The 25th Indie Memphis Film Festival announced the 2022 award winners with the top jury prizes going to Ellie Foumbi’s Our Father, The Devil for Best Narrative Feature and Reed Harkness’ Sam Now for Best Documentary Feature.

Best Hometowner Feature went to The ‘Vous directed by Jack Lofton’s, Best Departures Feature went to This House (Cette maison) directed by Miryam Charles, and Best Sounds Feature went to Kumina Queen directed by Nyasha Laing.

The festival also awarded two yet-to-be-produced short films with Indie Grant prizes: “Bluff City Chinese” (Dir. Anna Cai) and “R.E.G.G.I.N.” (Dir. A.D. Smith). These films from Memphis-based filmmakers were chosen by a jury and were each awarded with $39K; grant support comprised of $15K cash provided by sponsor Mark Jones and $24K of cash-equivalent rentals and donations provided by sponsors Firefly Grip & Electric, LensRentals, Music + Arts Studio, and VIA. Three winners will each receive grant packages worth $13K.

2022 Indie Memphis Film Festival Award-Winners
Winners by Category

Jury Awards

Narrative Features

Best Narrative Feature, OUR FATHER, THE DEVIL (Dir. Ellie Foumbi) – $1K Cash Prize

Duncan Williams Best Screenplay Award, ACTUAL PEOPLE (Dir. Kit Zauhar) – $1K Cash Prize

Documentary Features

Best Documentary Feature, SAM NOW (Dir. Reed Harkness) – $1K Cash Prize

Special Jury Mention for Revolutionary Cinema, SILENT BEAUTY (Dir. Jasmin Mara López)

Special Jury Mention for Transcendent Cinema, OUTTA THE MUCK (Dir. Ira McKinley, Bhawin Suchak)

Hometowner

Best Hometowner Feature, THE ‘VOUS (Dir. Jack Lofton) – $1K Cash Prize

Best Hometowner Narrative Short, “Nordo” (Dir. Kyle Taubken) – $500 Cash Prize

Best Hometowner Documentary Short, “What We’ll Never Know” (Dir. Lauren Ready) – $500 Cash Prize

Departures

Best Departures Feature, THIS HOUSE (CETTE MAISON) (Dir. Miryam Charles) – $500 Cash Prize

Best Departures Mid-Length Film, “Civic” (Dir. Dwayne LeBlanc)

Best Departures Short, “Maya at 24” (Dir. Lynn Sachs)

Sounds

Best Sounds Feature, KUMINA QUEEN (Dir. Nyasha Laing) – $500 Cash Prize

Best National Music Video, “Vacant Spaces” (Dir. Joe Baughman)

Best Hometowner Music Video, “Don’t Come Home” (Dir. Emily Rooker)

Shorts

Best Narrative Short, “Sugar Glass Bottle” (Dir. Neo Sora) – $500 Cash Prize

Best Documentary Short, “The Body is a House of Familiar Rooms” by Eloise Sherrid + Lauryn Welch – $500 Cash Prize

IndieGrants

“Bluff City Chinese” (Dir. Anna Cai)- $15K Grant ($7.5K cash, $7.5K In-Kind Filmmaking Services)

“R.E.G.G.I.N.” (Dir. A.D. Smith) – $15K Grant ($7.5K cash, $7.5K In-Kind Filmmaking Services)

Poster Design

THIS HOUSE (CETTE MAISON) (Dir. Miryam Charles)

Festival Awards

Ron Tibbett Excellence in Filmmaking

ME LITTLE ME (Dir. Elizabeth Ayiku)

Craig Brewer Emerging Filmmaker

VERY RARE (Dir. Eric Younger)

Soul of Southern Film Award

OUTTA THE MUCK by (Dir. Ira McKinley, Bhawin Suchak)

Vision Award

Ryan Watt

Indie Award

Sallie Sabbatini

Best After Dark Film

“Gussy” (Dir. Chris Osborn)