San Diego Film Awards

The San Diego Film Awards are presented annually by the Film Consortium San Diego to recognize the excellence of student, independent and professional filmmakers, talent, and crew in the San Diego film industry. Established in 2014, it is the only local awards show that recognizes cast, crew, and filmmakers for their achievements in the previous calendar year.

The Film Awards used to be the closing event for the annual San Diego Film Week, our own film festival. Since 2021 the San Diego Film Awards are a separate event held in the spring, accepting and awarding documentary shorts, narrative shorts, narrative features, and documentary features.

MISSION: San Diego Film Awards is a yearly televised award show that recognizes the excellence of student, independent, and professional filmmakers, talent, and crew in the San Diego film industry.

NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCEMENT
San Diego Film Awards nominations will be announced in late JULY. Event date and location TBD.

SAN DIEGO FILM AWARDS SHOW SAVE THE DATE
The San Diego Film Awards will premiere on KPBS on FRIDAY AUGUST 26th, 2022 AND we will also have a hybrid award ceremony on the same night tentatively scheduled at the Museum of Photographic Arts in Balboa Park (MOPA). PLEASE SAVE THE DATE OF FRIDAY, AUGUST 26TH, 2022 and we will follow up with event info.

EMMY AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT
We will find out on June 18th if we win any Emmys for the San Diego Film Awards. Please cross your fingers for us!

UPDATES
Stay tuned for more updates and we're extremely excited as this year we will have both a hybrid live event AND a televised broadcast of the San Diego Film Awards.

WEBSITE: filmconsortiumsd.com/san-diego-film-awards/
#sdfilmawards

HIGHLIGHTS

VIP Reception at premium venues in San Diego
Over 20 awards presented in 4 categories
Red Carpet experience with photos and interviews
Guest Stars and Presenters
Premiered on KPBS

2020 WINNERS

Best Sound Design
Patrick Jerry for “Tick”

Best Editing
Tyler J. French for “Phase”

Best Production Design
Larry and Leah Freeland for “A Gunman’s Hand”

Best Lead Actor (SHORT FILM)
Manny Fernandes for “POLKA.”

Best Lead Actress (SHORT FILM)
Rachel Alig for “Wolf on a Leash”

Best Child Actor
Faithe Herman for “The Flourish”

Best Short Documentary
Bill Wisneski for “The Roads Most Traveled: Photojournalist Don Bartletti”

Best First Time Director
Bradley Dunn for “Tick”

Best Director
Luke McCain and Ryan Knight for “Wolf on a Leash”

Best Writing
Luke McCain and Ryan Knight for “Wolf on a Leash”

Best Cinematography
Tyler J. French for “Phase”

Best Actor (NARRATIVE FEATURE)
Carr Cavender for “To Hell and Gone”

Best Actress (NARRATIVE FEATURE)
Susan Gayle Watts for “To Hell and Gone”

Best Ensemble Cast
“The Perfect Life”

Spirit of San Diego
“Entrenched: Prologue” by A Face of Change

Best Short Film
“Wolf on a Leash” by Tribal Films Inc.

Best Feature Documentary
One More Win by Amy Lerner, Richard Heeley

Best Narrative Feature
“To Hell and Gone” by Aravaipa Productions

Binational Award Narrative Feature
Paul Espinosa

Women in Film Award
Jeanne Scott

My Power of One Award
Joe Castanho

Submission Categories

INDEPENDENT/PROFESSIONAL

Narrative Features (over 45 minutes)
Narrative Shorts (under 45 minutes)
Documentary Features (over 45 minutes)
Documentary Shorts (under 45 minutes)

Note: If a STUDENT FILM wishes to compete in the range as INDEPENDENT/PROFESSIONAL films they must submit under the same category prizing as INDEPENDENT/PROFESSIONAL films.