2023 Awards
The Festival is proud to announce the recipients awards of excellence in independent filmmaking, which will be featured during our 13th Anniversary Awards Watch Weekend, launching Thanksgiving Day, November 23 through November 26, 2023.
2023 Awards for Excellence
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KELECHUKWU BRNFRE VANGUARD AWARD
Charles Murray - Writer Director
Mark Spencer - West Side Theater Guild -
GIBFF IMPACT AWARD
Tyrell Anderson - Decay Devils
Burgess Peoples - G.I.V.E. (Guaranteed Income Validation Effort) -
GIBFF FOUNDER’S AWARD
Gary Mayor Jerome Prince
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LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD
Dr. Bernard C. Watson
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BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
THE BRITISH ARE COMING
Director- Jose Barajas
Writer - Timeca M Seretti -
MIDWEST AWARD: BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
BREATHE
Director - Jamie Burton-Oare
Writer - Jamie Burton-Oare -
JUDGES AWARD: BEST NARRATIVE SHORT
GETAWAY
Director - Stephanie Malson
Writer - Malaika Paquiot -
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
A PERFECT BLEMISH
Director T'Shombi Jumar Basemore
Writer - T'Shombi Jumar Basemore -
BEST YOUTH MADE FILM
THE ACCIDENTAL TRUTH
Director -Marquell Sanders
Writer - Marquell Sanders -
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
KING OF KINGS: CHASING EDWARD JONES
Director -Harriet Marin Jones
Writer - Harriet Marin Jones -
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
INTERCEPTION: JAYNE KENNEDY AMERICAN SPORTSCASTER
Director - Safiya Songhai
Writer - Safiya Songhai -
AUDIENCE AWARD: BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
#Free to be Free "That's How God Created Us" The story of Louisiana HB 382
Director - Damien D Smith
Writer - Nia Weeks -
MIDWEST AWARD: BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT
GUARANTEED IN GARY
Director - Darryl Parham
Producer - Risé Sanders-Weir -
MIDWEST AWARD: BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
THE PENDLETON 2: THEY STOOD UP
Directors - Too Black, TheKingTrill
Producers - Too Black, TheKingTrill -
MIDWEST AWARD: EMERGING NARRATIVE FILM
ILLUSION
Director - Jaylin Armani Scott
Writer - Jaylin Armani Scott -
JUDGES AWARD: BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
SINCE I BEEN DOWN
Directors - Dr. Gilda Sheppard
Writer - Saman Maydani -
LEGACY AWARD DOCUMENTARY
WHO IS WATSON?
Director - Mark Parry
Producer - Mark Parry -
JUDGES AWARD: BEST FOREIGN NARRATIVE
MAN UP
Director - Kwame Lestrade
Writer - Kwame Lestrade -
JUDGES AWARD: BEST FOREIGN DOCUMENTARY
SUNU THIOSSANE: THE MAKING OF AN AFRICAN DREAM
Director - Mamedjarra Bousso Diop-Mar
Writer - Mamedjarra Bousso Diop-Mar -
JUDGES AWARD: EXPERIMENTAL FEATURE
BLONDE WIGS
Director - Chris Saint Martin
Writer - Chris Saint Martin