Celebrating a Magical Closing Night: The 2nd Annual Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival Winners Announced!

The 2nd Annual Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival (PAIFF) has come to a triumphant close, bringing with it a wave of creativity, collaboration, and community spirit. Nestled in the heart of the Riviera Maya, this year’s edition welcomed a diverse array of filmmakers and attendees from around the globe for five days of storytelling that ranged from the intensely personal to the universally profound. The energy throughout the festival was electric — from thought-provoking panel discussions to sunlit screenings by the sea.

We are thrilled to announce the official award winners of the 2nd Annual Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival (PAIFF) — and to personally congratulate all 76 of our selected projects from this year’s pool of 134 incredible submissions from 30 different nations!

This year, 26 filmmakers were recognized during our closing night celebration with a total of 50 awards given out. In addition, 15 Early Bird Awards were presented in the lead-up to the festival — a tradition we hold in high regard, and these recipients are fully recognized as official award winners by our committee. Altogether, 65 awards were celebrated at PAIFF 2025, a true reflection of the talent and spirit that defined this magical edition.

A special highlight was the engaging and visionary talk with architect Roman Rivera Torres, who illuminated a hopeful path for Puerto Aventuras as a model for sustainable and creative living. His insights offered a compelling backdrop to a festival dedicated not only to film, but to the power of art to shape and inspire communities.

Roman Rivera Torres speaking at PAIFF (photo D.P. Moffitt)

This year also saw several filmmakers receive multiple accolades, a reflection of both the strength of their visions and the craftsmanship behind their work. The Brattt (Russia), Sahara: End of Trip (Spain), Nothing (USA), The Michoacan File (Mexico), Mahsoo (Iran), Return of the Black Madonna (Mexico/USA), Braiding Knowledge through breath, movement, language (Canada), and JÓLAKÖTTURINN (Iceland, USA) all emerged as multi-award-winning standouts — a testament to their layered storytelling, bold direction, and technical mastery. These works not only impressed juries, but sparked real conversations among audiences about identity, justice, resistance, and hope.

🎥 FEATURE FILMS

From sun-scorched deserts to the darkest corners of the human psyche, this year’s feature film selections showcased cinema’s ability to captivate, provoke, and transport. Sahara: End of Trip swept audiences into the heat and mystique of the 1970s Sahara, where two thrill-seeking Spaniards set off on a journey of danger and desire that leads one of them into a mystical confrontation with the legacy of the legendary Tuareg princess, Tin-Hinan. Some Kind of Justice gripped viewers with its tense and emotional tale of two grieving parents who, after being failed by the system, take the law into their own hands in a raw and riveting revenge thriller. And in FEAR, audiences were pulled into the harrowing experience of Sindhu, a woman confined to a mental asylum, where she battles psychological torment and unearths haunting secrets in a suspense-filled narrative inspired by true events. Each film delivered unforgettable performances and daring storytelling, pushing boundaries while grounding their drama in truth, legacy, and the resilience of the human spirit.

Best Feature Sahara: End of Trip (Spain) – Directed by Antonio Rodriguez Cabal

Best Director - Feature Brian Jervay – Some Kind of Justice (USA) – Directed by Brian Jervay

Best Visionary Director - Feature Haritha Gogineni – FEAR (India)

Best Editing - Feature The Brattt (Russia) – Directed by Valeriy Pereverzev

Best Cinematography - Feature Javier Salmones – Sahara: End of Trip (Spain) – Directed by Antonio Rodriguez Cabal

Best Actor - Feature Eric Roberts as “Rev. Willis” – Guardians (USA) – Directed by Rick Walker

Best Actress - Feature Maru Valdivielso as “Florence” – Sahara: End of Trip (Spain) – Directed by Antonio Rodriguez Cabal

Best Supporting Actor - Feature Brian Jervay as “Clyde” – Some Kind of Justice (USA)  – Directed by Brian Jervay

Best Supporting Actress - Feature Taylor Armstrong as “Dr. Renee Kennedy” – Guardians (USA) – Directed by Rick Walker

Best Original Score - Feature Andrew M. Edwards – Somewhere Confidential (USA) – Directed by Casey Siegel

Steve Phillips Award for Best Sound Design - Feature The Brattt (Russia) – Directed by Valeriy Pereverzev

🎬 DOCUMENTARY FEATURES & DOC SHORTS

This year’s documentary features served as compelling reflections on cultural preservation, environmental resilience, and the power of individual impact. The Power of One followed a team of filmmakers deep into the Colombian jungle to document the uplifting story of a dedicated conservationist who planted over 10,000 trees, transforming a devastated landscape into a thriving nature reserve. In contrast, The Michoacan File explored how Mexican cuisine earned its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage treasure, weaving together rich traditions, regional identity, and the stories of the people who have kept these culinary customs alive. Both documentaries captivated audiences with their vibrant storytelling and meaningful exploration of heritage, nature, and the human spirit.

