Month: September 2026

During the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, Wild Filmmaker reached one of the most significant milestones in its history.
Seven years after the launch of its magazine and platform, and with more than 100,000 submitted projects, Wild Filmmaker has become a leading voice in the international narrative surrounding independent cinema, gaining attention from outlets such as The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Cinecittà News, and Cineuropa, as well as recognition from bestselling authors featured in publications such as The New York Times.
The goal we set out to achieve, to bring independent cinema to the heart of international storytelling, has now become a reality. But this also marks the beginning of a new chapter: continuing to demonstrate to audiences, critics, and the international press that independent cinema is a true art form, free from the production constraints of major studios, which inevitably have to prioritize business considerations over artistic ones.
In Venice, Wild Filmmaker promoted several events, including the Human Rights Film Awards, the 8 & Half Film Awards, now in its seventh edition, and the Production Bridge Awards, initiatives created to support independent filmmakers in the international promotion of their work.
The Film Leaders Project embodies this same vision: bringing together filmmakers who believe in the power of cinema that is international, independent, and free.
From Venice, this vision now arrives in Toronto with a new initiative:
A COFFEE WITH WILD FILMMAKER
PRESS RELEASE FROM TIFF
A new opportunity to engage with the international press during the Toronto International Film Festival, presenting the goals and future of a platform that, while remaining free and independent, has succeeded in becoming a leading voice within the mainstream narrative of contemporary cinema.
Below are the filmmakers we have selected as today’s Independent Film Leaders:

Algis Kemezys

AnayaMusic Kunst

Andrea Natale

Angelena Bonet

Ariel Orama López (AG Orloz)

Aurélie Latona

C. Arnold Curry

Camy De Mario

Carol Dorn

Casey Williams

Chris Ross Leong

Christopher Pennington

Colleen Fuglaar

Cornelia Calaidjoglu

Cosmo Swevens

Damiano Rossi

Daniel Arreola

Daniel Smith

Danilo Del Tufo

Darrelle Radcliff

David Williamson

Dawn Menge

Derek Martin

Dianne Lang

Earnest Diaz

Eddie Baca

Ela Ilhame von Schöning

Elpida Amitsi

Eric Ayala

Fabia Maria Cerra

Fabrizio Fuochi

Faye Fayerman

Florence Cazebon-Taveau

Gabriel Womack

Henk Pringels

Hugo Teugels

Harold Brown

Ian S. Williams

Inigo Laugermann

Jacek Krawczyk

Jacob Comforty

Jennifer Glee

Justin Charles Gizzi

Kai Fischer

Karen Matthews

Ken Kimmelman

Kevin B Ploth

L. Scooter Morris

Lena Mattsson

Leonardo Valenti

Lesley Ann Albiston

Lois M. Banks

Lynn Elliott

May Liu

Maria Piscione

Markus McLaughlin

Matthew Roch

Meitar Paz

Michelle Lynn

Michelle R. Arthur

Monica Bartolucci

Pamela PerryGoulardt

Paolo Pier Luigi Guglielmetti

Patricia Planck

Patricia Poulos

Paul Carr

R. Scott MacLeay

Reyson Grumelli

Ricardo Fleshman

Robert Armove

Roger Paradiso

Russell Emanuel

Samantha Casella

Sean Gregory Tansey

Sofia Mavrou

Sol Solaris

Suzanne Lutas

Sylvie Kay

Terri Battee

Timothy A McGhee

Tommy Anderson Sherry Severs

Uwe Schwarzwalder

Valerie Knill

Vicentini Gomez

Vincenzo Amoruso

Vivian Tsang

Walid Salhab

The Riddle Pact

By Zsolt Pozsgai

BEST ARTHOUSE NARRATIVE FEATURE 2026, BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST SOUNDTRACK, BEST CASTING DIRECTOR & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATOGRAPHER

The Singer

By Ela Ilham von Schöning

BEST GLOBAL CONTEMPORARY SCREENPLAY, BEST ORIGINAL WRTING STYLE & BEST EUROPEAN SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR

