2026 Prizes and Scholarships

All 2026 Award Category Winners will receive:

An Official 2026 Teen Indie Award Trophy (The Tindie!)

10-Pack of AAHSFF VPRC Lesson Plans

Final Cut Pro Editing Software

1-Year WriterDuet Pro license - WriterDuet

In Addition, the following Category Winners will receive:

Best Overall

• $196,000+ BFA Filmmaking Tuition Scholarship (4 years) — Presented by American Musical and Dramatic Academy

• Up to $80,000 in additional Crew Scholarships ($20,000/yr each — producer, AD, DP, editor, screenwriter, production designer) — Presented by American Musical and Dramatic Academy

• PYXIS 6K or Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro Package — Presented by Blackmagic Design

• Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure

Best Direction

• Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure

Best Drama

• $60,000 BFA Scholarship — Presented by New York Film Academy

• Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure

Best Cinematography

• Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure

Best Documentary

• Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure

• International Documentary Association Membership - Presented by IDA

Best International Film

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Audience Award

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Film Invitational Complete Experience Winner

• Blackmagic Design PYXIS 6K Camera Body, URSA Cine EVF, PYXIS Rosette Plate, URSA Cine Handle - Presented by Blackmagic Design

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Best Editing

• Mobile Precision 5490 Dell Laptop - Presented by SideFX in partnership with Dell

• DaVinci Resolve Editor Keyboard - Presented by Blackmagic Design

• SideFX Houdini Procedural 3D Creation Software - Presented by SideFX

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

• $2,000 Rental Credit - Presented by Lensrentals.com

Film Invitational Claustrophobic Creativity Winner

• Hollyland Lark M2S - Presented by Hollyland

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Best Screenplay

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Best Comedy

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Best Animation

• SideFX Houdini Procedural 3D Creation Software - Presented by SideFX

• Mobile Precision 5490 Dell Laptop - Presented by SideFX in partnership with Dell

• $60,000 Academic Scholarship - Presented by New York Film Academy

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Storyblocks: Representation Through Storytelling Category

• $500 Cash Prize - Presented by Storyblocks

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Spark Award

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Female Rising Star Award

• Blackmagic Design PYXIS 6K Camera Body, URSA Cine EVF, PYXIS Rosette Plate, URSA Cine Handle - Presented by Blackmagic Design

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Best Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Best Experimental

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Best Visual Effects (VFX)

• SideFX Houdini Procedural 3D Creation Software - Presented by SideFX

• Mobile Precision 5490 Dell Laptop - Presented by SideFX in partnership with Dell

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Maverick Award

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Emerging Talent Award (3 Honorees)

• Full Scholarship to 1 Week New York Film Academy Summer Camp - Presented by New York Film Academy

• 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription - Presented by Storyblocks

Best Sound Design

• Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit - Presented by Shure

Best Production Design

Best Original Score

Teacher of the Year

Experience Contest

• 2026 Elite All Access Pass & AAHSFF Prize Pack - Presented by the All American High School Film Festival

Best Broadcast Journalism Feature Story

• a FREE annual membership for their school to join the Student Television Network

Best Sports Feature

• a FREE annual membership for their school to join the Student Television Network

Best Middle School Film

Best Influencer

• a FREE annual membership for their school to join the Student Television Network

More prizes to be announced!