Best Documentary Feature The Power of One (Colombia, USA) – Directed by Alex Valdez & Pablo De la Fuente

Best Documentary Short Vocas de la Selva Maya: Una batalla por la vida (Mexico) – Directed by Benjamin Soto and Carlos Samayo, presented by Greenpeace

Best Director - Documentary Feature Bernardo Arsuaga – The Michoacan File (Mexico) Best Director - Documentary Short Kerra Bolton – Return of the Black Madonna (Mexico, USA) – Directed by Kerra Bolton

Best Editing - Documentary Feature Christopher John Malanchen The Michoacan File (Mexico) – Directed by Bernardo Arsuaga

Best Sound Design - Documentary Braiding Knowledge through breath, movement, language (Canada)  – Directed by Jessica Barudin

Best Original Score - Documentary The Graceless Age: The Ballad of John Murry (Ireland) – Directed by Sarah Share, Music by John Murry, Michael Timmons

🎞️ SHORT FILMS

From sci-fi universes to historical dramas and delicate psychological portraits, the short film program this year proved that powerful stories can be told in compact form. Nothing stunned with its existential edge and experimental structure, while Mahsoo delivered a touching and deeply emotional performance from a young Iranian girl navigating personal struggles. Shrouded Destiny blew audiences away with its stunning visuals and immersive fan-driven Star Wars narrative.

Best Short Film Nothing (USA) – Directed by Tom Miller & Alex Davidowski

Best Animation Film In-Half (Spain) – Directed by Jorge Morais Valle

Best Director - Short Film Dan Hertzog – The Fries Rebellion (USA)

Best Visionary Director - Short Film Tom Miller & Alex Davidowski – Nothing (USA)

Best Editing - Short Film Chloe Deakon – Children of Icarus (USA) – Directed by Gary Fieldman

Best Cinematography - Short Film Dan Stilling – Shrouded Destiny: A Star Wars Long Tale Part 1 of 3 (Denmark) – Directed by Shahbaz Sarwar & Erik Alejandro Gonzalez

Best Actor - Short Jason Faunt as “Calvin” – An Old Friend (USA) – Directed by Nuk Suwanchote

Best Actress - Short Sarina Rajabi as “Mahsoo” – Mahsoo (Iran) – Directed by Fatemeh Mehdipoor

Best Sound Design - Short Film Mahsoo (Iran) – Directed by Fatemeh Mehdipoor

Filmmaker Gary Fielding at PAIFF Awards (photo Jolie Kinga)

🎵 MUSIC VIDEOS

Bold, imaginative, and emotionally charged — this year’s music videos pushed boundaries and blended sonic storytelling with striking visual flair. KRYLA (Ukraine) stood out as a poetic expression of resilience, while JÓLAKÖTTURINN (Iceland/USA) embraced the fantastical to share cultural folklore in a fresh and cinematic way to earn three distinguished awards. Canadian musician James Downham, made festival history by winning Best Music Video two years in a row. His latest entry, Another Round, directed by AJ Astle and Jake Sauvee, stood out for its rich visual language and poignant emotional pull. Irish singer-songwriter Robert John Hope, based in Berlin, takes home two music video awards, one for Best Director Shane Serrano and another for Best Editing with Gin Lane Revisted, directed by Merle Sibbel.

Best Music Video Another Round – James Downham (Canada)

Best Director - Music Video It Sparks – Robert John Hope (Germany), Directed by Shane Serrano

Best Visionary Director - Music Video KRYLA (Ukraine) – Directed by Anastasiia Lapko

Best Editing - Music Video Gin Lane Revisited – Robert John Hope (Germany), Directed by Merle Sibbel

Best Cinematography - Music Video JÓLAKÖTTURINN (Iceland, USA) – Directed by Dan Hertzog

Best Original Score - Music Video JÓLAKÖTTURINN (Iceland, USA)

Best Visionary Music Video KRYLA (Ukraine)

🌿 CULTURAL & EXPERIMENTAL FILMS

Culture and experimentation collided in thought-provoking ways this year. Vocas de la Selva Maya gave voice to the indigenous people of the Yucatán, chronicling their battle for environmental and spiritual survival. Braiding Knowledge through breath, movement, language wove together ancestral teachings and modern artistry, and The Brattt pushed genre and narrative to abstract yet thrilling places.