The Green Mill: A Real Chicago Joint

By Paul Carr

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY 2026, BEST DIRECTOR & BEST EDITING (Category: International Indie Documentary)

Precious the baby dragon

By Dr Dawn Menge

BEST CONTEMPORARY BOOK OF THE YEAR, BEST VISIONARY ARTHOUSE WRITER & BEST HUMAN RIGHTS FANTASY STORY

Primordial

By Nana Papadaki

BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL MOVIEMAKER, BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Indie Experimental Film)

The Dead Ringer

By Suzanne Lutas

BEST CONTEMPORARY SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INDIE SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR & BEST ORIGINAL STORYTELLER

Breathe

By Alison Somilleda

BEST UNIVERSAL EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST VISIONARY STORYTELLER (Category: Indie Experimental Film)

Thinking

By Valerie Knill

BEST ARTHOUSE CONTEMPORARY NARRATIVE SHORT FILM, BEST EDITING & BEST VISIONARY SCREENPLAY SHORT OF YEAR

Unpromised Land

By Damiano Rossi

BEST INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING

Le Cafe De Mes Souvenirs

By Valto Baltzar

BEST ARTHOUSE INDIE SCREENPLAY 2026 & BEST VISIONARY ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR 2026

Silent Harmony

By Linda Collins

BEST VISIONARY DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT, BEST CAST & BEST SOUNDTRACK (Category: International Indie Narrative Short 2026)

The Serpent’s Caress

By Samantha Casella

BEST EUROPEAN CONTEMPORARY DIRECTOR, BEST ORIGINAL FILM, BEST CAST (Category: International Narrative Feature) & BEST ORIGINAL SOUNDTRACK

Path

By Firouz Farman-Farmaian

BEST CONTEMPORARY ARTHOUSE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 2026, BEST HUMAN RIGHTS STORYTELLER & BEST GLOBAL FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR (Category: International Documentary)

Esperándote

By Jesús Schettino

BEST CONTEMPORARY FIRST TIME DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENWRITER & BEST VISIONARY STORYTELLER

Bad Influence/ Mauvaise Influence

By Aurélie Latona

BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR, BEST SUPER SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST SOUNDTRACK & BEST VISIONARY EDTING (Category: Super Short Film)

Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana

By Ken Kimmelman

BEST CONTEMPORARY EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST EDITING, BEST INDIE PRODUCER & BEST SOUND (Category: Global Experimental Film)

Medusa & Hermes : The Reincarnation Musical

By Algis Kemezys

BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA & BEST INTERNATIONAL MUSICAL 2026

It’s the Gravy

By Cherie Kerr

BEST CONTEMPORARY COMEDY, BEST FILMMAKER, BEST SCREENPLAY & BEST EDITING (Category: International Comedy)

Potato Family

By Lori Hamilton

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR 2026, BEST STORYTELLER & BEST CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Animated Short Film)

And the Devil called!

By Patricia Poulos

BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY HORROR, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST EDITING & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: Horror)

Rosso Melanconia

By Laura Calderini

BEST CONTEMPORARY BOOK 2026, BEST DRAMA SCRIPT & BEST EUROPEAN ARTHOUSE WRITER

Plandemic: Tribunal

By Chris Ross Leong

BEST VISIONARY SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE WRITER & BEST GLOBAL CINEMATIC VISION (Category: International Feature Script)

Brothers of Babylon

By Gabriel Womack

BEST CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL SCREENWRITER 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL STORYTELLER (Category: Feature Script)

Noise

By R. Scott MacLeay

BEST HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERIMENTAL FILM 2026, BEST ORIGINAL MOVIEMAKER & BEST EDITING (Category: Experimental)

I Waited for You

By Jennifer Glee

BEST CONTEMPORARY UNIVEARL DIRECTOR (Category: Experimental Film), BEST SOUND & BEST INDIE EXPERIMENTAL FILM

