List of San Diego International Film Festival award winners

Film Competition Award Winners By Year

SDiFF2019

• Best Short Film: Long Time Listener, First Time Caller
• Best International Short Film: Portraitist
• Best Animation: Riptide
• Best Global Cinema: Philophobia
• Kumeyaay Award: Angelique's Isle
• Best Ensemble Cast: Inside Game
• Best World Premiere: 100 Days to Live
• Best Student Film: Sonora
• Best Local Film: Flourish
• Best Documentary: Breaking Their Silence: Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War
• Best Comedy Film: Babysplitters
• Best Original Screenplay: Love in Kilnerry
• Best Thriller: Safe Inside
• Best Feature Film: The Steed
• Artistic Director's Award: Safe Spaces
• Litecoin Filmmaker Award: Philophobia

• Studio Film: Marriage Story
• Feature Film: Carol of the Bells
• Documentary: Breaking Their Silence, Women on the Frontline of the Poaching War
• Short Film: Men of Vision

  SDiFF2018

• Best Animation: The Driver is Red
• Best Student Film: Learning to Swim
• Best Global Cinema: My Name is "Batlir", Not Butler
• Kumeyaay Award: Indian Horse
• Most Inspirational Film: The Push
• Best World Premiere: Electric Love
• Best Local Film: Daisy Belle
• Best Local Breakout: Romance is Dead
• Best Short Film: Akeda
• Best Short Comedy Film: Hero
• Best Documentary: '
• Best Thriller: Rust Creek
• Best Breakout Feature: I May Regret
• Best Feature Film: Tiger
• Artistic Directors' Award: Soufra

• Best Documentary: Soufra
• Best Feature: I May Regret
• Best Short: Your Call Is Important To Us
• Best Studio: Boy Erased''

  SDiFF2017

• Best Foreign Short: Ostoja Will Move Your Piano
• Best Animated Short: Green Light
• Best Global Cinema: The Divine Order
• Kumeyayy Eagle Award: Waabooz
• Best Military Film: Apache Warrior
• Best Ensemble Film: Butterfly Caught
• Best World Premiere: Dismissed
• Best Comedy Feature: The Lonely Italian
• Best Short Film: The Foster Portfolio
• Best Documentary: The Last Animals
• Best Breakthrough Feature: Selling Isobel
• Best Narrative Feature: The Bachelors
• Chairman's Award: Dog Years

• Best Documentary: Resistance is Life
• Best Feature: Life Hack
• Best Short: The Dog With the Woman
• Best Studio: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri''

  SDiFF2016

• Best Narrative Short: Bon Voyage
• Best Comedy: The Late Bloomer
• Best Military Film: Railway Spine
• Kumeyayy Eagle Award: Te Ata
• Best Documentary: Political Animals
• Best International Film: Julieta
• Breakthrough Feature: Po
• Chairman's Award: Citizen Soldier
• Best Narrative Feature: So B. It
• Breakthrough Documentary: In Utero

• Best Documentary: Seed: The Untold Story
• Best International Film: The Cliff
• Best Narrative Feature: Dead Draw
• Best Narrative Short: Mine

  SDFF2015

• Best Narrative Feature – Diablo
• Best Documentary – India’s Daughter
• Best International Film – Victoria
• Best Narrative Short – SubRosa
• Best Animated Film – SOAR
• Best Military Film – No Greater Love
• Kumeyaay Award – For Blood
• Chairman’s Award – Kidnap Capital

• Best Feature – Moments of Clarity
• Best Documentary – Return to Dak To
• Best Short – The Gunfighter
• Best Gala – He Named Me Malala

  SDFF2014

• Best Narrative Feature: Where the Road Runs Out
• Best Documentary: Waiting for Mamu
• Best International: Schimbarev
• Best Narrative Short: The Bravest, The Boldest
• Best Animated Film: The Dam Keeper
• Kumeyaay Award: Sycuan: Our People. Our Culture. Our History.
• U-T San Diego Award: Where the Road Runs Out
• Chairman's Award: The Hornet's Nest

• Best Gala Film: The Imitation Game
• Best Feature: Cas & Dylan
• Best Documentary: Waiting for Mamu
• Best Short: Sure Thing
• Best International: Noble

  SDFF2013

• Best Narrative Feature: Autumn Blood
• Best Latin Feature: Dirty Hearts

  SDFF2011

• won Best Actor Award in 201Best Narrative Feature - East Fifth Bliss
• Best Documentary -
• Best Short Film - It Takes Balls
• Best San Diego Film - Repeat After Me
• Best Screenplay - James Westby
• Best Actor - John Turturro,
• Best Actress - Rachel Boston

• Best Feature - Like Crazy
• Best Documentary - The Highest Pass'', dir. Jon Fitzgerald

  SDFF2010

• Best Narrative Feature - A Little Help
• Best Documentary - Waiting for Superman
• Best Short Film - Touch
• Best San Diego Film - This is Charlotte King, dir. Jeffrey Durkin
• Best Actor - Drew Fuller
• Best Actress - Emily VanCamp

