Announcing the Winners of the 10th Annual Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival

New York, NY – September 2025 — The Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival (ITWIFF) proudly celebrated its milestone 10th anniversary with an unforgettable showcase of women-driven storytelling. Over the course of four inspiring days, audiences experienced more than 97 films and virtual table reads representing over 20 countries—each one a testament to creativity, resilience, and the transformative power of storytelling.

This year’s lineup left an undeniable mark. From documentaries shedding light on social change, to narratives that sparked laughter, reflection, and even tears, to bold experimental work that pushed the boundaries of cinema, the 2025 festival proved once again that women filmmakers and storytellers are a force to be reckoned with.

Celebrating Our Winners

We are thrilled to recognize the filmmakers and screenwriters whose work stood out at this year’s festival. Congratulations to the following award recipients:

Film Award Winners

• Best Narrative Feature: Connection – Negar Azarbayjani

• Best Documentary Feature: Beyond Survival – Annalise Lockhart

• Best Narrative Short Film: Flight 182 – Rippin Sindher

• Best Documentary Short: They Call Me The Tattoo Witch – Lindsay Nyman

• Best International Narrative Short: Delivery – Ben Lankester

• Best International Documentary Short: Women of Honey and Water – Camila Fernanda Pardo Cerezo

• Best Animated Short: Impossible Journey – YUCA

• Best Drama: Elsa – Rebecca King

• Best Comedy: The Errand – Hayley Marie Norman

• Best Sci-Fi: Ornamental Oriental – Jessica Qinyue Luo

• Best Horror: Aicha – Sanaa El Alaoui

• Best Thriller: Ride or Die – Liliana Tandon

• Best Fantasy: Defenders of the Tyrrhenian Sea – Jack Shanks

• Best Web Series: Dating Positive (+) – S1E2 “The Truth” – Mustafa Mahdi

• Best Emerging Storyteller: Culture War – Celi Mitidieri

• Best Experimental: Healing Ground – Tamara Shogaolu

• Best NY Film: When Everything Was Blue – Christina Chironna

Screenplay Award Winners

• Best Original Screenplay: Girls vs. Hell – Juliette Roberts

• Best Original Short Screenplay: Diwata – Shea Formanes

• Best TV Pilot Screenplay: Elysian Falls – Ragan Mozee

• Best TV Pilot Screenplay: Blunt – Hadeel Ramadan

Honorable Mentions

• STIGMA – Dali Mansour

• The Woman in the Wardrobe – Ruby Phelan

• Birth Controlled – Isa Fraga-Abaza

• Dating App Chronicles – Kat Reynolds

• almost love. –  Sarah Hà Duyên Ngô

• Up and Down the River – Madeline Sayet

• Before You –  Lauren Melinda

A Decade of Storytelling

“As we close the 10th edition of Imagine This Women’s International Film Festival, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all award recipients and participating filmmakers,” said Patrice Francois, Co-Founder and Festival Director. “Their bold, diverse, and innovative work continues to inspire audiences around the world, and we are honored to celebrate their incredible storytelling.”

Looking Ahead

From powerful documentaries to groundbreaking genre films, ITWIFF 2025 reminded us why storytelling matters—and why diverse voices must be amplified on a global stage. Every filmmaker and screenwriter who participated contributed to the magic of this milestone year.

As we step into our next decade, we remain committed to supporting, celebrating, and empowering women filmmakers, BIPOC voices, and LGBTQIA+ storytellers.

Here’s to another 10 years of powerful, inclusive, and inspiring stories.