And the Winners are...

Last Updated 2/28/2026

🎬✨ And the winners are… ✨🎬

The 7th Annual Mainstreet Short Film Festival at the historic Esquire Theater was an unforgettable night celebrating powerful storytelling, incredible performances, and the amazing talent of filmmakers from near and far.

Here are your 2026 Award Winners:


🏆 BEST OF THE FEST

🎥 “Big Custard” – Directed by Dominic Lindia
Also winner of Audience Favorite!


🎬 BEST FILM – INDIE

🎥 “Memento Mori” – Directed by Kenzy Latham

🥈 1st Runner Up – Indie

🎥 “Wakin’ Snakes” – Directed by Jami Bleiker

🥉 2nd Runner Up – Indie

🎥 “Save Tucker” – Directed by Ben Hatfield

🎖 3rd Runner Up – Indie

🎥 “A Game of Chess” – Directed by Saskia Lynge

🌟 Honorable Mention – Indie

🎥 “Welcome” – Directed by Jake Nolen
🎥 “Never Alone” – Directed by Debi McMartin
🎥 “Clair” – Directed by Carolyn Mae Purdum


🎬 BEST FILM – YOUTH

🎥 “Dan The Man” – Directed by Liam Graves

🥈 1st Runner Up – Youth

🎥 “Gloves Up” – Directed by Dwight Nelson

🥉 2nd Runner Up – Youth

🎥 “The Janitor” – Directed by Silas Lee Loeffler

🎖 3rd Runner Up – Youth

🎥 “Colors of Chaos” – Directed by Riley Kolye

🌟 Honorable Mention – Youth

🎥 “The Bloody Cabin” – Directed by Braxton Roberts


🎭 ACTING AWARDS

🌟 Best Actress – Youth

🎬 Violet McCarthy for “Colors of Chaos”

🌟 Best Actress – Indie

🎬 Sydney Prater for “Big Custard”

🌟 Best Actor – Youth

🎬 Silas Lee Loeffler for “The Janitor”

🌟 Best Actor – Indie

🎬 Andrew Miller for “Big Custard”


What an incredible showcase of storytelling, creativity, and talent. We are so proud of every filmmaker who shared their work with us this year.

Thank you to our filmmakers, our amazing host ANDREW DAVIS, audiences, volunteers, judges, and sponsors for making Year 7 the best one yet. We are already counting down to Year 8. 🎬✨

#MainstreetShortFilmFestival #EsquireTheater #BestOfTheFest #SupportIndieFilm

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