2026
International Competition
Best In Show
Where We Left Off
Directed by: Hunter Nickless
Written by: Sofia Xavier
Chesapeake, VA
2nd Place
Façade
Written and Directed by: Sam Slowik
Brookfield, WI
3rd Place
Illumination
Written and Directed by: Charlotte Anthony
Menlo Park, CA
Achievement in Writing
Illumination
Written and Directed by: Charlotte Anthony
Menlo Park, CA
Achievement in Production Values
Where We Left Off
Directed by: Hunter Nickless
Written by: Sofia Xavier
Chesapeake, VA
Audience Award
Illumination
Written and Directed by: Charlotte Anthony
Menlo Park, CA
Screen Test Local
Best in Show
The Hallie Way
Written and Directed by: Austin Blumberg
Deerfield, IL
2nd Place
PWI Schools
Directed by: Melina Cesur
Written by: Melina Cesur/Dialogue By Interviews
Park Ridge, IL
3rd Place
A Legal
Written and Directed by: Chris Devor and Yousef Abutaleb
Naperville, IL
Audience Award
PWI Schools
Directed by: Melina Cesur
Written by: Melina Cesur/Dialogue By Interviews
Park Ridge, IL
Screen Test Jr.
Best in Show
Chirp Talker
Written and Directed by: Audrey He-Qing Cheng
Taipei, Taiwan
2025
International Competition
Best In Show
The Man in the Green and Gold Suit | The James Williams Story
Written and Directed by Kady Serlin
Northbook, IL
2nd Place
FISHEYE
Directed by Eion Nunez
Los Angeles, CA
3rd Place
High School Animal Planet
Written and Directed by Nicole Scimeca, Owen Tremblay, Naomi Nishi, and Ben RichardPark Ridge, IL
Achievement in Writing
The Man in the Green and Gold Suit | The James Williams Story
Written and Directed by Kady Serlin
Northbook, IL
Achievement in Production Values
Echoes of Silk and Tides: An Ethnic Introspection
Written and Directed by Cynthia Cai
Houston, TX
Screen Test Local
Best in Show
The Man in the Green and Gold Suit | The James Williams Story
Written and Directed by Kady Serlin
Northbook, IL
2nd Place
High School Animal Planet
Written and Directed by Nicole Scimeca, Owen Tremblay, Naomi Nishi, and Ben Richard
Park Ridge, IL
3rd Place
EX1L3D
Written and Directed by Simon Finkel and Cameron Janitschke
Highland Park, IL
Audience Award
Friendzone
Directed by Emma Jenkins, Saanvi Bedida, and Jillian Mannisto
Naperville, IL
Screen Test Jr.
Best in Show
Down Safe
Written and Directed by Fédor Benton
Clio, MI
2024
International Competition
Best In Show
Sensitivity
Written and Directed by Delaney Marquette
Arlington Heights, IL
2nd Place
Upon Return
Directed by Devan Jordan and Emily Sedgwick
Tenafly, NJ
Also won Audience Award
3rd Place
Appa Tales: Stories from My Grandfather
Written and Directed by Noah ShinMechanicsburg, PA
Achievement in Writing
Wannabe
Written and Directed by Caillou Wang, Nashua, NH
Achievement in Production Values
Three Colours
Directed by Lana Gredelj
Kutina, Croatia
Screen Test Local
Best in Show
(Not awarded)
2nd Place
Hiding In Plain Sight
Written and Directed by Jayden Adkins
Naperville, IL
Also won Audience Award
3rd Place
Brushstrokes
Written and Directed by Simon Finkel
Highland Park, IL
Screen Test Jr.
