CAF26 Award Winners!

(The CAF26 awards were made by the brilliant SculptDouble)

Thank you so much to everyone who joined us at the Best of the Fest awards at CAF26, hosted by the amazing Ali Plumb. We hope that you had the best time!

If you weren't there in person, don't worry, because we've got a full round-up of all of the award winners and the honourable mentions right here for you to catch up on!

At CAF26, we awarded winners in 5 categories: Best Short Film, Best Student Short, Best Micro Short, the Young Jury Award and the Audience Award, with the Student and Best Short categories also having an Honourable Mention, giving us 7 films to celebrate!

Judging the films, this years Awards Jury were Nia Edwards Behi, Sarah Schmidt and Pip Williamson, who came together at CAF26 to deliberate and choose the winners for the Best Short Film, Best Student Short and Best Micro Short awards.

Thank you to all of the filmmakers who submitted their films to CAF26, they were all incredible!

🏆 Audience Award Winner - The Undying Pain of Existence - Oscar Jacobson (Germany)

The winner of the Audience Award at CAF26 was The Undying Pain Of Existence, directed by Oscar Jacobson.

The Audience Award is voted for by festival attendees who choose their favourite film at the end of each shorts screening.

🏆 Best Short Film Winner - And Granny Would Dance - Maryam Mohajer (UK)

The winner of Best Short Film Award at CAF26 was And Granny Would Dance directed by Maryam Mohajer.

Citation from the Jury: The charming, at times, breathless painting style gives this film a sense of immediacy. The way the women can work the room and bullheadedly bring joy back into the widow's life is hopeful in face of the palpable heaviness of her grief as well as the wider context that the film exists in.

⭐️ Best Short Film Honourable Mention - A Night At The Rest Area - Saki Muramoto

The honourable mention in the Best Short Film category at CAF26 was A Night At The Rest Area directed by Saki Muramoto.

Citation from the Jury: Cute but authentic depiction of quiet camaraderie.

🏆 Young Jury Award Winner - Lost Marble - the shortcut - Laura Quinn Geyer (UK)

This year's Young Jury was a group of year 5 pupils from Caedraw Primary – in partnership with Into Film. The award went to Lost Marble - the shortcut directed by Laura Quinn Geyer!

🏆 Best Student Short Winner - Foreign Bodies - Lysander Wong (Hong Kong/UK)

The winner of the Best Student Short Film Award at CAF26 was Foreign Bodies, directed by Lysander Wong.

Citation from the Jury: All shots in this film were fun and well composed with great use of foreshortening and perspective. Impressive use of physical media to depict itchy discomfort, especially in relation to the experience of being in the wrong body in a conservative environment.

⭐️ Best Student Short Honourable Mention - Pear Garden - Shadab Shayegan

The honourable mention in the Best Student Short category at CAF26 was Pear Garden, directed by Shadab Shayegan.

Citation from the Jury: This film we commend for its tactility and use of perspective that makes the most of the “flat” medium. The story was a playfully cautious take on a heavy subject that maintains the tender and believable relationship between grandmother and grandchild. Not shying away from the boobiness or the naive bluntness that comes from a child’s interpretation.

🏆 Best Micro Short Winner - Boglach - Sarah Benson (Ireland)

The winner of the Best Micro Short Award at CAF26 was Boglach, directed by Sarah Benson.

Citation from the Jury: Utterly playful, sincere and well-rounded film that represents Ireland while proudly wearing its Japanese influences on its sleeve. To pack a world that's bursting at the seams into less than 2 minutes is no mean feat.