2026 Award Winners

Salem Film Fest 2026 hosted a total of 28 screenings with 68 films, including 22 feature-length documentaries, 22 shorts, 24 student films, and 3 docs-in-progress. Among those films, this year the festival honors six filmmakers with awards which represent the appreciation of our audience and jury, and recognition of achievement in different disciplines in filmmaking.

In a unique tradition of the fest, winners in each category will be awarded original handmade trophies created by artists based in Salem. These awards not only honor the filmmakers' achievements but also celebrate the collaboration between the film festival and the local art community. As we explore the nominated films and the visionaries behind them, we aim to spotlight the talent and creativity that mark the highlights of this year's Salem Film Fest.

SPECIAL JURY AWARD:

FIUME O MORTE! — WINNER
Directed by Igor Bezinović

Jurors include: Sara Archambault, Anna Feder, Karthik Pandian, Michael Premo, and Milton Guillen.

CULTRERA CUTS EDITING AWARD:

FARRUQUITO, A FLAMENCO DYNASTY — WINNER
Directed by Santi Aguado, Reuben Atlas

Jurors include: Nathan Fitch, Loulwa Khoury, Julie Mallozzi, Flavia de Souza, and Sally Wu.

Cultrera Cuts Editing Award by Arlene Brown

AUDIENCE AWARD:

AMERICAN DOCTOR — WINNER
Directed by Poh Si Teng

UNLESS SOMETHING GOES TERRIBLY WRONG — RUNNER UP
Directed by Kaitlyn Schwalje, Alexander Lewis

The Audience Award is determined by audience votes.

AWARD FOR JOURNALISM:

AMERICAN DOCTOR — WINNER
Directed by Poh Si Teng

Jurors include: Margo Guernsey, Peter Keough, Zac Manuel, James Sullivan and Nicole Tsien.

AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER MAGAZINE AWARD:

JARIPEO — WINNER
Directed by Efraín Mojica, Rebecca Zweig

Selected by Stephen Pizzello, editor-in-chief/publisher of the American Society of Cinematographers' monthly magazine.

American Cinematographer Magazine Award by Jack Walsh

BEST SHORT AWARD

ENTRE LE FEU ET LE CLAIR DE LUNE — WINNER
Directed by Dominic Yarabe

Jurors include: Cam Howard, Katherine Irving, and Jenny Miller.

Best Short Award by M. Patrick O’Donnell

Mass Reality Check Winners:

1st - PALLBEARERS
Tati Chavitage | Emerson College
2nd - PULPA
Brianna Benitez | Boston University
3rd - BEFORE I BLEED
Isa Han | Boston University

Prizes will be awarded by our industry sponsors, Boris FX, Women in Film and Video New England (WIFVNE) and Mass Production Coalition (MPC). The first place winner will also meet individually after the festival with programming staff from Salem Film Fest to get advice about filmmaking as a career and receive insights into funding and distribution, as well as other professional considerations.

Mass Reality Check Award by Richard Flynn

Keeping It Reel Winners:

Keeping It Reel
1st - “ART”IFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Theo MacQuarrie | Masconomet Regional High School
2nd - A LITTLE BIT OF THE NORTH END
Sarah Vose | Natick High School
3rd - XIAO SHUN AND DUMPLINGS
David Guo | Buckingham Brown and Nichols

Our doc shorts showcase for Massachusetts high school students, sponsored by Boris FX. A jury will award software packages provided by our sponsor to the top three films.