Actor Erika Christensen (“Traffic”, “Parenthood”) at the SIFFNYC Opening Night Premiere of “After All”. Photo credit: Champion Hamilton
Regina Aquino’s “Faith Healers” Wins Audience Award for Feature Film
Global Filmmakers Honored as 2025 SOHO International Film Festival Announces Winners in New York City
New York City – October 14, 2025 – The 2025 SOHO International Film Festival (SIFFNYC), presented by the Soho Creative Lab Foundation, concluded its 16th edition in a grand style event last night for its vibrant SIFFNYC Awards Night Gala at the Helen Mills Theater in New York City, celebrating excellence in independent filmmaking from across the world.
Under the direction of Executive Director and Head of Programming Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago, the producer of the annual event, and Founder and President Jorge Ballos, who established the festival to give a global platform to bold and diverse cinematic voices, this year’s 16th Edition delivered a week of sold-out screenings, creative panels, and unforgettable conversations at the Regal Union Square.
A high-profile jury — including actor Dallas Roberts (“Insatiable,” “Tulsa King”), New York Women in Film & Television Executive Director Cynthia Lopez, Marci Phillips, VP of Talent & Casting for 20th Studios/Disney Entertainment, Max Geschwind, Media Finance of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), and Brian Nemes (Head of Film & TV Strategy, Gold House) — deliberated on a lineup of over 100 films representing more than 20 countries.
Presented in partnership with Sitting Cat Productions, Regal Union Square, MongoMedia, and Madame World, the evening’s festivities featured a stylish celebration complete with signature cocktails from Tito’s Vodka, Vera Wang Prosecco provided by partners Royal Wine Corp, and passed hors d’oeuvres by partners from Tagpuan, as the international film community toasted an unforgettable year in independent film.
“This year’s lineup truly embodied what SOHO stands for — bold voices, fearless artistry, and stories that bridge cultures,” said Sibyl Reymundo-Santiago. “We’re deeply proud to see how our filmmakers continue to expand the boundaries of independent cinema. Every nominee and winner tonight represents the heart of storytelling today.”
HIGHLIGHTS & AWARD MOMENTS
Among the most celebrated wins of the night:
Tricia Helfer took home Best Acting Performance in a Leading Role – US Feature for her captivating performance in “Hello Beautiful.”
Naum Shopov earned Best Acting Performance in a Leading Role – World Feature for “Wingless” (Bulgaria), which also captured Best World Showcase Feature Film.
Ireland’s Lauren Larkin triumphed with Best Acting Performance in a Leading Role – World Short for “One More Round,” while “Sotto Voce” won Best Acting Ensemble.
Heitor Dhalia’s “The Ballad of a Hustler” was named Best US Showcase Feature Film, and Regina Aquino’s “Faith Healers” resonated with audiences to win the Audience Award for Feature Film.
One of the night’s most emotional highlights came as Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s “Brooklyn Minnesota” claimed the Audience Award for Exhibition Films.
Other major winners included “The Singers” (Best US Showcase Short Film), “Under the Northern Skies” (Best World Showcase Short Film), “Dewey Days” (Best Long Form Series Pilot), “Disc” (Best Short Form Series Pilot), “The High King’s Daughter” (Best Showcase Animated Film), “Left Behind” (Best Showcase Documentary Feature), “Samland” (Best Showcase Documentary Short), and “Double Happiness” (Audience Award for Short Film or Series Pilot).
