Award Categories

Tahquitz Rock, also known as Lily Rock, is the most distinquishable feature in Idyllwild's surrounding San Jacinto mountains, standing high to claim attention above all that surrounds it. Likewise our Tahquitz Award winners shine above their competition.
This year brings three new awards to the collection--Best Documentary Short, Best Foreign Language Film and Best Amateur Film. A Documentary short is a project under 15 minutes in length. The Amateur category is entirely new; see the site page (coming soon) for extensive details on this broad and exciting addition. The Foreign Language Film category is overdue; so many great films are made all over the world. Starting this year, we're earning our International credentials.

BEST FEATURE FILM (60 Minutes and Over)
BEST FEATURETTE (15-59 Minutes)
BEST SHORT FILM (Under 15 Minutes)
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Feature or Featurette)
BEST DOCUMENTARY (Short) ** NEW **
BEST WEB SERIES
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (Feature or Featurette) ** NEW **
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM (Short) ** NEW **
BEST AMATEUR FILM (all) ** NEW **
BEST STUDENT FILM (all)
BEST ACTOR (Feature)
BEST ACTOR (Featurette)
BEST ACTOR (Short)
BEST ACTRESS (Feature)
BEST ACTRESS (Featurette)
BEST ACTRESS (Short)
BEST ENSEMBLE ACTING (all forms) ** NEW **
BEST DIRECTOR (Feature)
BEST DIRECTOR (Featurette)
BEST DIRECTOR (Short)
BEST DIRECTOR (Documentary, all lengths)
BEST SCREENPLAY (Feature)
BEST SCREENPLAY (Featurette)
BEST SCREENPLAY (Short)
BEST SOUND (Feature/Featurette)
BEST SOUND (Short)
BEST ORGINAL SCORE (Feature)
BEST ORGINAL SCORE (Featurette)
BEST ORGINAL SCORE (Short)
BEST SOUNDTRACK (Feature, Featurette or Documentary)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Feature)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Featurette)
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY (Short)
AUDIENCE CHOICE
(tbd by audience vote at festival screenings)
BEST TRAILER (all)
(prize award)