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

  • 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

  • LIFETIME ACHEIVEMENT AWARD

    Dr. Bernard C. Watson

  • 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