FULL LIST OF 2025 SIFFNYC WINNERS & NOMINEES
BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE – WORLD SHORT
Nominees: Dasha Plahtiy (Teach Us How to Fly – Ukraine), Imelda Staunton (The Most Powerful Human on Earth – UK), Innayah Umer (Don’t Be Late, Myra – Pakistan), Lloyd Cooney (One More Round – Ireland), Sarah Bennington (What’s Wrong, Emma? – France)
Winner: Lauren Larkin (One More Round, Ireland)
BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE – US SHORT
Nominees: Adam Budron (If Birds Believed in God), Bear D’Angelo (The Fencer), Lalia Hays (How Are We Feeling Today?), Mike Young (The Singers), Ray Abruzzo (The Fencer)
Winner: Reed Birney (Standby)
BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE – WORLD FEATURE
Nominees: Anna Zavtur (Seems Like Love – Russia), Dex Castro (Ilaw – Philippines), Morrisette (Song of the Fireflies – Philippines), Oumar Diaw (Where There Is Love, There Is No Darkness – France), Stefany Obadiaru (Wingless – Bulgaria)
Winner: Naum Shopov (Wingless, Bulgaria)
BEST ACTING PERFORMANCE IN A LEADING ROLE – US FEATURE
Nominees: Bernardo Barreto (The Ballad of a Hustler), Erika Christensen (After All), Landon Ashworth (Go On), Penelope Ann Miller (After All), Renee Gagner (I’ve Seen All I Need to See)
Winner: Tricia Helfer (Hello Beautiful)
BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE IN A FEATURE OR SHORT FILM
Nominees: Apostasy Blues, Bang Bang, Ravel, The Lonely Isles, The Singers
Winner: Sotto Voce
BEST SHORT FORM SERIES PILOT
Nominees: My So-Called Iraqi Wedding, Nadine, The Ninth, The Wheel Deal
Winner: Disc by Renzo Montoya
BEST LONG FORM SERIES PILOT
Nominees: Books (the Pilot), By the Lake, Consider the Rainbow, It’s a Lot
Winner: Dewey Days by Zach Rineer
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR EXHIBITION FILMS
Top 5: Five Month Trial, Martyr of the Gowanus, This Will Never Work, The Mother, The Menacer and Me
Winner: Brooklyn Minnesota by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR SHORT FILMS OR SERIES PILOT
Top 5: Before You, Books, Dewey Days, F*ck That Guy
Winner: Double Happiness by Shari Albert
AUDIENCE AWARD FOR FEATURE
Top 5: The Ballad of a Hustler (US), Ilaw/Light (Philippines), Looking Up (US), Song of the Fireflies (Philippines)
Winner: Faith Healers (US, Philippines) by Regina Aquino
BEST SHOWCASE ANIMATED FILM
Nominees: Almost Ten, Determination, Flower of the Dawn, Grandpa’s Beef Stew
Winner: The High King’s Daughter by Joël Gibbs
BEST SHOWCASE DOCUMENTARY SHORT
Nominees: Fiddler on the Moon, Living Undone, The Imperfect Mother’s Club, Voices of Tomorrow, West Landing
Winner: Samland by Grace B. Poppe
BEST WORLD SHOWCASE SHORT FILM
Nominees: Don’t Be Late, Myra (Pakistan), Making Beauty (Canada), Millie (Australia), One More Round (Ireland), Teach Us How to Fly (Ukraine), Dente / Teeth (Italy), The Most Powerful Human on Earth (UK), What’s Wrong, Emma (France), Wholesome Warmth (Spain)
Winner: Under the Northern Skies (Finland) by Timo Sakari Puustinen
BEST US SHOWCASE SHORT FILM
Nominees: Becca Comes to Visit, Crane, Fast Edee, Forgive Me, Father, If Birds Believed in God, Sands Street, Shoulder Season, Sotto Voce, Standby, The Fencer, The Lonely Isles
Winner: The Singers by Sam Davis
BEST SHOWCASE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
Nominees: Faith Healers (US, Philippines), Looking Up, Maura & Maggie Get Callbacks (to Play Themselves), Sanctuary, Saving Walden’s World, Space Chasers
Winner: Left Behind by Anna Toomey
BEST WORLD SHOWCASE FEATURE FILM
Nominees: A Farewell to Youth (Canada), Are We Done Now? (Canada), The Art of Telling Lies (Canada, Sweden, Germany), Ilaw/Light (Philippines), Seems Like Love (Russia), Song of the Fireflies (Philippines), Where There Is Love There Is No Darkness (France)
Winner: Wingless (Bulgaria) by Niki Iliev
BEST US SHOWCASE FEATURE FILM
Nominees: A Cell Phone Movie, After All, An Arrangement, Apostasy Blues, Carry the Darkness, Go On, Hello Beautiful, I’ve Seen All I Need to See
Winner: The Ballad of a Hustler by Heitor Dhalia
CELEBRATING ARTISTRY & COMMUNITY
This year’s SIFFNYC once again affirmed its place as one of New York’s most influential festivals for independent and international filmmakers — a bridge between cultures and a beacon for storytelling that inspires and unites.
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Presented by: Soho Creative Lab Foundation
Festival Partners: Sitting Cat Productions, Regal Union Square, MongoMedia, Tagpuan, Vaisty, Royal Wine, Tito’s Vodka, and Madame World