Fractures In Time

By Lesley Ann Albiston

BEST UNIVERSAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026, BEST VISIONARY SCREENWRITER & BEST ARTHOUSE WRITING STYLE

Time Out

By Everett Ray Aponte,

Meitar Paz

BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE ACTRESS 2026

Aegean Love

By May Liu

BEST INTERNATIONAL CONTEMPORARY DIRECTOR (Category: Global Narrative Feature) & BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENPLAY 2026

The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers

By Vivian Tsang

BEST CONTEMPORARY YOUNG DIRECTOR 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL SOCIAL DOCUMENTARY, BEST VISIONARY STORYTELLER, BEST ORIGINAL EDITING & BEST CAMERA OPERATOR

Uncle Franco’s Birthday Suit

By Lynn Elliott

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT & BEST VISIONARY ARTHOUSE WRITER

The Boy Who Earned His Magic

By Lynn Elliott

BEST ORIGINAL ARTHOUSE BOOK OF THE YEAR

Pirandello’s Wife

By Lynn Elliott

BEST INTERNATIONAL BIOGRAPHICAL FEATURE SCRIPT OF THE YEAR

Alta California

By Lynn Elliott

BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SCRIPT, BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY & BEST UNIVERSAL HISTORICAL SCRIPT 2026

 Starseeds – Cosmic Creator

By Noriko Kato

BEST SPIRITUAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026

American Money

By Timothy A McGhee

BEST CONTEMPORARY FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST AMERICAN SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR

Staycation

By Russell Emanuel

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST DIRECTOR (Category: NARRATIVE FEATURE), BEST SCREENWRITER, BEST SCREENPLAY, BEST SOUND DESIGNER, BEST ORIGINAL STORYTELLER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST ORIGINAL EDITING

AMERICA BOXED IN

By Ian S. Williams & Casey Williams

BEST CONTEMPORARY DOCUMENTARY FEATURE 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORS & BEST VISIONARY EDITING (Category: International Documentary Feature)

Michelangelo and Me and Da Vinci and Me opener

By Colleen Shannon

BEST ARTHOUSE FANTASY SCRIPT OF THE YEAR & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Fantasy)

Caccia Grossa

By Paolo Pier Luigi Guglielmetti

BEST ORIGINAL DIRECTOR (Category: Short Film), BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT, BEST CAST & BEST EUROPEAN NARRATIVE SHORT FILM 2026

The Stones of Rome

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST CONTEMPORARY ACTING & BEST POETIC SHORT FILM

The Pathos of Hamlet

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST SHAKESPEAREAN SHORT FILM 2026, BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATIC VISION & BEST VISIONARY GLOBAL ACTOR OF THE YEAR

The Duchess

By C. Arnold Curry

BEST VISIONARY ARTHOUSE DRAMA 2026, BEST INDIE CAST & BEST GLOBAL SCREENWRITER 2026

The Giant

By Kevin B Ploth

BEST WRITING STYLE (Category: Pilot TV), BEST GLOBAL TELEVISION SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE SCREENWRITER

Chasing Music

By Cathie Boruch

BEST INDIE EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR 2026

Novice

By Vincenzo Amoruso

BEST GLOBAL ACTOR OF THE YEAR & BEST NEW VISIONARY ACTING 2026

Drawn Home

By Camy De Mario

BEST VISIONARY FILMMAKER (Category: Animation), BEST ARTHOUSE ANIMATED SHORT FILM 2026, BEST EDITING & BEST INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLER

The Beauty in a Restless Mind

By Lena Mattsson

BEST CONTEMPORARY EXPERIMENTAL DIRECTOR, BEST ARTHOUSE EDITING & BEST VIDEO POETRY 2026

The Rorschach Test

By Lena Mattsson

BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM & BEST HUMAN RIGHTS PROJECT

Not Without Gloves

By Lena Mattsson

BEST UNIVERSAL EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM 2026 & BEST POETIC CINEMATOGRAPHER

The Aesthetics of Failure

By Lena Mattsson

BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM 2026 & BEST GLOBAL ORIGINAL STORYTELLER OF THE YEAR

The Cassandra Venice Project

By Hugo Teugels

BEST GLOBAL FILMMAKER (Category: Arthouse), BEST COSTUME DESIGNER & BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE PRODUCER

