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
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals
- Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure
Best Direction
- The Emerson College Extraordinary Storyteller in Film Half-Tuition Scholarship — Presented by Emerson College
- Canon EOS R8 Camera w/ RF24-50mm Lens — Presented by Canon
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals.com
- 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
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals
- 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
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals
- Shure MoveMic Two Receiver Kit (or similar) — Presented by Shure
- Zacuto ACT Baseplate — Presented by Zacuto
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
- LUMIX S5IIX Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera — Presented by LUMIX
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Audience Award
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals
- $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
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
- Full Scholarship to 1 Week Prodigy Film Camp — Presented by Prodigy Camp
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals
- Hollyland Lark M2S Wireless Microphone — 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
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals
- $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
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals
- $250 Hunt's Photo & Video Gift Card — Presented by Hunt's Photo & Video
- Hollyland Lark 150 Duo Wireless Microphone System — Presented by Hollyland
- 1-Year Unlimited All Access Subscription — Presented by Storyblocks
Best Experimental
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals
- $250 Hunt's Photo & Video Gift Card — Presented by Hunt's Photo & Video
- Hollyland Lark M2S Wireless Microphone — Presented by Hollyland
- 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 - Massachusetts — Presented by Walnut Hill School for the Arts & All American High School Film Festival
Best Sound Design
Best Production Design
- $1,000 Rental Credit — Presented by Lensrentals
- Hollyland Lark 150 Duo Wireless Microphone System — Presented by Hollyland
- CRDBAG CRDPOUCH MKII Large — Presented by CRDBAG
Best Original Score
Teacher of the Year
Experience Contest
Best Broadcast Journalism Feature Story
- Genaray Mochi On-Camera Mini RGB Light — Presented by B&H Photo B2B
- FREE annual school membership — Presented by Student Television Network
Best Sports Feature
- Magnus VT-4500 Video Tripod — Presented by B&H Photo B2B
- FREE annual school membership — Presented by Student Television Network
Best Middle School Film
Best Video Podcast
Best Micro Movie
Best Music Video
Best Influencer