Winners of the 2026 Annual Stony Brook Film Festival
2026 FESTIVAL WINNERS
THE DOORMAN
2026 Opening Night Short
East Coast Premiere
Armenia – 20 min
A film by Lily Ghazaryan.
To solve their financial woes, Garik talks his father into modernizing their once flourishing café.
But what will become of their loyal doorman?
In Armenian, with subtitles.
ONCE UPON MY MOTHER
2026 Opening Night Feature
New York Premiere
France, Canada - 104 min
Directed by Ken Scott. Written by Roland Perez and Ken Scott.
With Leïla Bekhti, Jonathan Cohen, Joséphine Japy, Jeanne Balibar (Cold War) and Sylvie Vartan.
In 1963, Esther Perez gave birth to her son Roland, the youngest of six children in a very lively family.
But little Roland was born with a clubfoot, and his parents were told he would never be able to stand or walk. Against all advice, Esther promised her son that he would be able to walk just like everyone else, and she devoted herself fully to ensuring this promise came true. Based on Roland Perez’s autobiographical novel My Mother, God and Sylvie Vartan, the film spans decades of hardships and miracles, and the impossible, overwhelming strength of a mother's love for her child. Actress Leïla Bekhti completely inhabits the role-of-a-lifetime in this epic, powerful film you cannot miss.
MOTHER
2026 Closing Night Short
Poland - 29 min
A film by Sebastian Kwidziński.
Out on parole after serving her sentence, Paulina returns home to see her 11-year-old son, but her mother-in-law stands in the way.
In Polish, with subtitles.
HELLO BETTY
2026 Closing Night Feature
East Coast Premiere
Switzerland - 108 min
Directed by Pierre Monnard. Written by André Küttel.
With Sarah Spale (Needle Park Baby), Martin Vischer, Thomas Douglas (Needle Park Baby). In 1956, advertising copywriter Emmi Creola found a clever way around the male-dominated workplace by creating a fictional housewife advice columnist named Betty Bossi. What began as a small experiment quickly became a national sensation, and before long, the public wanted to meet Betty herself. Suddenly thrust into the spotlight, Emmi must balance the expectations of a public persona—one that would eventually become Switzerland’s culinary icon—with her very real life as a wife, mother, and professional. Warm, witty, and full of charm, Hello Betty is a delightful portrait of female ambition, identity, and the complicated balance between public image and private life, anchored by a wonderfully believable performance from Sarah Spale.
In Swiss-German, with subtitles.
Produced by Peter Reichenbach. Edited by Sophie Blöchlinger, Riccarda Schwarz. Director
of Photography: Tobias Dengler. A C-Films AG production, from Picture Tree International.
THIS CONVERSATION HAS BEEN REMOVED
2026 Audience Award for Best Short
US Premiere
Ireland - 7 min
A film by Andrew Nolan. A man and woman engaged in a prolonged, hostile exchange over social media begin to realize something peculiar.
ANNE PACKARD: AN ARTIST'S RESOLVE
2026 Audience Award for Best Feature
New York Premiere
United States - 73 min
Directed by Arthur Egeli. With Anne Packard.
At age 41, Anne Packard’s husband left for a 19-year-old, making her the sole provider for their five children. Ignoring the advice to get a “real job,” she instead chose to pursue painting, hanging small works on the fence outside her home and selling them for just a few dollars each. As interest grew, galleries came calling, and collectors soon followed. Fifty years later, her work sells for tens of thousands of dollars, but her passion for painting remains unchanged. An intimate and uplifting story, told in her own words, Anne Packard: An Artist’s Resolve is a moving portrait of resilience, creativity, and believing in yourself against the odds.
Produced by Arthur Egeli, Stephen Kaiser-Pendergrast. Edited by Stephen Kaiser-Pendergrast.
Director of Photography: Henry D. Power. A Provincetown Icons production.
HUNGARIAN WEDDING
2026 Audience Award for Best Feature
East Coast Premiere
Hungary - 93 min
Directed by Csaba Káel. Written by Miksa Békési.