Best in Show
Guiding Light
Written and Directed by India Mitchell
Petaluma, CA
2023
International Competition
Best In Show
My Sisters In The Stars: The Story of Lee Yong-soo
Written and Directed by Ian Kim
Glendale, California
Also awarded Achievement in Production Values
2nd Place
ROOM
Written and Directed by Ian Dani Kim
Tenafly, NJ
3rd Place
Rooted
Written and Directed by Owen Elliott
Palatine, IL
Also awarded: Local Fest Best in Show
Achievement in Writing
All the Little Impossibilities
Written by Zan Miray Lapp, Emerson Renee Stack
Directed by Zan Lapp
Hood River, OR
Screen Test Local
Best in Show
Rooted
Written and Directed by Owen Elliott
Palatine, IL
2nd Place
Bus Stop
Written and Directed by Jordan Chang
Winfield, IL
3rd Place
How to Make A "Dum" Good Biriyani
Written and Directed by Nikhil Nair
Des Plaines, IL
Audience Award
Flightless
Written and Directed by Neko Heinrich and Xavier Lipani
Arlington Heights, IL
Screen Test JR
Best in Show
My Superpowers
Written and Directed by Maxwell Andrews
Auckland, New Zealand
2022
International Competition
Best In Show
Grizz
Written Cameron Staley and Brandon Berrera Directed by Cameron Staley and Shivnil Lal
Modesto, California
2nd Place
High Fidelity
Written and Directed by Ava Fumarolo
Inverness, IL
Also awarded: Audience Award; Best in Show Local Fest
3rd Place
Hello Frisco!
Written and Directed by Ava Bounds
Leeds, United Kingdom
Also awarded: Achievement in Writing
Screen Test Local
2nd Place
A Drunken No
Written by Paige Desimone and Jake Habel Directed by Paige Desimone
Huntley, IL
Also awarded: Audience Award
3rd Place
From Pain to Hope
Directed by Brooke Capper
Des Plaines, IL
Screen Test JR
Best in Show
Haunted for Life
Written and Directed by Hunter Paul Nickless
Chesapeake, Virginia
2020
International Competition
Best in Show
Stitching a Life: The Story of Trudie Strobel
Directed by Spirit Avedon, Natasha Clement, Lila Dworsky-Hickey, Ian Kim, Miranda Lewis, Alexander McDaniel, Jaaziah McZeal, Hank Schoen, Coleman Weintraub, Jocelyn Vega, and Fernanda Zaragoza
Harvard-Westlake School, Studio City, CA
Also awarded: Audience Award
2nd Place
Brutus
Animated by Julia Samborski
Inverness, IL
(Composed by The Buttress)
Also awarded: Screen Test Local Fest Best in Show
3rd Place
Esperanza
Directed by Chloe Campos
Los Angeles, CA
Achievement in Production Values
Instinct
Written and Directed by Yinuo Wei
Irvine, CA
Achievement in Writing
Better Off
Directed by Jules Brown
Written by Jules Brown and Kylie Boyd
Winnetka, IL
Also awarded: Screen Test Local Fest 2nd Place
TIMMY Award for best actor
Cleo Maloney in Rita
(written and directed by Will Nordstrom)
Screen Test Local
3rd Place
See You Soon
Directed by Eleanor De Fer
Written by Olivia Danner
Wilmette, IL
Audience Award
Little Rainbow Boy
Written and directed by Tema Summerfield
Highland Park, IL
Screen Test JR
Best in Show
Memory Lane
Written and Directed by Sovay Livingstone
Farmington, MI
2019
International Competition
Best in Show
Discoveries: Awakening
Written and Directed by Noah Semeria
Naperville, IL
Also awarded: Achievement in Production Values; Screen Test Local Fest Best in Show
2nd Place
Nicoteen
Written and Directed by Ethan Lee
Los Angeles, CA
3rd Place
Parking Lot
Written and Directed by Jack Nordstrom
Los Angeles, CA
Achievement in Writing
Starfish
Written and Directed by Sarah Williams
Calabasas, CA
Screen Test Local Fest
2nd Place
Fallback
Written and Directed by Myles Murray
Roselle, IL
3rd Place
Inside These Four Walls
Written and Directed by Hannah Ignacio
Palatine, IL
Audience Award
Inherent Values
Written and Directed by Michael Merlino
Palatine, IL
Screen Test Jr.
