MFF 2025
"Best of" Awards
These categories are the top three scorers in each submitting category,
based on scores from our esteemed panel of celebrity judges.
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Best 48-Hour
Challenge Film
This category awards the top films from our 48-Hour film challenge event. Filmmakers were put to the test with a time crunch, prop and dialogue requirements, and a genre assigned at random.
1st Place:
Frame of Mind
D20
2nd Place:
Soul Carrier
Saber Entertainment
3rd Place (tie):
Throw the Book at Them
Fantastic Opportunity Productions
The Good, The Bad, The Cuties
One Stoplight Productions
Best Local Short
This category is to honor where this festival started, with supporting hyperlocal filmmakers and their work. Filmmakers considered for this category reside within the Toledo area.
1st Place:
The Incredible Life of Ricky Smolltuff
Spencer Stamitoles, Bradley Tumasian
2nd Place:
Look at Me
Brent Gfell, Digger Pierce, Aaron Gfell
3rd Place:
Lobster Man vs. Chin Guy
Isaac Martinez
Best Regional Short
Filmmakers considered for this category reside within the Ohio/Michigan Region and submitted a short film.
1st Place:
A Place for Us
Philip Anjum
2nd Place:
Where Impact Lands: The X Games Intern Experience
Ellen Dziubek
3rd Place:
Stoned
J.W. Cox
Best National/International Short
Short films submitted from outside our region will be considered for this category.
1st Place:
Stronghold
Meghann Artes
2nd Place:
A Fair Sister
Matt LaCorte
3rd Place:
Rock Bottom
Ed Castañeda
Best Student Short
Short films submitted by college and high school students in any geographical region will be considered for this category.
1st Place:
Deep Rust
Sarah Faith Moss
2nd Place:
The Barn is Burning
Carter J. Hellwarth
3rd Place:
Echoes, Dust and Rust
Andrew James Leonard
Best Feature Film
Films in this category were submitted as feature length narratives.
1st Place:
Lone Wolves
Ryan Cunningham
2nd Place:
The Harbor Men
Casey T. Malone
3rd Place:
Extraction, USA
Mike Yonts
