | Palm Desert
Ed Motznik | Palm Springs
Lucinda Perez | Indio
Peet Smith | Joshua Tree
Kathryn Tomasino | Palm Springs
(Click here to learn more about the Desert Views jury program)
YOUNG CINEASTES JURY
Sophia Alejandre | Indio High School
Pauline Amariah Brack | Indio High School
RyanBlayse C. Bromley | Palm Springs High School
Carolina Cruz-Herrera | Indio High School
Carolina Ava Hyatt | Shadow Hills High School
Lillian Lorraine Lynd | Palm Desert High School
Bethany Mikrut | Palm Desert High School
Ella Rauschenberg | Yucca Valley High School
Luiz Valdez | Shadow Hills High School
(Click here to learn more about the Young Cineastes jury program)
FIPRESCI JURY
New Voices New Visions Jury
Best Ibero-American Film Jury
Documentary Jury