With Franciska Töröcsik (Aurora Borealis: Northern Light), Tamás Kovács. And Barnabás Rohonyi.
Two friends with dreams of making it big hatch a plan to rescue a cousin from a remote Romanian village while secretly smuggling artifacts to a local dealer, all under the cover of attending a family wedding. Their scheme is going well until fate intervenes in the form of the bride’s older sister and her jealous ex-suitor. Filled with lively music, dancing, romance, and chaos, Hungarian Wedding is a spirited crowd-pleaser set against the rich backdrop of Hungary’s vibrant folk traditions.
In Hungarian & Romanian, with subtitles.
Produced by Tamás Lajos. Edited by Viktória Kiss, Lili Makk. Director of Photography: Tamás Lajos. A Szupermodern Stúdió production.
CRYSTAL CROSS
2026 Spirit of Independent Filmmaking Award
United States - 88 min
Written & Directed by Richie James Follin.
With Richie James Follin, Rubyrose Hill, Missi Pyle (Captain Fantastic), Lukas Haas (Inception). When a small-town church-going singer on the run from trouble spots a mysterious stranger she believes looks like Jesus, she takes it as a sign from God. Meanwhile, her would-be savior is really a grieving father who is looking for a final way to end his pain, and is simply grateful for a little company along the way. As the two hit the road together, an unusual, darkly funny, and heartwarmingly twisted love story begins to unfold across the backroads of America. Blending offbeat humor with genuine heart, Crystal Cross is a moving odyssey about faith, grief, and finding connection in the most unlikely places.
Produced by Richie James Follin. Edited by Peter Hagan. Director of Photography: Luísa Dalé Silva, Mauro Fernandez. An American Rhapsody and Seventh Symphony production.
DOWNBEAT
2026 Jury Award for Directing
New York Premiere
United States - 91 min
Directed by Danny Madden. Written by Arkira Chantaratananond, Danny Madden, Daniel Rashid and Addie Weyrich.
With Daniel Rashid (Chauncey, Almost Winter), Addie Weyrich, and Arkira Chantaratananond.
A down-and-out drummer moves in with his sister in Boston and rediscovers his passion for music through street performing. But just as his confidence–and his music–begin to soar, his reckless choices threaten his stability and closest relationships. Featuring a standout performance from SBFF favorite Daniel Rashid and an unforgettable soundtrack, Downbeat is a raw, compelling character study about talent, self-destruction, and second chances.
Produced by Benjamin Wiessner. Edited by Danny Madden. Director of Photography: Danny Madden. A Vanishing Angle production.
FRANCINE, EAST-WEST
2026 Jury Award for Best Short
East Coast Premiere
France - 22 min
A film by Elvira Barboza.
At her father's funeral, Francine decides not to read the speech prepared by her very controlling mother.
In French, with subtitles.
A MOSQUITO IN THE EAR
2026 Jury Award for Best Feature
India, Italy, United States - 90 min
Directed by Nicola Rinciari.
Written by Nicola Rinciari and Emily Dillard.
With Jake Lacy (Miss Sloan, Carol), Nazanin Boniadi (Hotel Mumbai), Ruhi Pal and Micky Singh.
Traveling to India to meet the 4-year-old girl they have adopted, Andrew and Daniela are filled with the hopes, fears, and doubts of first-time parents: Will we be good parents? Will she like us? Do we really know what we’re doing? But those questions are quickly overshadowed when young Sarvari is heartbroken at the thought of leaving the orphanage she has always known as home. Tender, honest, and deeply moving, A Mosquito in the Ear is a captivating story of love, patience, and the emotional journey of becoming a family.
In English & Hindi, with subtitles.
Produced by Emily Dillard, Darren Dean, Ali K. Rizvi, Frank Hall Green, Stephen Stanley and Jomon Thomas. Edited by Devon Solwold. Director of Photography: Kai Dickson. A Spirit Pictures, 3DMC, Ratan Films, Lasutra Pictures, Whiskey Stream Productions, Greenmachine, and Mirador Pictures production.
For 2026 Stony Brook Film Festival News & Press, click here.
For all photos, click here. All photos by Amber Lewis.