The 2026 results — announced at the Sumter Little Theatre, September 11–13, 2026.
Inaugural recipient of the Swan Lake Sentinel Award, presented on opening night by S.C. Speaker of the House Murrell Smith in remembrance of September 11th. Retired U.S. Army Major; founder of MAWilliams Films, Sumter, SC.
The 2026 Visionary Award recipients, honored for vision, craft, and creative flight in independent film.
Winner of the opening-night Hometown Showdown — Sumter filmmakers head to head. Dir. Mark A. Williams, MAWilliams Films.
Dirs. Mia Faith Johnson & Ryan Callahan · Greer, SC · 1:05:56 · Also Best South Carolina Feature Film
Dir. Amani Summer · United States · 4:38
Dir. Todd James Schmidt · Written by Karen Waldrup · 3:13
Dirs. Mia Faith Johnson & Ryan Callahan · Feature · 1:05:56
Dir. Mark A. Williams · MAWilliams Films · 15:48 · Also winner of the Hometown Showdown
Michelle Ross & Matt Williams · Stage Play
Loretta Bolger Wish · United States
Dir. Jim Menza · 1:30:00
Dirs. Rob Underhill & Diane Harris · Written by Arianna Harris & Diane Harris · 7:59
Dirs. Mikael James & Gabriel Zepeda · 9:10
Michael Norman, Nicole Norman & Mikael James
Joe Fishel
Dirs. Mia Faith Johnson & Ryan Callahan · Greer, SC · 1:05:56 · Also Best South Carolina Feature Film
Dir. Jimmy Lucarz · 12:31
Dirs. Ciara Naughton & Kurstin Moser · 16:43
Dir. Kayla Browder · 5:32
Steven Keith Bogart
Dirs. Dustin Cravins & Milton Arceneaux · Documentary · 51:00
Dir. Alan Jackson · Documentary · 1:34:46
Dir. Jim Menza · 1:37:45
Dir. Kyprianos Dimosthenous · Cyprus · 14:28
Dir. Elijah Bradford · 1:17:09
Nolan Stolz · 12:00
Congratulations to every Official Selection. Screenplay and stage play placements were shared across the Swan Lake, Moonless International, and Romans VIII festivals — a script places at only one of the three. Winners who could not attend: your trophy and certificate are on the way.