Each year, short film submissions are judged by a panel of local people of all ages and descriptions. Depending on the year’s crop of entries, the award categories can change.
2026 is the first year the FilmFest will be awarding the Hillywood Award. This is a $500 cash that will honor a new theme or topic each year. This year’s theme is Female Filmmakers.
In addition to cash prizes, winners will also receive beautiful hand-crafted trophies created by local artists and craftspeople. This year’s trophies will be made by VetroVero glass artists.
The trophies for 2025 were gorgeous, hand-blown glass vessels created by local Ashfield glass studio, Vetro Vero.
Grand prize -audience choice award
A prize of $500 will be awarded to the entry judged best by the FilmFest audience. This award goes to the short film that receives the most votes from the attendees at our Gala Saturday Evening Screening. In addition to the cash prize, a plaque with the winner’s name will be added to the famed Baby Cecil trophy!
A newly created award with a new theme or topic each year. This year the award will go a short film that is directed, written or filmed by a woman or girl. This $500 award is inspired by Friday night’s feature film “Girl Climber” that shows that girls can go as hard and as high as any guy.
Hillywood Award
The following prizes will be awarded if there are insufficient numbers in each category to create a meaningful competition:
Technical achievement
A prize of $250 will be given to an entry judged to show outstanding work in one or more of the following categories; cinematography, sound design, musical score or animation and not already a winner of any other prize.
A $250 prize will go to the documentary entry judged the best.
Best Documentary
A prize of $250 is awarded to the entry judged best that was created by someone younger than 18 years. The entry must be entirely the work of the young person(s).
Youth Prize
Best Narrative
A prize of $250 will be awarded to an entry judged best in narrative story-telling.
Best Actor - Narrative
A $250 prize for the performance by an actor judged best in a narrative entry.
Music Video Prize
A prize of $250 will be awarded to the entry judged to be the best use of imagination and editing of video, photography, animation, special effects or any combination to a song or musical piece.
Animation Prize
A $250 prize for the animated film judged best.