LOS ANGELES, CA — The TRILLVISION Film Festival Summer 2026 has officially wrapped, bringing together filmmakers, actors, creatives, industry professionals, and film lovers for a weekend celebrating independent short filmmaking, bold storytelling, and emerging voices.

From powerful narratives and thought-provoking documentaries to experimental films, music videos, animation, and innovative genre work, this year’s festival showcased a diverse collection of filmmakers pushing the boundaries of what short-form cinema can be.

The festival also created opportunities for filmmakers and audiences to connect through screenings, filmmaker conversations, TRILL Talks, networking events, and opportunities to discuss the creative and business realities of independent filmmaking.

Celebrating This Year’s Award Winners

The TRILLVISION awards recognized filmmakers whose work stood out to the festival jury, programming team, and audiences.

Jury Awards

Best Narrative Film
Radical — Directed by Isaiah Francis

Best Experimental Film
Soft Spot — Directed by Ronak Shah

Best Documentary
WORKING WITH THE HANDS DOCUMENTARY — Directed by TJ Loftin

Best Music Video
FIRST & GOAL — Directed by Robin Harris Jr.

Jury Award
The Three Brothers — Directed by Matthew Warner

Programmers Awards

Best Cinematography
Deer — Directed by Michelle M. Charles
Cinematography by Ethan Hillel Baron

Best Production Design
Crystal Paradise — Directed by Joseph Green

Best Special Effects
Find Your Heart — Directed by Devin Saddler

Best Animated Film
The Three Brothers — Directed by Matthew Warner

Spirit Award
Legacy — Directed by D. Pasquel Buchanan

TRILL Award
A Young Sofiane — Directed by Fabien Ara

Audience Awards

The audience also had a voice in recognizing the films that connected most strongly with festival attendees.

Outstanding Narrative Short
Ignore the Neighbors — Directed by Seth Baella

Outstanding Documentary Short
WORKING WITH THE HANDS DOCUMENTARY — Directed by TJ Loftin

Outstanding Music Video
FIRST & GOAL — Directed by Robin Harris Jr.

Outstanding Experimental Short
Soft Spot — Directed by Ronak Shah

Best of the Fest
Radical — Directed by Isaiah Francis

Major Highlights From TRILLVISION 2026

One of the biggest strengths of this year’s festival was the range of stories represented throughout the program. Filmmakers brought audiences everything from horror and animation to documentary storytelling, experimental cinema, music videos, and narrative films.

The festival also continued its commitment to creating a space where filmmakers could do more than simply screen their work. TRILL Talks provided opportunities for audiences and creatives to engage in conversations about filmmaking, creativity, technology, production, and the changing entertainment landscape.

The festival’s filmmaker-focused programming also gave attendees an opportunity to meet the people behind the films and hear directly about their creative journeys.

Among the standout moments was the recognition of The Three Brothers, which earned both a Jury Award and the Programmers Award for Best Animated Film. WORKING WITH THE HANDS DOCUMENTARY also made a strong impression, earning both the Jury Award for Best Documentary and the Audience Award for Outstanding Documentary Short.

FIRST & GOAL received recognition from both the jury and audience, winning Best Music Video and Outstanding Music Video, while Soft Spot earned both Best Experimental Film and Outstanding Experimental Short.

The festival’s top audience honor, Best of the Fest, went to Radical, which also earned the Jury Award for Best Narrative Film, making Isaiah Francis’ film one of the most celebrated projects of the festival.

More Than a Film Festival

TRILLVISION continues to position itself as more than a traditional film festival. The goal is to build a community around independent filmmakers and create opportunities for emerging voices to be seen, heard, and connected with audiences and fellow industry professionals.

From the filmmakers who traveled to Los Angeles to screen their work to the audiences who showed up to support independent cinema, the Summer 2026 festival was a reminder of the power of community in filmmaking.

Every film has a story behind it. Every filmmaker has a journey. TRILLVISION exists to give those stories a platform.

As the Summer 2026 chapter comes to a close, the festival looks ahead to its next round of filmmakers, films, conversations, and opportunities.

Congratulations to all of the TRILLVISION Film Festival Summer 2026 filmmakers, award winners, nominees, volunteers, partners, and audiences who helped make this year’s festival possible.

TRILLVISION Film Festival
Short Films. Bold Voices. New Vision.

For festival updates, upcoming events, filmmaker opportunities, and more, visit trillvision.com.