Best in Show (tie)
Do the Dryden Dos
Written and Directed by Fugleflick Filmmakers: Rachel, Emilia, Emily, Rosemary, Kristina, Charlotte, Aleena, Sage, Kai, Jonas, Jovanni, and Frankie
Advisor: Tricia Fuglestad, Dryden Elementary School
Arlington Heights, IL
Undo
Written and Directed by Fugleflick Filmmakers: Claire, Daniel, Joana, Julia, Kristina, Martin, Mary, Natalie, Nicolet, Rachel, Samantha, and Sophia
Advisor: Tricia Fuglestad, Dryden Elementary School
Arlington Heights, IL
2018
International Competition
Best in Show
Trejur
Written & Directed by Thomas Kim
Concord, MA
Also awarded: Achievement in Production
2nd Place
Old Bloo
Written & Directed by Jack Nordstrom
Los Angeles, CA
3rd Place
Jasmine Stung
Written & Directed by Partho Gupte
Mumbai, India
Achievement in Writing
Still Love
Written & Directed by Alexander Puga & Monica Matute
Miami, FL
Screen Test Local
Best in Show
Outcast
Written & Directed by Armin Nakravan & Matthew Ryan Thomas
Naperville, IL
2nd Place
Sequential
Written & Directed by Teddy Holcomb
Chicago, IL
Also awarded: Audience Award
3rd Place
A 2017 Visual
Written & Directed by Jackson Wigger
Naperville, IL
International Competition
Best In Show
Puget Sound
Directed by Jack Nordstrom
Pacific Palisades, CA
Also awarded: Achievement in Production Values, Audience Award
2nd Place
Journey
Written & Directed by Radheya Jegatheva
Perth, Australia
3rd Place
The Story of Her
Written & Directed by Connor Williams & Skyler Brigmann
Valencia, CA
Achievement in Writing
From Dogs to Wolves
Written & Directed by Azure Allen
Conway, SC
Local Hero Award
The Digit
Written & Directed by Tim Hudson
Wheaton, IL
Screen Test Jr.
Best in Show
Luke
Written & Directed by Dylan Reiss
San Luis Obispo, CA
2016
International Competition
Best In Show
Sometimes, Maybe
Cole Bacani, Naperville, IL
Also awarded: Achievement in Writing, Audience Award
2nd Place
Attached at the Soul
William Leon, Burbank, CA
3rd Place
Domar: To Tame
Benjamin Ades, New York, NY
Highest Production Values
Katharos
Evan O'Brien, Addison, TX
Flix in Six Award
Thor
Russel Wagner, Palatine, IL
Screen Test Jr.
Best in Show
Alone This Time
Pyper Prosen, Preston, Australia
2015
International Competition
Best in Show
In a Mirror Dimly
Iver Jensen, Stokmarknes, Norway
Also awarded: Achievement in Production Values
2nd Place
In Her Eyes
Cole Bacani, Naperville, IL
Also awarded: Achievement in Writing
3rd Place
Indecisions
Hope Alexander, Happy Valley, OR
Audience Award
Pedestrian
Chris Nawrocki, Hoffman Estates, IL
Flix in Six Award
Vacation
Greg Sobie, Schaumburg, IL
Screen Test Jr.
Best in Show
The Battle
Joshua Costea and Peter Bundic, Vancouver, Canada
2014
Best in Show
The Script
Cole Bacani, Naperville, IL
Also awarded: Achievement in Production Values, Audience Award
2nd Place
Courage
Mason Rippl, Naperville, IL
3rd Place
The World's Best
Eddy Burback and Zach Dale, Elk Grove Village, IL
Achievement in Writing
Silent Apocalypse
Nick Szubart & Brad Patterson, Elk Grove Village, IL
Flix in Six Award
Deep Fried Snackie
Greg Sobie, Schaumburg, IL
Team Screen Test Best in Show
Different
Quest Academy 6th & 7th Grade
2013
Best in Show
Break Free
Christy Spielman, Naperville, IL
2nd Place
Cardboard Noir
Nicholas Wenzel, Elk Grove Village
3rd Place
Uploaded
Free Spirit Media, Chicago, IL
Achievement in Production Values
How to Fix a McLaren
Strawn Dixon, Lake Forest, IL
Achievement in Writing
Desillusion
Julia Gralczyk, Schaumburg, IL
Flix in Six Award
Deep Fried Snackie
Greg Sobie, Schaumburg, IL
Mayor's Award
Not Forgotten
Eu Macadamian Kees, Schaumburg, IL
Joy, A Colored Girl
Brea Lobley, Chicago, IL
Team Screen Test Best in Show
Odyssey
Quest Academy 6th & 7th Grade
Different is Good
Dryden Elementary 5th Graders, Arlington Heights, IL
Page owner: Al Larson Cultural Center
Reviewed Oct. 2026 · next review April 2027