2023 AWARD RECIPIENTS
AFMX MUSIC AWARD
Awarded to a musician or music producer who has made a significant impact in film, music and the arts
Cindy Blackman Santana
AFMX DENNIS HOPPER "EASY RIDER" AWARD
Robert Mason
AFMX IMPACT AWARD
The award is presented to a person or persons who have made a significant impact to society through their work in film, music, or the arts.
Cyndy McCrossen
BEST ANIMATION
Winner - D is for Drama, Directed by Brad Condie
1st Runner Up - Moirai-Thread of Life,
Directed by Mark Chavez & Ina Conradi Chavez
2nd Runner Up - Shakespeare For All Ages,
Directed by Hannes Roll
BEST MUSIC VIDEOS
Winner – The Summer Set - Back Together, Directed by Gregory JM Kasunich
1st Runner Up – Death of a Hero, RJ Solomon
2nd Runner Up – My Lady. Directed Grant Weitraub
BEST STUDENT FILMS
Winner – Daddy, Jo Steinhart
1st Runner Up – Wei Lei, Robin Wang
2nd Runner Up – Backlog, Jacqueline Elyse Rosenthal
BEST NATIVE/INDIGENOUS SHORTS
Winner – Can I Love You?, Directed by Kymon Greyhorse
1st Runner Up – We Will Speak,
Directed by Schon Duncan, Michael McDermit
2nd Runner Up – Indigenous Resistance, Directed by Joe Yates
BEST NEW MEXICO SHORTS
Winner – Cara Romero: Following the Light,
Directed by Kaela Waldstein
1st Runner Up – The Countryman, Directed by Andy Kastelic
2nd Runner Up – Yolanda, Directed Enrique Cruz Torres
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORTS
Winner – Every Day After, Elisa Gambino
1st Runner Up – Black is Beautiful,
Directed by Marco Antonio Ortega
2nd Runner Up – I Am the Queen,
Directed by Roberto Salvador Rodriquez
BEST NARRATIVE SHORTS
Winner – Mia & The Skeleton's Night from Hell, Directed by Ryan Maples
1st Runner Up – A Bad Romance, Directed by Bex Bradshaw &
The Word, Directed by Rob Neilson
2nd Runner Up – The Silent Smile, Directed by Adan Chavez &
Chasing Jupiter, Directed by Linjie Huang
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Winner - Immediate Family, Directed by Denny Tedesco
1st Runner Up – Live at Mister Kelly's,
Directed by Theodore Bogosian
2nd Runner Up – Into the Spotlight,
Directed by Thaddeus Matula
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURES
Winner – Burst The Silence, Directed by Eric Schaeffer
1st Runner Up – Good Side of Bad,
Directed by Alethea Root
2nd Runner Up – You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder,
Directed by Emma Westenberg
BEST ACTOR
Winner – Andrew Michael, Waiting
1st Runner Up – Arthur Zhang, Wei Lai
2nd Runner Up – John Ericson, Big Al
BEST ACTRESS
Winner – Clara McGregor, You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder
1st Runner Up – Regina LaVert, Black Canvas
2nd Runner Up – Jill Thoss, Chevalier
BEST DIRECTOR - NARRATIVE FEATURE:
Alethea Root, Good Side of Bad
BEST DIRECTOR - DOCUMENTARY FEATURE:
Denny Tedesco, Immediate Family
BEST DIRECTOR - NARRATIVE SHORT:
Kaye Tuckerman, Black Canvas
BEST DIRECTOR - DOCUMENTARY SHORT:
Marco Antonio Ortega, Black is Beautiful
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
The Countryman, Jannis Schelenz
BEST MUSIC SCORE:
Robbie Schaefer, Burst the Silence
AFMX AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD:
Winner - Healing Waters, Directed by Derek Johnson
1st Runner Up - Fundamental Shapes, Directed by Colin Campbell
2nd Runner Up - The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary, Directed by Rudy Childs
PERFECTING YOUR PITCH
Winner - Kate Bergeron for Upstaged
1st Runner Up - Debra Pralle for No Demerits for Dancing
2nd Runner Up - Ryan Beane for Web of Thieves