California Women’s Film Festival
Audience Award Winners
(Audience Winners will be posted by Jan. 12th)
1st Place
TBD
2nd Place
TBD
3rd Place
TBD
Jury Category Winners
(Category Winners will be presented at the end of the film’s screening block)
Best Feature Film
Highly Explosive Dir. Kerstin Polte
(Presented at the end of Block 3 on Friday 1/9/2026)
Best Short Film
Forgive Me, Father Dir. Lyndall Stephenson
(Presented at the end of Block 4 on Saturday 1/10/2026)
Best Feature Documentary
The (M) Factor 2: Before the Pause (Perimenopause) Dir. Jacoba Atlas
(Presented at the end of Block 2 on Saturday 1/10/2026)
Best Short Documentary
Unfurled Dir. Gail Willumsen
(Presented at the end of Block 4 on Saturday 1/10/2026)
Best Student Film
The Victim Dir. Annie Liones Nguyen
(Presented at the end of Block 4 on Saturday 1/10/2026)
Best Foreign Film
Clinical Case Dir. Ksenia Ishoot
(Presented at the end of Block 4 on Saturday 1/10/2026)
Best Animation
The House Of Mycelium Dir. Jordyn Diebolt
(Presented at the end of Block 4 on Saturday 1/10/2026)
Best Music Video
Streetlights - Scott Frenzel Dir. Alissa Wyle
(Presented at the end of Block 4 on Saturday 1/10/2026)
Best Experimental Film
Mushroom Dir. Ziyan He
(Presented at the end of Block 4 on Saturday 1/10/2026)
Best Feature Script
Peeping Maureen by Samantha Shaber
Best Short Script
North by Ness Wilson
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Feature Script Finalist
Death In Reality by Erin Copen Howard
Hey, Girlie! by Gabriella Walls
Lady Betty by Michelle Holmes
Second Set by Candace Lee Egan
The Manifestation by Caerthan Banks
The Poppet by Susan Eileen Jizba
The Provider by Mark Constance
Short Script Finalist
Alone...Together. by Mitchel Resnick
Be Careful What You Wish For by Philippa Rae
Delilah by E Forshey
Delivered by Gayathri K
Re.Soul by Jametria Mays
The Illusion by Dainora Kireilé
The Second Death by Christine List
Honorable Mention Finalist
Fireside Dir. by Xiaopei Wang
Heart Attack: A hidden threat to the Asian community
Dir. by Christina Chow, Ben Ng
Moisture Dir. by Duda Gorter
My Name Is Robert Ruark Dir. by Si Paros
Sheness Dir. by Manuraj Dubey
Sugar Dir. by Charlotta Huldt
The Voice Of Despair Dir. by Nina Goldvin
Call For Entries Now Open
Jury Creative Winners
Best Director
Kerstin Polte
Best Actress
Anne Ratte-Pollte
Best Supporting Actress
Haley Louise Jones
Best Actor
Bernhard Schütz
Best Original Screenplay
Kerstin Polte
13th Annual California Women’s Festival trophies provided by
Jury Creative Nominees
(Creative Winners will be announced and presented during the Filmmaker Mixer on Saturday, Jan. 10th. The mixer starts at 9pm and the Award Presentation starts at 9:40pm)
Best Director
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Best Actress
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Best Supporting Actress
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Best Actor
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Best Original Screenplay
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Saturday Night Filmmaker Mixer
9pm-10:50pm $30
Wine, refreshments, music, networking and the presentation of the Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, and Best Original Screenplay awards.
All ticket sales are final. Tickets will be held at box office and can be picked up on the day of the event.
CWFF - January 9th -10th 2026
All Rights Reserved. California Women’s Film Festival 2014 - 2026