2025 Atlanta Underground Film Festival
2025 Awards
The Atlanta Underground Film Festival celebrates the films and filmmakers that stood out in 2025. Awards go to the best features, shorts, local work, and the films that truly capture the underground spirit. Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and nominees.
Atlanta Underground Film Festival 2025 Awards
Best Feature Film
Awarded to a feature that captures the raw, fearless spirit of underground cinema.
Nominees:
Astral Plane Drifter
Director Scott Slone
McConadilla
Director Layton Matthews - WINNER
Street Trash
Director Ryan Kruger
F*CKTOYS
Director Annapurna Sriram
Best Director
For a filmmaker whose direction brings the film to life in a memorable way.
Nominees:
American Deadbolt
Director Bryan Redding - WINNER
Living UNDONE
Director Amanda Kasmira Cryer
She Cried That Day
Director Amanda Erickson
Underground Visionary Award
Underground Visionary Award
For a filmmaker with a strong voice and fresh perspective we want to see more of.
Nominees:
Astral Plane Drifter
Director Scott Slone - WINNER
F*CKTOYS
Director Annapurna Sriram
McConadilla
Director Layton Matthews
Withdrawal
Director Aaron Strand
Best Local Feature Film
Underground Visionary Award
For a standout feature made in Georgia or by a Georgia-based filmmaker.
Nominees:
American Deadbolt
Director Bryan Redding
The Hike
Director Sean Paolino
The House Among the Trees
Director Tyler Horner
Withdrawal
Director Aaron Strand - WINNER
Best Short Film
Given to a short that stands out with a clear voice and original style.
Nominees:
Once Upon a Time in the Apocalypse
Director Tiago Pimentel
The Unbearing
Director ALSO Sisters
The Man Upstairs
Director Wendy Wang
We Meet Again
Director Matthew Lucas - WINNER
AUFF Spirit Award
For the film that best reflects the DIY energy and risk-taking at the heart of underground film.
Nominees:
Birthday Cake
Director Jesse Foy - WINNER
Bone
Director Kailena Mai
The Time Capsule
Director Michael Charron
Zapinos
Director Matt Bruggeman
Mindbender Award
For the film that pushes boundaries and takes the audience somewhere strange or unexpected.
Nominees:
Are You There God? It's Me, God.
Director Céd Hopkins - WINNER
Reddening
Director Sinem Kayacan
The Depraved: Act I - Wasteland
Director Garrett Drake
The World of James Gagmy
Director Lon Takiguchi
BEST Emerging Filmmaker
Awarded to a new filmmaker whose work shows real promise and a strong point of view.
Nominees:
Ada and Eve
Director Audrey Fullah
One Night Cherub
Director Austin King - WINNER
The Removal
Director Tatum Louise Fry
In Your Dreams
Director Nathaniel Gary Henry
Best Local Short Film
For a standout short made in Georgia or by a Georgia-based filmmaker.
Nominees:
Five O'clock Somewhere
Director Jonathan Milograno - WINNER
In Due Time
Director Graeme Wolverton
Letterboxing
Director Mike Brune
Project Penelope
Directors Felipe Castilla, Alex D Lugo
Jury Award
Chosen by the festival jury, this award goes to a film that stood out for its craft, vision, or impact.
She Cried That Day
Director Amanda Erickson - WINNER
Audience Award
Audience Award
Picked by the crowd. The film that hit hardest with our audience.
Living UNDONE
Director Amanda Kasmira Cryer - WINNER
AUFF IMDB