Storia di una Mistress

By Ciro Tomaiuoli – Produced by Monica Bartolucci

BEST INTERNATIONAL YOUNG ACTOR 2026 Reyson Grumelli

The Priory of Sion and the treasure of abbe Sauniere of Rennes The Castle France

By Florence Cazebon-Taveau

BEST EUROPEAN CONTEMPORARY SCREENPLAY, BEST ARTHOUSE WRITING STYLE (Category: Original Feature Script) & BEST HISTORICAL FEATURE SCRIPT

Metal

By Andrea Natale

BEST EUROPEAN ANIMATED SHORT FILM 2026

Ferrara & The Young Balbo

By Giampietro Manzalini

BEST EUROPEAN HISTORICAL SCREENPLAY

Who Killed Don Minzoni

By Giampietro Manzalini

BEST ARTHOUSE BIOGRAPHICAL SCRIPT OF THE YEAR

Parisina – Punishment without Forgiveness

By Giampietro Manzalini

BEST ORIGINAL WRITING STYLE (Category: European Biographical Script)

Girolamo Savonarola & Trial Of Fire

By Giampietro Manzalini

BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE HISCTORICAL SCRIPT 2026

Bellatrix

By Jacek Krawczyk

BEST NARRATIVE SHORT 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE DIRECTOR, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER, BEST ARTHOUSE SCREENPLAY SHORT, BEST SCREENWRITER (Category: Narrative Short) & BEST ORIGINAL STORYTELLER

I Waited for You

By Jennifer Glee

BEST EXPERIMENTAL ARTHOUSE DIRECTOR 2026, BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY & BEST WRITING STYLE (Category: Experimental)

American Money

By Timothy A McGhee

BEST ORIGINAL INDIE SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST SCREENWRITER & BEST ORIGINAL CINEMATIC VISION (Category: Feature Script)

Secrets of Marguerites

By Eliza Bahr

BEST ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM OF THE YEAR, BEST CAST, BEST ORIGINAL MOVIEMAKER, BEST SOUNDTRACK & BEST ORIGINAL IDEA (Category: Indie Short Film)

Precious the baby dragon

By Dr Dawn Menge

BEST INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS BOOK OF THE YEAR, BEST FANTASY & BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITER 2026

The Novice

By Vincenzo Amoruso

BEST INTERNATIONAL ACTOR 2026, BEST EXPERIMENTAL ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM 2026 & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

Christmas On Earth

By Janja Rakuš

BEST INSPIRATIONAL SHORT FILM 2026, BEST EUROPEAN DIRECTOR, BEST INTERNATIONAL STORYTELLER & BEST WRITING STYLE (Category: Experimental)

The Watchers /Wir Schauen

By Olaf Lenz

BEST SOUND DESIGNER 2026

Roses are Blind

By Wendy White

BEST INTERNATIONAL THRILLER 2026, BEST ARTHOUSE FILMMAKER, BEST SCREENPLAY & BEST EDITING  (Category: Thriller)

Tipping Point

By L. Scooter Morris

BEST INTERNATIONAL SUPER SHORT FILM 2026, BEST EDITING, BEST FILMMAKER, BEST INDIE PRODUCER & BEST EXPERIMENTAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

Non dimenticare il poeta

By Fabrizio Fuochi

BEST INTERNATIONAL SINGER 2026, BEST SONG WRITER, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Category: Music Video) & BEST EUROPEAN SONG WRITER 2026

Tomorrow’s Dream

By Justin Gizzi

BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST INDIE WRITING STYLE

Lacrime di Vento

By Damiano Rossi

BEST POETRY SHORT FILM, BEST INDIE DIRECTOR & BEST INTERNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL FILM OF THE YEAR