Best Cultural Film Vocas de la Selva Maya: Una batalla por la vida (Mexico) – Directed by Benjamin Soto and Carlos Samayo, presented by Greenpeace

Best Innovative Cultural Storytelling Braiding Knowledge through breath, movement, language (Canada) – Directed by Jessica Barudin

Best Experimental Feature Film The Brattt (Russia) – Directed by Valeriy Pereverzev

Best Experimental Short Film Nothing (USA)  – Directed by Tom Miller & Alex Davidowski

One of the breakout films of the festival was the experimental short Nothing, which took home three major awards including Best Short Film, Best Visionary Director – Short, and Best Experimental Short Film. Directed by the creative duo Alex Davidowski and Tom Miller, the film captivated audiences with its abstract storytelling and fearless approach to form and meaning. Tom Miller, a down-to-earth American performance artist living and working in Gainesville, Florida — the Known Center of the Universe, brought his signature blend of humor, heart, and philosophical depth to the screen, making Nothing a thought-provoking standout that left audiences buzzing long after the credits rolled.

🎓 FIRST FILMS & STUDENT FILMS

We were proud to spotlight emerging voices and fresh talent through our first films category. Return of the Black Madonna explored African-American heritage, mysticism, and migration with poetic intensity. Conscious Co-Working introduced a playful vision of future collaboration, while Love Hides in the Open brought lyrical romance to the big screen. These filmmakers are just getting started, and their visions are already resonating across borders.

Best First Feature Film Love Hides In The Open (UK) – Directed by Brian Finucane

Best First Documentary Short Film Return of the Black Madonna (Mexico, USA) – Directed by Kerra Bolton

Best Visionary First Film Conscious Co-Working (Mexico) – Directed by Matt Crowe

Best First Short Film Shrouded Destiny: A Star Wars Long Tale Part 1 of 3 (Denmark) – Directed by Shahbaz Sarwar & Erik Alejandro Gonzalez

Best First Student Film Mahsoo (Iran) – Directed by Fatemeh Mehdipoor

🧡 AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD

Voted by festival attendees, Historias del Canal swept hearts with its multi-director narrative celebrating Panamanian identity and resilience through compelling historical vignettes.

Audience Choice Award – Favorite: Historias del Canal (Panama) Directed by Carolina Borrero, Pinky Mon, Luis Franco Brantley, Abner Benaim, Pituka Ort

Audience participation played a vital role in shaping the outcome of this year’s festival, thanks to our interactive rating card system that allowed attendees to score each film on key elements such as creativity, originality, pacing, editing, sound, and overall impact. These in-person evaluations weren’t just a novelty—they carried real weight in the final selection of award recipients, often tipping the scales in closely contested categories. The energy and honest feedback from our live audiences created a dynamic, collaborative judging process that amplified the spirit of community at the heart of PAIFF. Whether you were a filmmaker gauging reactions firsthand or an attendee whose voice helped shape the winners’ circle, your presence made a tangible difference. It's a powerful reminder that being here, in the room where it happens, matters—and helps keep this festival authentic, inclusive, and artist-driven.

Actors (Historias del Canal) Keith Furones and Jennifer Simpson (photo Jolie Kinga)

🎬 Honoring Returning Visionaries and Welcoming Bold New Voices

One of the most heartwarming aspects of this year’s festival was the return of two standout directors whose work has become synonymous with the Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival’s spirit of excellence. Dan Hertzog, a celebrated visual storyteller, was once again recognized for his cinematic mastery — earning multiple awards for the second consecutive year. His inventive eye and command of narrative through cinematography and sound continue to raise the bar for short-form and music video filmmaking.

Joining him once more was Gary Fieldman, whose film Children of Icarus earned accolades for Best Editing – Short Film. Fieldman’s work continues to captivate with its emotional precision and technical artistry, and his return to PAIFF represents a lasting bond between creator and festival that we proudly nurture. Another highlight for Fieldman is his role as Executive Producer for our short film honorable mention By The Sea – Directed by Stephan Eigenmann.

Equally inspiring was the presence of emerging filmmakers whose fresh voices and powerful perspectives left an unforgettable impression on this year’s audience and jury.

Kerra Bolton, the award-winning founder of Woodbine Films and former New York Times journalism honoree, brought Return of the Black Madonna, a deeply personal and culturally resonant documentary short that explores Black identity, migration, and spirituality. Her fearless storytelling and first-person approach elevate the conversation around healing and reclamation.