• Best Feature - Nowhere Boy
• Best Documentary - Waiting for Superman

SDFF2009

• Best Narrative Feature - Formosa Betrayed
• Best Documentary - American Harmony
• Best Short Film - True Beauty This Night
• Best Music Video - Reilly's "Sunlight"
• Best San Diego Film - Wyland Earth Day
• Best Screenplay - Shem Bitterman
• Best Actor - James Van Der Beek
• Best Actress - Mira Sorvino

• Best Feature - Reach for Me
• Best Documentary - Jesse's Story''

  SDFF2008

• Best Feature - Summerhood
• Best Actress - Sasha Alexander - The Last Lullaby
• Best Actor - Michael Tassoni - The Appearance of a Man
• Heineken Red Star Award - The Appearance of a Man
• Physical Graffiti Best Action Sports Story - Against the Grain
• Best Short - In the Name of the Son
• Best Documentary - Uncounted
• Best Music Video - Greg Laswell - How the Day Sounds
• Best San Diego Short - Residue

• Best Feature - The Last Lullaby
• Best Documentary - Speed & Angels

  SDFF2007

• Best Feature Film: Intervention
• Best Documentary -
• Best Short - Rory Kindersley, “Slingers”
• Best Director - Alfredo De Villa, Adrift in Manhattan
• Best Screenplay - The Walker, written by Paul Schrader
• Best Cinematography - The Northern Kingdom, Mark Schwartzbard
• Best Actor - Brian Petersen, Coyote
• Best Actress - Dominique Swain, The Pacific & Eddy | Best Actress - Jennifer Tilly
• Best Female Filmmaker - Annie Sunderberg, The Devil Came on Horseback
• Best San Diego Filmmaker - Greg Durbin, “Passing Through”
• Best Music Video - "Paramount" by Deadarm, Cleopatra, Kb. Directed by Carlos Florez
• Heineken Red Star Award - Killing Zelda Sparks

  SDFF2006

• Best Feature Film - Danika
• Best Director - Jordan Albertsen, The Standard
• Best Screenplay - Tim Boughn, Neo Ned
• Best Documentary --Chasing the Horizon
• Best Short - "Olyver Brody"
• Best Female Filmmaker - Heather MacAllister, The Narrow Gate
• Best Actor - Ryan Donowho, The Favor
• Best Actress - Regina Hall, Danika
• San Diego Filmmaker - "Nothing To Do With Amy" won Best Actress in 2005
• Best Music Video - "Just Go", Misdirection
• Best Music Video Director—Fernando Apodaca, "Life Wasted", Pearl Jam

• Best Feature - Neo Ned
• Best Documentary - The Creek Runs Red

  SDFF2005

• Best Feature Film - "Innocent Voices,"
• Best Documentary - "Earthlings,"
• Best Short Film - "Apartment 206,"
• Best Screenplay - "When Do We Eat,"
• Best Actor - Carlos Padilla Lenero, "Innocent Voices"
• Best Actress - Felicity Huffman, "Transamerica"
• Best Director - Christopher Jaymes, "In Memory of My Father"
• San Diego Feature Film - "Everyone Their Grain of Sand",
• San Diego Filmmaker - Canaan Brumley, "Ears, Open. Eyeballs, Click."
• Crystal Vision - Gable-Cook-Schmid Public Relations

• directed the Best Documentary Winner in 2004Best Feature - "The Matador,"
• Best Documentary - "Little Man,"

  SDFF2004

• Best Feature - Around the Bend, dir. Jordan Roberts
• Best Documentary - Sonny Boy, Soleil Moon Frye
• Best Short - American Made, dir. Sharat Raju
• Best Director - Black Cloud, Rick Shroeder
• Best Screenplay - Celeste Davis
• SD Screenwriting Contest Winner - "Whitefish", George Olson
• Best Actor - James Russo
• Best Actress - Sally Andrews
• Best San Diego Feature Film - Never Been Done,
• Best San Diego Filmmaker - Devin Scott

  Night of the Stars Honorees

SDiFF2019

• Gregory Peck Award: Laurence Fishburne
• Humanitarian Award: Lindsay Wagner
• Cinema Vanguard: Jared Harris
• Music Icon Award: Pitbull
• Fairbanks Award: Jillian Bell
• Rising Star Award: Camila Morrone
• Chris Brinker Award: Ravin Gandhi

SDiFF2018

• Gregory Peck Award: Keith Carradine
• Music Icon Award: Kenny Loggins
• Cinema Vanguard Award: Topher Grace
• Fairbanks Award: Kathryn Hahn
• Nemeth Humantarian Award: Zachary Levi
• Spotlight Award: John Cho
• Auteur Award: Alex Wolff
• Rising Star Award: Christian Navarro
• Chris Brinker Award: Stare Yildirim

