meet the 10 semifinalists.
Congratulations to the 10 Semifinalists for the 2026 Dance Film of the Year award!
"Akin" (Germany) - by Pelin Terzi
"EXT." (Austria) - by Laura Nasmyth
"Heartache" (Spain) - by Iker Karrera & Alberto D. Centeno
"IN VIADI" (Switzerland) - by Alun Meyerhans & Ellen Wolf
"Money" (USA) - by Jordyn Apostolache
"Morpheus" (Spain) - by Lucia Lopez
"Soldaderas" (Mexico) - by Camila Arroyo
"The Keeping of the Bees" (USA) - by Christina Belinsky
"to be near you." (USA) - by Ali Kenner Brodsky & Jarret Blinkhorn
"Trapped in Dreams" (China) - by Chunzhouzi Wang
how it works.
Step 1
Step 2
An online Audience Vote helps determine the 5 Finalists.
Step 3
A prestigious panel of international dance film festivals determines the Winner.
Step 4
The Winner is announced early 2026 with a $1,500 cash prize and the ultimate honor of being the year's best dance film.
the prize.
the jury.
The winner will receive:
1. The distinction of Dance Film of the Year, aka the best dance film of 2025.
2. A live screening in Los Angeles.
3. $1,500 cash prize
Our judges for the award are representatives from the biggest dance film festivals in the world.
Francisco Graciano from Dance on Camera Festival (NY)
Linda Schaller from San Francisco Dance Film Festival (CA)
Kelly Hargraves from Dance Camera West (CA)
Loránd János from Choreoscope Dance Film Festival (Spain)
Ana Sanchez from Festival Videodanza de Puerto Rico (PR)
Drosia Triantaki from Thessaloniki Cinedance International (Greece)
Savvas Christou from Cyprus Dance Film Festival (Cyprus)
Ashavari Majumdar from Manifest Dance Film Festival (India)
Zahra Banzi & Zee Hartmann from Berlin Dance Film Festival (Germany)