Jessica Barudin, making her directorial debut, offered a groundbreaking lens into Indigenous wellness through her film Braiding Knowledge through breath, movement, language. As a Kwakwaka’wakw scholar and founder of the Indigenous Yoga Collective, Jessica’s film documents her journey of bringing trauma-informed yoga to First Nations women as a form of community healing — blending ancestral wisdom with modern therapeutic practices in breathtaking ways.

Pablo De la Fuente, a rising producer from Mexico City, co-directed The Power of One, a visually stunning and socially urgent documentary that shifts the global narrative on Colombia. The film highlights the environmental heroism of Jorge’s grassroots efforts to protect endangered species, while also pushing forward Latino representation in climate media with its all-Latin crew. Pablo’s clear passion for both cinematic excellence and cultural justice made his work a festival favorite.

And finally, Carlos Samayoa, a Greenpeace activist and gifted content creator, co-directed Vocas de la Selva Maya: Una batalla por la vida, an urgent and soulful documentary honoring the voices of the Yucatán’s Indigenous peoples. His presence at the festival reminded all in attendance of the power of film as activism — and of the stories still waiting to be heard in the global fight for climate and cultural preservation.

Greenpeace Filmmaker Carlos Samayoa Proudly Accepts Two Awards At PAIFF (photo Jolie Kinga)

📓 The Best Screenplay award was presented to Monarch, written by Mauricio Herrera Manzur, rising to the top out of 12 outstanding screenplay submissions. This gripping psychological thriller is set a futuristic Mexico-Tenochtitlan—a city of stark contrasts, where opulence meets desperation and cutting-edge technology cloaks deep-rooted corruption. The story follows twin siblings Atzin and Yaotl, as they team up with a fearless journalist and a seasoned detective to track down a ritualistic killer targeting global power brokers. With Yaotl’s uncanny ability to mentally reconstruct crime scenes and a diverse group of allies from society’s margins, the investigation unravels a chilling conspiracy. Monarch impressed the jury with its bold narrative, cinematic world-building, and profound commentary on justice, identity, and the blurred lines of morality in an unequal world.

🫡 Honorable Mentions

In addition to our official award recipients, the festival proudly recognized several standout projects with Honorable Mentions, celebrating exceptional work that resonated deeply with both audiences and jurors. These films demonstrated artistic courage, emotional depth, and technical excellence, standing just outside the winners' circle but leaving a lasting impression. Honorable Mentions are a reflection of the festival’s commitment to uplifting diverse voices and bold storytelling from around the world.

🎬 Feature Film: The Premiere (USA) – Directed by Jon Silver

🎥 Documentary: The Uvalde Love Project (USA) – Directed by Dacia Saenz

🎞️ Short Film: By The Sea (Switzerland, USA) – Directed by Stephan Eigenmann

📓 Screenplay: Secrets of the Babylonian Lottery – Written by Kostiantyn Mishchenko

Further honorable mentions include our pre-festival early bird winners that also deserve recognition for their oustanding contributions and achievements – several of these films went on to receive awards in our annual competition:

Feature Film: The Ninth Order (Australia), Directed by Nick John A'Hern; FEAR (India); Sahara: End of Trip (Spain)

Documentaries:Capacity In Reserve (USA), Directed by Brandon Harrop; The Michoacan File (Mexico); The Graceless Age: The Ballad of John Murry (Ireland);

Short Film: The End Was Just The Beginning  (Portugal), Directed by Antonio Aleixo; The Fries Rebellion (USA); Shrouded Destiny: A Star Wars Long Tale Part 1 of 3  (Denmark);

Animation Film:Mortem Obire (Mexico), Directed by David Canton Kosberg; Escape Room (Russia), Directed by Vladislav Kovtunoskii; Illuminatus! (USA), Directed by Chris Kalis

Experiemental Film:The Abyss (Argentina), Directed by Andres Aloi

Student Film:Indefinitely (USA), Directed by Aloha Lee

Together, these trailblazing filmmakers reminded us that the future of cinema is not only bright — it’s deeply intentional, inclusive, and wildly imaginative. We can’t wait to see what they’ll do next.

The closing night reception party at Dreams Resort Aventuras was a moment to remember — filled with laughter, dancing, hugs between new friends, and heartfelt toasts to future projects. Against the backdrop of palm trees and ocean breezes, the festival’s closing night conclusion of 5 days of celebration was less about goodbyes and more about creative rebirth.

Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2nd Annual PAIFF an unforgettable celebration of storytelling and community. We can’t wait to welcome you back in March 2026 with even more incredible films and experiences. We’re also excited to announce that Lifetime V.I.P. Passes will soon be available for purchase, and that submissions for Season 3 of PAIFF officially open on May 1st. Let the next chapter begin! 🌴✨🎬