SDiFF2017

• Gregory Peck Award: Patrick Stewart
• Auteur Award: Kumail Nanjiani
• Virtuoso Award: Heather Graham
• Visionary Filmmaker Award: Taran Killam
• Rising Star Award: Blake Jenner
• Chris Brinker Award: Manny Rodriguez

SDiFF2016

• Gregory Peck Award: Annette Bening
• Auteur Award: Simon Helberg
• Cinema Vanguard Award: Kate Beckinsale
• Rising Star Award: Jason Mitchell
• Chris Brinker Award: Anne Hamilton

SDFF2015

• Reframed Humanitarian Award: Geena Davis
• Cinema Vanguard Award: Adrien Brody
• Auteur Award: Brit Marling
• Rising Star Award: John Boyega
• Chris Brinker Award: Jack Robbins

SDFF2014

• Gregory Peck Award: Alan Arkin
• Cinema Vanguard Award: Beau Bridges
• Michele Monaghan
• Eli Roth
• Tom Berenger

SDFF2013

• Humanitarian Award: Mariel Hemingway
• Visionary Filmmaker Award: Judd Apatow
• Emerging Producer Award: Justin Nappi

SDFF2012

• Visionary Filmmaker Award: Gus Van Sant

SDFF2011

SDFF2010

SDFF2009

• Indie Icon Award - Seymour Cassel

SDFF2005

• Lifetime Achievement Award: Joan Collins
• Humanitarian Award: Joaquin Phoenix
• David Angell Humanitarian Award: John Walsh
• Soaring Star Award: Colin Hanks
• Discover Screenwriter Award: Paul Haggis

SDFF2004

• Lifetime Achievement Award - Cliff Robertson
• Governor's Award - Phyllis Diller

  SDFF2002

By award

Golden Eagle for Best Narrative Feature

• 2018: Tiger
• 2017: The Bachelors
• 2016: So B. It
• 2015: Diablo
• 2014: Where the Road Runs Out

  Golden Eagle for Best Documentary

• 2018:
• 2017: The Last Animals
• 2016: Political Animals
• 2015: India’s Daughter
• 2014: Waiting for Mamu

  Golden Eagle for Best Animation

• 2018: The Driver is Red
• 2017: Green Light
• 2015: SOAR
• 2014: The Dam Keeper

  Kumeyaay Eagle Award for Best Native American Film

• 2018: Indian Horse
• 2017: Waabooz
• 2016: Te Ata
• 2015: For Blood
• 2014: Sycuan: Our People. Our Culture. Our History.

  Audience Award for Best Documentary

• 2018: Soufra
• 2017: Resistance is Life
• 2016: Seed: The Untold Story
• 2015: Moments of Clarity
• 2014: Waiting for Mamu
• 2011: The Highest Pass
• 2010: Waiting for Superman
• 2009: Jesse's Story
• 2008: Speed & Angels
• 2006: The Creek Runs Red
• 2005: "Little Man,"

Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature

• 2018: I May Regret
• 2017: Life Hack
• 2016: Dead Draw
• 2015: Moments of Clarity
• 2014: Cas & Dylan
• 2013: Autumn Blood
• 2011: Like Crazy
• 2010: Nowhere Boy
• 2009: Reach for Me
• 2008: The Last Lullaby
• 2006: Neo Ned
• 2005: The Matador

  Audience Award for Best Narrative Short

• 2018: Your Call Is Important To Us
• 2017: The Dog With the Woman
• 2016: Mine
• 2015:The Gunfighter
• 2014: Sure Thing

Audience Award for Best Studio/Gala Film

• 2018: Boy Erased
• 2017: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
• 2015: He Named Me Malala
• 2014: The Imitation Game

  Chris Brinker Award

• 2018: Stare Yildirim
• 2017: Manny Rodriguez
• 2016: Anne Hamilton
• 215: Jack Robbins

  Gregory Peck Award

• See Gregory Peck Award for Cinematic Excellence

  Cinema Vanguard Award

• 2019: Jared Harris
• 2018: Topher Grace
• 2016: Kate Beckinsale won the Humanitarian Award in 2019
• 2015: Adrien Broady
• 2014: Beau Bridges

  Humanitarian Award

• 2019: Lindsay Wagner
• 2018: Zachary Levi
• 2015: Geena Davis
• 2013: Muriel Hemingway
• 2005: Joaquin Phoenix

  Fairbanks Award

• 2019: Jillian Bell
• 2018: Kathryn Hahn

Auteur Award

• 2018: Alex Wolff
• 2017: Kumail Nanjiani
• 2016: Simon Helberg
• 2015: Brit Marling

  Music Icon Award

• 2019: Pitbull
• 2018: Kenny Loggins

  Rising Star Award

• 2019: Camila Morrone
• 2018: Christian Navarro
• 2017: Blake Jenner
• 2016: Jason Mitchell
• 2015: John Boyega
• 2005: Colin Hanks