Greetings film enthusiasts! We are thrilled to share the excitement and anticipation of the April 2023 Denver Monthly Film Awards. As the curtain rises on this prestigious event, we are honored to showcase the nominees and winners in the following categories:
Category: Best Super-short Film
First up, we have the super short films category, where filmmakers have pushed the boundaries of storytelling within the confines of 6 minutes or less. From thought-provoking dramas to heartwarming comedies, these films are a testament to the power of brevity in storytelling. Our esteemed panel of judges had the challenging task of selecting the nominees and ultimately, the winner for this category.
| Rank | Film Title | Director |
| Winner | The Beginners | Ting Zhou |
| Finalist | A Study in Bodies | Elia Lara |
| Finalist | The 13th hour / La 13ème heure | Xavier Tesson |
| Finalist | The Girl in the Green Attic | Cassidy Nelson |
| Nominees | The month when my plants moved around me สีนวล (Sri Nuan) Shooting Your Own Shadow The Bunny Worm Salad | Zsuzsa Debre Adam Snook Parisi, Amman Shane Pergrem Claire Cutter |
Category: Best Short Film
Next, we have the short films category, featuring films ranging from 6 to 45 minutes in length. These films captivate audiences with their unique narratives, compelling characters, and stunning visuals. From gripping thrillers to poignant documentaries, the nominees in this category represent the diverse and dynamic world of cinema.
| Rank | Film Title | Director | Country |
| Winner | Is God the Same Here | Jerod Wood | United States |
| Finalist | Diligitis | Luca Finato | Italy |
| Finalist | Transgressing | Alessandro Repetti | – |
| Finalist | Ira | Varun Shivnani | – |
| Finalist | Going Nowhere (Pilot Episode) | George Walker | UK |
| Finalist | The Perfect Day | Beddok Breithaupt Frey | United States |
| Nominees | Last minute First Time Caller The Cage REVERSE The Lost Voyager Time Spent The LloydPergs The Mirror 14 Days Twitch Just One Voice Haystacks Stereo Psychosis Glitter Girl Your Lucky Day The Unique Verses EXORCIZAMUS TE The Market The Doll | Joel Junior Nate Allison YangMing Wang Christophe Lenoir Gavin Lloyd Rob Daniel Hutt Lloyd, Pergrem Honglin Zhou Angel Contreras Suden L Eric Willis Jake Ames Matt Sandoval Alex Fernandez Ommar Gutierrez Tantowi Abudzar DIEGO ALVAREZ LEON Victor Atkins Thomas Elliott Griffiths | – |
Category: Best Feature Film
Then, we have the feature films category, showcasing the best of the best in filmmaking. These films have taken audiences on unforgettable journeys, weaving rich stories and showcasing exceptional performances. From epic dramas to heartwarming comedies, the nominees in this category have left an indelible mark on the world of cinema.
| Rank | Film Title | Country of origin |
| Winner | The Place She Dwells, Maurice Moore | United States |
| Finalist | Masoom Sawaal, Santosh Upadhyay | India |
| Finalist | The Perfect Lie | China |
| Finalist | Science Friction, Ray Brady | United Kingdom |
| Finalist | Eskhaleni Sikantombela, Sizwe Fortune Zuma | South Africa |
Category: Best Animation
| Rank | Film Title, Director | Country of origin |
| Winner | The Dream God, Eissa Annam | India |
| Finalist | The Ribbon, Polla-Ilariya Kozino | United States |
| Finalist | Blue, Ruisi Duan | Australia |
| Finalist | OPAL, Alan Bidard | France |
| Finalist | Post Apocalyptic, Moor McKenna | United States |
| Nominees | Protocol Z, Alan Loustan On / Off, Nicolas P. Villarreal nothing (everything), Ronnie Cheng OFF THE BOX, Yunge Wen Dog House, Jeremy Sladdin Modern medicine, Ting Zhou | – |
Category: Best Documentary
| Rank | Film Title | Country of origin |
| Winner | Fight for LIFE, Jeff Ezell, Mark Newton | United States |
| Finalist | Art in the Desert, Rick Meghiddo | United States |
| Finalist | Secrets of the Caribbean: Story of the Nature Isle, Dominica | Dominica |
| Nominees | Rivanna Weavers, Cameron Kashani Far Horizon, Paul May Inside Talk II, Parker Brothers Dysability, Shihyun Wang | – |
Category: Best Music Video
| Rank | Film Title | Director |
| Winner | Jen Ash “I’m Dreaming of You” | Eddie Reid |
| Finalist | The Curse of KK Hammond “What’s the Weatherman Done?” | Tom Hughes |
| Finalist | ‘Over It Again’ by RVBY | Maty J, Tamiah Bantum |
| Nominees | Jeremy Parsons – Tickin’ Sun King Rising “No. 6 Magnolia Avenue” I don’t want to live without you | Nick Van Dyk Dante Ludovici Oscar Serio |
Category: Best Director
| Rank | Name | Film Title |
| Winner | Tina Kardan | Invidious |
| Finalist | Eissa Annam | The Dream God |
| Finalist | Polla-Ilariya Kozino | The Ribbon |
| Finalist | Victor Atkins | The Market |
Category: Best Actress
| Rank | Name | Film Title |
| Winner | Muscan Kapoor | Ira |
| Finalist | Orla Saphron | Just like me |
| Finalist | Laura Domerick & Susan Macke Miller | The Market |
| Finalist | Sarah Bellini | Last minute |
| Nominees | Tommi Aleman Elise Fourneau | Is God the Same Here The 13th hour |
Category: Best Actor
| Rank | Name | Film Title |
| Winner | Cast of “The Fate of Cysalion” | The Fate of Cysalion |
| Finalist | Mathew Molina | Is God the Same Here |
| Finalist | Taylor Lam & Loic Freynet | Invidious |
| Finalist | Joel Junior | Last minute |