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
- 1-Year WriterDuet Pro License — Presented by WriterDuet
- 1-Year Access to Educational Resources — Presented by the Honor Society of Cinematic Arts
- Final Draft Software License — Latest Version — Presented by Final Draft
- 3-Month Storytelling360 Membership — Presented by Storytelling360
More prizes to be announced! In Addition, the following Category Winners will receive:
Best Overall
- $120,000 Academic Scholarship — Presented by Quinnipiac University
- Winner's Choice PYXIS 6K or Pocket Cinema Camera 4K/6K G2/6K Pro Package — Presented by Blackmagic Design
- Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure
Best Direction
- Canon EOS R8 Camera w/ RF24-50mm Lens — Presented by Canon
- Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure
Best Actor
- Full-Tuition Acting Directors Scholarship — Presented by AMDA
- Three $100,000 Scholarships to the Runners-Up — Presented by AMDA
Best Drama
- $60,000 BFA Scholarship — Presented by New York Film Academy
- Winner's Choice PYXIS 6K or Pocket Cinema Camera 4K/6K G2/6K Pro Package — Presented by Blackmagic Design
- Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure
Best Cinematography
- Sony Alpha 6700 Camera w/ 16-50mm Lens (ILCE-6700K) — Presented by Sony
- Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure
Best Documentary
- $136,000 Full-Ride Tuition Scholarship — Presented by Huntington University
- Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure
Best International Film
Audience Award
- $250 Hunt's Photo & Video Gift Card — Presented by Hunt's Photo & Video
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Film Invitational Complete Experience Winner
- Winner's Choice PYXIS 6K or Pocket Cinema Camera 4K/6K G2/6K Pro Package — Presented by Blackmagic Design
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Best Editing
- $136,000 Full-Ride Tuition Scholarship — Presented by Huntington University
- 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 150 Duo Wireless Microphone System — Presented by Hollyland
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Best Screenplay
- Hollyland Lark 150 Duo Wireless Microphone System — Presented by Hollyland
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Best Comedy
- $2,000 Cash Prize — Presented by Providence High School Cinema Arts Summer Camp
- 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
- $250 Hunt's Photo & Video Gift Card — Presented by Hunt's Photo & Video
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Female Rising Star Award
- Winner's Choice PYXIS 6K or Pocket Cinema Camera 4K/6K G2/6K Pro Package — Presented by Blackmagic Design
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Best Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
- $250 Hunt's Photo & Video Gift Card — Presented by Hunt's Photo & Video
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Best Experimental
- $250 Hunt's Photo & Video Gift Card — Presented by Hunt's Photo & Video
- 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
- Hollyland Mars 400S Pro II Wireless Video Transmission System — Presented by Hollyland
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Emerging Talent Award (5 Honorees)
- Full-Ride Film, Television, and Animation Summer Camp Scholarship — Presented by Huntington University
- Full Scholarship to 1 Week New York Film Academy Summer Camp — Presented by New York Film Academy
- Full Scholarship to 1 Week Summer Seminars at SCAD — Presented by Savannah College of Art & Design
- Full Scholarship to 1 Week FilmForward Summer Camp - Fort Lauderdale — Presented by NSU University School & All American High School Film Festival
- Full Scholarship to 1 Week Summer Camp - Massachussetts — Presented by Walnut Hill School for the Arts & All American High School Film Festival
Best Sound Design
Best Production Design
Best Original Score
Teacher of the Year
Experience Contest
Best Broadcast Journalism Feature Story
Best Sports Feature
Best Middle School Film
Best Influencer