Filmotomy is excited to announce the winners of the 11th FEMME FILMMAKERS’ FESTIVAL. Opening on 14th August with the closing ceremony on 23rd August, the festival celebrates and champions the very best of short films from female filmmakers across the world.
This year saw nostalgia takeover the narrative shorts selection from the dreamy ‘90s world of Jess Berry’s Fairground to the magical escapism of Emma Josephson’s I Felt Like Magic. But this year was truly given to poignant documentaries and creative animations.
Cat White’s moving Swim Sistas and Cathy Ellington’s eye-opening, Overlooked: A Silent Extinction informed us; whilst Louise Bongartz’s In Thousand Petals and Natalia Mirzoyan’s Winter in March impressed with their creative stop-motions. Dina Naser’s Sokoun / Amplified swept the festival winning an impressive three awards.
Each year the Femme Filmmakers Festival awards the top three prizes to the very best films from the festival selection, these include the GOLD SOVEREIGN, the SILVER SWORD, and the BRONZE BELL. The competition selection jury members have awarded prizes to the following films and filmmakers.
FEMME FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL –
TOP 3 PRIZE WINNERS:
GOLD SOVEREIGN (GRAND PRIZE)
The winner of the GOLD SOVEREIGN PRIZE is awarded to EN MILLE PÉTALES / IN THOUSAND PETALS (LOUISE BONGARTZ).
SILVER SWORD (SECOND PRIZE)
The joint winners of the SILVER SWORD PRIZE is awarded to SUKOUN / AMPLIFIED (DINA NASER).
BRONZE BELL (THIRD PRIZE)
The winner of the BRONZE BELL PRIZE is awarded to WINTER IN MARCH (NATALIA MIRZOYAN).
FEMME FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL –
THE WINNERS FROM EACH CATEGORY:
DIRECTING
The winner of DIRECTING is awarded to DINA NASER (SUKOUN / AMPLIFIED).
FEMALE PERFORMANCE
The winner of FEMALE PERFORMANCE is awarded to HOLLY HIGBEE (IMMATERIAL).
MALE PERFORMANCE
The winner of MALE PERFORMANCE is awarded to NIGEL BETTS (BEAM ME UP).
WRITING
The winner of WRITING is awarded to AMANDA VALLE (LA SOLEDAD NO VIENE SOLA/ LONELINESS DOESN’T COME ALONE).
CINEMATOGRAPHY
The winner of CINEMATOGRAPHY is awarded to SEANA ROGOVIN (STICK BUG).
EDITING
The winner of EDITING is awarded to KATI EGELY (HA NACIDO UN NIÑO / A CHILD WAS BORN).
ORIGINAL MUSIC
The winner of ORIGINAL MUSIC is awarded to HOLLIE BUHAGIAR (SWIM SISTAS).
SOUND DESIGN
The winner of SOUND DESIGN is awarded to ENSIEH MALEKI (SUKOUN / AMPLIFIED).
VISUAL DESIGN
The winner of VISUAL DESIGN is awarded to LOUISE BONGARTZ (EN MILLE PÉTALES / IN THOUSAND PETALS).
MIXED MEDIA
The winner of MIXED MEDIA is awarded to NATALIA MIRZOYAN (WINTER IN MARCH).
SPECIAL PRIZE WINNERS:
SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION PRIZE
The winner of the SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION PRIZE is awarded to CATHY ELLINGTON (OVERLOOKED: A SILENT EXTINCTION).
THE MAYA DEREN SHORT FILM INNOVATION PRIZE
The winner of THE MAYA DEREN SHORT FILM INNOVATION PRIZE is awarded to CATHERINE JOY WHITE (SWIM SISTAS). This is awarded to Catherine for an incredible body of work across various acting branches, producing, directing and writing short films. As well as for her work as an author, activist, and encapsulating her celebration of black womanhood.
AUDIENCE PRIZE
The winner of the AUDIENCE PRIZE is awarded to ARRIANNA LEIGH AND THE TEAM (THE SHADOW).
STUDENT INSPIRATION PRIZE
The winner of the STUDENT INSPIRATION PRIZE is awarded to Sophie Brownlow, Hayley Exton, Saskia Magallona McCullough, and Olivia McGeachy for WUTHERED.
FEMME SCRIPTWRITING SHOWCASE
This year introduces the newest category in the Femme Filmmakers Festival judged by Hannah, Ruby, and Holly. This category awards the best short film or TV pilot script written by student or recent graduate female screenwriters.
The winners of the FEMME SCRIPTWRITERS SHOWCASE are awarded to ELOISE ECCLES for LOOK UP and PHOEBE WHITTINGHAM for IN HER ABSENCE.
Thank You For Joining Us At The Femme Filmmakers Festival 2026!
You can look at the highlights of the 11th FEMME FILMMAKERS FESTIVAL by reading through our festival showcase reviews coming on the site very soon.
Thanks for joining us this year to celebrate the best from female filmmakers. Next year we will come together again to celebrate the 12th edition of the Femme Filmmakers Festival. We hope to see you there in celebration of female filmmakers!
You can view the festival’s ‘Roll Of Honour Closing Session’ here.
