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The curtain has fallen on the 2026 Sedona International Film Festival, which revealed the list of winners across its various competitions, especially in the documentary and narrative film categories. This year’s edition witnessed fierce competition among 1,700 films and 500 screenplays, reflecting the festival’s growing stature and its prominent role in supporting filmmakers and their stories.
Major Win for the Documentary "Sons of Detroit"
Director Jeremy Zeido received the Best Documentary Film award for his work "Sons of Detroit," which presents a personal narrative and a complex experience of growing up in Detroit during the 1970s. The film premiered at the DOC NYC Festival in 2025, where it caught the attention of the Sedona programming team, who quickly contacted Zeido to request a screening copy.
Zeido expressed his happiness with the enthusiastic response from the festival, noting that Sedona was not initially on his radar, but the festival’s acclaim and reputation within cinematic circles compelled him to reconsider and submit his film. This win further elevates the film’s status, which combines directing, writing, and acting all in one.
Awards for American and International Narrative Films
In the narrative film category, Mark Evan won Best American Narrative Film for his movie "Mr. Burton," while the international film "The Marching Band," directed by Emmanuel Korkol, took home the Best International Narrative Film award. These awards reflect the cultural and artistic diversity the festival offers by highlighting stories from around the world.
Honoring Other Outstanding Documentaries
The film "Natches," directed by Suzanne Herbert, won the Best Nonfiction Storytelling award, documenting the struggle between history and memory in a small town in Mississippi. The film secured U.S. distribution rights and will be aired on Independent Lens in the spring.
Additionally, "Room to Move," directed by Alexander Hammer, received the New Vision Award in the nonfiction category. The film follows the life of a dancer and dance instructor in New York who is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at age 33.
Meanwhile, "Creed United States of America," directed by Kahani Korn Cooperman, won the Best Independent Spiritual Documentary award. This work tells the story of a mountain mining town in Colorado that transformed into an unexpected model for public dialogue and local politics. The film previously screened at the South by Southwest Festival.
Continuous Growth and Increasing Prestige
Patrick Shois, Executive Director of the Sedona Festival, explained that the growth in submissions since the festival’s inception over thirty years ago has positively impacted both the quality and quantity of films presented. He expressed pride in the levels the event has reached, becoming a favored platform for filmmakers. He also emphasized that the priority has always been the filmmakers, which has made the festival special for everyone involved.
The Sedona Festival stands out as an important platform that highlights stories with profound human and cultural significance, bridging local and global perspectives, and presenting films that resonate with reality and provoke thought.