EXCLUSIVE: Dances With Films, the festival that describes itself as “defiantly independent,” has announced its jury and audience awards after wrapping the 28th edition of the cinematic showcase in Los Angeles.
No Choice, directed by Nate Hilgartner, won the Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature. Hannah Deal, Jennifer Herzog, and Robert Denzel Edwards star in the drama about a young woman who “becomes unexpectedly pregnant and starts having harrowing, prophetic dreams that she will die if she can’t get an abortion.”
Honorable Mention in that category went to Something Casual, directed by Brandon Buczek, a romantic drama about two people navigating “the soulless casual hookup culture of Los Angeles.”
Scroll for the complete list of DWF winners.
Erin Williams-Weir and David Anthony Ngo, co-creators of ‘Never Get Busted’
Projector Films
The Grand Jury Prize for Documentary Feature was claimed by Never Get Busted, co-created by David Anthony Ngo and Erin Williams-Weir; written and directed by Ngo and produced by Ngo and Williams-Weir. Deadline premiered a clip from the documentary ahead of its world premiere at Sundance. The film tells the story of Barry Cooper, a YouTube star, activist on behalf of drug law reform, and former police officer in Texas now living in Brazil (as a fugitive from U.S. law enforcement).
“Barry Cooper is an expert at hiding drugs, evading police, and raising hell!” notes a synopsis of Never Get Busted. “But once upon a time he was a highly decorated Narcotics Officer, spearheading the War on Drugs in Texas for one of the most notorious drug task forces in American history.”
Honorable Mention in the Best Documentary Feature category went to You’re No Indian, directed by Ryan Flynn. The film examines the “stripping tribal citizenship from thousands of Indigenous people across the U.S… [Q]uestions of identity, belonging, and federal funding collide within a system few outside Indian Country truly understand.”
‘Trash Baby,’ directed by Jacy Mairs
Dances With Films
The Industry Choice Award for a film over 40 minutes went to Trash Baby, directed by Jacy Mairs and starring Esther Harrison, Chloe Kramer, and Eddie Wollrabe.
The Audience Award for Competition Narrative was earned by Good Sport, directed by Andrew Jack Zuckerman and written by Zuckerman and Dillon Orth. Mike O’Gorman and Esera Tuaolo star in the feature about “a youth basketball coach [who] has a horrible day on the job.”
A Little Fellow LLC
The Audience Award for Documentary Feature went to A Little Fellow: The Legacy Of A.P. Giannini, directed by Davide Fiore. The documentary explores the remarkable life and career of the titular Italian immigrant who settled in San Francisco and got into banking more than a century ago. After the devastating 1906 earthquake, Giannini began to make loans to help people rebuild; his Bank of Italy eventually became the colossus Bank of America.
DWF:LA presented “nine of its famous Orange Carpet events,” notes a release, featuring more than 200 films and more than 1000 filmmakers, cast members, and documentary subjects.
Notable attendees of Dances With Films included Shohreh Aghdashloo, Ronny Chieng, Catharine Daddario, Matthew Daddario, Rosaline Elbay, Andrea Londo, Amy Madigan, Kika Magalhães, Alfred Molina, and Harry Shum Jr. The New York edition of Dances With Films, approaching its fourth year, will take place in December.
“The DWF:LA Filmmaker Awards ceremony also included a major announcement regarding the leadership of L.A.’s largest indie film-focused film festival,” shares a release, “as the festival’s founders Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent introduced Lindsey Smith-Sands as DWF’s first Festival Director in its nearly 30-year history. Currently, DWF’s Senior Producer and Head of Narrative Short Film Programing, Smith-Sands has been a longtime beloved presence by the festival’s filmmakers, and a key reason for its solidification in recent years as Los Angeles’ top film festival focusing on independent film.”
Dances With Films founders Leslee Scallon and Michael Trent commented, “Lindsey began as a volunteer with us seven years ago, but her passion for independent cinema, shaped by her own experience as an actress in indie films, quickly set her apart. As DWF has grown into a major force on the festival circuit, she has embraced every challenge with heart, vision, and unwavering dedication.” Scallon and Trent added, “We are thrilled to have found a kindred spirit in Lindsey. She works tirelessly on behalf of the groundbreaking creatives we champion. More importantly, she truly believes in every filmmaker who walks through our doors.”
