The 2026 Fleurieu Film Festival awards were presented on 7th February 2026 at the McLaren Vale and Fleurieu Coast Visitors Centre. The festival proudly recognised outstanding films from emerging and established filmmakers in South Australia and beyond. The winning films, spanning a range of categories, are listed below.

Fleurieu Film Festival 2026 Award Recipients

Best South Australian High School Film

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Best South Australian High School Film Award Recipient - james is dead

Directed by Jacob Mclean

Awarded to Jacob Mclean

The recipient was awarded $1000 Hire Voucher

Audience Choice Award

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Audience Choice Award Award Recipient - Let's Live for Tonight

Directed by Chase Bradshaw, Produced by Chase Bradshaw

Awarded to Chase Bradshaw

The recipient was awarded a Gold Pass

Best Production Design

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Best Production Design Award Recipient - Hypothetically, the End

Directed by Lily Drummond, Produced by Lily Drummond

Awarded to Grace Stewart

The recipient was awarded $200 voucher

Best Actor

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Best Actor Award Recipient - Hypothetically, the End

Directed by Lily Drummond, Produced by Lily Drummond

Awarded to Nat Luna

The recipient was awarded $250 cash prize

Best Directing

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Best Directing Award Recipient - Hypothetically, the End

Directed by Lily Drummond, Produced by Lily Drummond

Awarded to Lily Drummond

The recipient was awarded Gold Pass

Best Cinematography

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Best Cinematography Award Recipient - I'd Do Anything

Directed by Anisa Raisi, Produced by Brandon Boyer

Awarded to Nik Long

The recipient was awarded $750 hire voucher

Best Young Filmmaker Under 24

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Best Young Filmmaker Under 24 Award Recipient - I'd Do Anything

Directed by Anisa Raisi, Produced by Brandon Boyer

Awarded to Anisa Raisi

The recipient was awarded $500 cash for award

Best Sound Design

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Best Sound Design Award Recipient - Wishes: Windows & Nests

Directed by Ana Maria Mendez Salgado, Produced by Carlos Manrique Clavijo

Awarded to Carlos Manrique Clavijo

The recipient was awarded Studio time with sound engineer

Best Film

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Best Film Award Recipient - Wishes: Windows & Nests

Directed by Ana Maria Mendez Salgado, Produced by Carlos Manrique Clavijo

Awarded to Ana Maria Mendez Salgado

The recipient was awarded $500 cash for prize

Best Score

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Best Score Award Recipient - The Spaces Between

Directed by Eoghan O'Neill

Awarded to Dem Mob

The recipient was awarded 2 x tickets to Fleurieu Folk Festival

Best Editing

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Best Editing Award Recipient - The Spaces Between

Directed by Eoghan O'Neill

Awarded to Patrick Whybro, Eoghan O’Neill

The recipient was awarded $350 membership subscription & $200 of merchandise

Best Documentary

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Best Documentary Award Recipient - The Spaces Between

Directed by Eoghan O'Neill

Awarded to Eoghan O'Neill

The recipient was awarded 4 x passes

Best Script

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Best Script Award Recipient - A Million Lives

Directed by Dante Neidzwiedz, Produced by Dante Neidzwiedz

Awarded to Dante Neidzwiedz

The recipient was awarded $300 membership subscription

Focus on the Fleurieu Award

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Focus on the Fleurieu Award Award Recipient - Rapid BAY - The Town That Was

Directed by Joshua Buscumb Vance, Produced by Joshua Buscumb Vance

Awarded to Joshua Buscumb Vance

The recipient was awarded 2-night stay

Best International Short Film

Best International Short Film Award Recipient - Adas Falasteen

Directed by Hamdi Khalil Elhusseini and Samar Taher Lulu

Awarded to Hamdi Khalil Elhusseini and Samar Taher Lulu

Fleurieu Film Festival 2026 Finalists

The Fleurieu Film Festival would like to acknowledge the efforts of the finalist films in 2026 that did not receive an award, but were selected to feature at the event. The finalist films are listed below.

Unpacked

Directed by Lucas Raponi, Produced by Rebecca Hunt

Items, Objects and Things

Directed by Kristoffer Lucia, Produced by Hannah Smith, Alex Karytinos

Tight Corners

Directed by Sukhbir Gill, Produced by Sarah Moulton

Ella's Urban Canvas

Directed by Giorgia Murphy, Amelie Baldock, Produced by Valentina Moffa, Jessica Cools

Verge Collection

Directed by Nicholas Verryn, Produced by Taylor Finch, Nadine Barry

Fleurieu Film Festival 2026 Honourable Mentions

The judges would also like to give special recognition to the following films for their exceptional qualities.

Between Two Worlds

Directed by Andrew Graham Lindner, Produced by Andrew Graham Lindner

like it's the last day

Directed by Timothy John George, Produced by Timothy John George

Tessellation Music Video

Directed by Thomas Edward Conroy, Produced by Thomas Edward Conroy

Empty (空っぽ)

Directed by Hudson Wilkins, Produced by Isis Fabjancic

The Cranker - A Bar on Borrowed Time

Directed by Lyra Noblet, Produced by Jarred Dilernia

Veritas

Directed by Billy John Kimpton SG, Produced by Billy John Kimpton SG

Television

Directed by Jarred Dilernia, Produced by Antonio Renna

Little Prince

Directed by Laila Scaparra, Produced by Kate Langley

Entendre

Directed by Harrison J Thomas, Produced by Harrison J Thomas

THE PRESERVERS

Directed by Ren Williams, Produced by Madison Siegertsz

Strike Me Lucky

Directed by Josh Thompson, Produced by Josh Thompson