The New Immigrant- Hong Kongers

By Vivian Tsang

BEST ARTHOUSE FIRST DIRECTOR 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL YOUNG DIRECTOR 2026, BEST ORIGINAL STORY, BEST UNIVERSAL DOCUMENTARY & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER (Category: Documentary)

The Dead Ringer

By Suzanne Lutas

BEST GLOBAL SCREENWRITER 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Hot Afternoons Have Been in Montana

By Ken Kimmelman

BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILM DIRECTOR 2026, BEST EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER & BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER

In 2 Minds

By Fabia Cerra

BEST INTERNATIONAL BOOK, BEST WRITER 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE STORYTELLER (Category: International Book)

The Armchair Travellers

By Patricia Planck

BEST UNIVERSAL SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS & BEST ORIGINAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER

Staycation

By Russell Emanuel

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR, BEST SCREENPLAY (Category: Narrative Feature), BEST CAST, BEST SOUNDTACK, BEST EDITING, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTION COMPANY

Kev Franzi – Works 80 Years in the Film Industry HD

By Dianne Lang

BEST INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SHORT 2026, BEST CAMERA OPERATOR & BEST FILMMAKER OF THE YEAR (Category: International Documentary Short)

The Carpet

By Shamil Aliyev

BEST GLOBAL INDIE FEATURE SCRIPT 2026 & BEST VISIONARY SCREENWRITER

My Hollywood Circus

By Roger Paradiso

BEST ORIGINAL IDEA (Category: Book), BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE BOOK 2026 & BEST AMERICAN WRITER

Un posto sicuro

By Luca Tartaglia, produced By Monica Bartolucci

BEST INTERNATIONAL HORROR 2026, BEST EUROPEAN ARTHOUSE PRODUCER & BEST INDIE SCREENPLAY (Category: Horror)

When Cassandra Venice speaks

By Hugo Teugels

BEST INDIE DIRECTOR, BEST STORYTELLER & BEST EDITING (Category: European Project)

The Stones of Rome

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST EXPERIMENTAL ACTING, BEST ORIGINAL INDIE ACTOR & BEST POETIC SHORT FILM

The Pathos of Hamlet

By Sean Gregory Tansey

BEST ORIGINAL INDIE SHORT FILM, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHER & BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT

Borderline Justice

By Lynn Elliott

BEST ORIGINAL WRITER 2026 & BEST INTERNATIONAL WRITING STYLE (Category: Feature Script)

Pirandello’s Wife

By Lynn Elliott

BEST HUMAN RIGHTS SCRIPT & BEST BIOGRAPHICAL FEATURE SCRIPT OF THE YEAR

Alta California

By Lynn Elliott

BEST AMERICAN SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL ARTHOUSE SCREENWRITER & BEST HISTORICAL SCRIPT

The Duchess

By C. Arnold Curry

BEST ORIGINAL DRAMA 2026, BEST CAST & BEST SCREENWRITER (Category: Drama)

The Rorschach Test

By Lena Mattsson

BEST ARTHOUSE SHORT FILM, BEST SCREENPLAY SHORT & BEST EUROPEAN INDIE PRODUCER

Not Without Gloves

By Lena Mattsson

BEST ART FILM & BEST INSPIRATIONAL CINEMATOGRAPHY

The Aesthetics of Failure

By Lena Mattsson

BEST VIDEO POETRY, BEST VISIONARY EDITING & BEST ORIGINAL INDIE FILMMAKER

Doctor Hyphoteses

By Vicentini Gomez

BEST ARTHOUSE INDIE SCREENPLAY 2026, BEST INTERNATIONAL INDIE SCREENWRITER & BEST ORIGINAL ACTING

Pretty Little Lucy

By David Williamson

BEST ARTHOUSE THRILLER SCRIPT & BEST ORIGINAL SCREENWRITER OF THE YEAR (Category: Noir)

Oskar  

By Ariel Orama López (AG Orloz)

BEST INTERNATIONAL MOVIEMAKER & BEST EXPERIMENTAL SCREENWRITER 2026