In a statement, Smith-Sands said, “Dances with Films creates an incredibly meaningful space for talent that otherwise goes uncelebrated. After seven years of growing with the festival, I’m honored that Michael Trent and Leslee Scallon see me as a guardian of the festival’s legacy and a steward of its future. With their guidance, I look forward to collaborating with everyone on our fantastic team to continue elevating independent film in LA, NY and beyond.”
The 2025 Dances With Films NYC Filmmaker Award Winners:
GRAND JURY PRIZES
GRAND JURY – NARRATIVE FEATURES
NO CHOICE
Director/Writer: Nate Hilgartner
Producers: Shannon Semler, Nate Hilgartner, Steve Hilgartner, Kathleen O’Neil
HONORABLE MENTION:
SOMETHING CASUAL
Director/Writer: Brandon Buczek
Producers: Brandon Buczek, Anie Delgado, Gabrielle LeBlanc, Ben Rejzer
GRAND JURY – DOCUMENTARY FEATURES
NEVER GET BUSTED!
Director/Writer: David Anthony Ngo
Producers: Erin Williams-Weir, Daniel Joyce, David Anthony Ngo
HONORABLE MENTION:
YOU’RE NO INDIAN
Director/Writer: Ryan Flynn
Producer: Michael Sammaciccia, Santana Rabang
GRAND JURY PRIZE – NARRATIVE SHORTS
NWA (BLACK)
Director/Writer: Hans Augustave
Producers: Hans Augustave, Bruno Vernaschi, Raashauna Payne, Matthew Romanski
HONORABLE MENTION:
MOTI
Director/Writer: Yash Saraf
Producers: Karan Shah, Yash Saraf
INDUSTRY CHOICE AWARDS
INDUSTRY CHOICE AWARDS (UNDER 40′)
WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON.
Director/Writer: Greg Rubner
Producer: James Panetta
INDUSTRY CHOICE AWARDS (OVER 40′)
TRASH BABY
Director/Writer: Jacy Mairs
Producers: Jacy Mairs, Karlee Boon and Cameron Holly Dexter
AUDIENCE AWARDS
COMPETITION (NARRATIVE) FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD
GOOD SPORT
Director: Andrew Jack Zuckerman
Writers: Andrew Jack Zuckerman and Dillon Orth
Producers: Dillon Orth, John Cronin and Andrew Jack Zuckerman
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD
A LITTLE FELLOW: THE LEGACY OF A.P. GIANNINI
Director: Davide Fiore
Writers: Joseph Mancini and Davide Fiore
Producers: Davide Fiore, Anna Laclergue, Sacha Smith, Joseph Mancini
MIDNIGHT AUDIENCE AWARD
KOMBUCHA
Director: Jake Myers
Writer: Geoff Bakken
Producer: John Condne
FUSION FEATURE AUDIENCE AWARD
CIAO, MAMA
Director/Writer: Luca Perito
Producers: Johnny Wactor, Luca Perito, Micah Joe Parker, Viral Keshwala, Colin Flynn
DOWNBEAT AUDIENCE AWARD
LOSER
Director/Writer: Andie Arbo
Producers: Tina Carbone, Will Westwater
DANCES WITH KIDZ PRO AUDIENCE AWARD
UNRAVELED
Director/Writer: Yale Fried
Producers: Liv Boren, Chris Dooly, Isaak Popkin, Yale
PILOTS AUDIENCE AWARD
DEPARTMENT OF ONE
Director: John Redlinger
Writer: Arcadia Conrad
Producers: Charles Haid, Michael Laskin, Chris Spencer
COMPETITION (NARRATIVE) SHORTS AUDIENCE AWARD
MIRIAM
Director: Josie Andrews
Writer: Levi Alexander
Producers: Brenda Goodman, Levi Alexander and Josie Andrews
DOCUMENTARY SHORTS AUDIENCE AWARD
MORE THAN SANTA BABY
Director/Writer/Producer: Tamar Springer
FUSION SHORT AUDIENCE AWARD
MILDRED 4 A MILLION
Director/Writer: Kimmie P Callaway
Producers: Kimmie P Callaway, Jason Serrato, Kate Adair, Matt Wood