The Twin Cities Film Fest, presented by Stearns Bank, announced its 2025 award winners Saturday evening, recognizing films and artists across 10 top categories. I wasn’t able to attend the awards ceremony, but congrats to all the winners!!👏🏆⭐

Top Honors, Best Narrative Feature, went to the evocative drama Hamnet, which captivated audiences at TCFF with its emotional depth and visual beauty. Directed by Chloé Zhao and starring Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley, the film reimagines the life and loss that inspired Shakespeare’s Hamlet, exploring love, grief, and artistic legacy through an intimate, poetic lens.

The year’s top non-fiction, Best Documentary, award went to We Are Pyramids, directed by Dr. Tracine Asberry. This powerful documentary follows three Black American teenagers on a transformative journey to Egypt to explore the legacy of their ancestral roots. Through travel, reflection, and cultural immersion, the film captures their awakening to liberation and identity while celebrating a nation rich in Black history and excellence.

The Bill Cooper Best Minnesota Feature Award was bestowed upon Silly Little Wounds, directed by Vanessa M. H. Powers. The story follows six former theater students who gather in their hometown for his funeral. With the pressures of marriage, kids, and careers set aside for the weekend, the once-tight-knit group finds itself falling into old patterns.  I’m so happy for Vanessa, who was the Assistant Director of my short film Hearts Want back in 2017!

2025 TCFF Winners

Best Feature Film: Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao
The Robert Byrd Best Documentary Award: We Are Pyramids, directed by Dr. Tracine Asberry
The Bill Cooper Best Minnesota Feature Award: Silly Little Wounds, directed by Vanessa M. H. Powers
Best Short Films (Tie): Detlev, directed by Ferdinand Ehrhardt
Audience Award, Feature: She Dances, directed by Rick Gomez (Runner Up: Rental Family, directed by Hikari)
Audience Award, Documentary: Searching for the Light, directed by Andrés A. Parra (Runner Up: Outer Edge, directed by Adam Zuehlke)
Audience Award, Short Film: Sunburst, directed by Reid Cole
Indie Vision — Directing: Eric Lin, director of Rosemead
Indie Vision – Breakthrough Performance: Jacob Tremblay in Sovereign
Indie Vision – Best Ensemble Cast: Lost & Found In Cleveland
Fun Is Good Bill Murray Comedic Shorts Award: What’s The Deal With Birds?, directed by Taylor Bakken
Changemaker Awards: Christy Shannon (CornerHouse), Amirthini Keefe (Domestic Abuse Project) and Jillian D. Nodland (The Seventh Turn).
MN Webfest; Best Short-Form Series – PAPER CUTS
MN Webfest; Best Series Pilot – DANA + CHAR

Top 3 Favorite TCFF films of 2025

I had to scale back quite a bit this year, as my workload has been pretty heavy. I had planned to see about 10 films, but only managed to see eight of them. I’m hoping I’ll be able to see a few more in the next few weeks as they get released in theaters or streaming, i.e., Is This Thing On?, Man on the Run doc, etc.

So here are the eight I saw, six of them were directed by women, which brings my 2025 tally so far to 50!! Woo hoo, only two more films until I hit my #52FilmsByWomen challenge!

1. Hamnet*
2. Hedda*
3. The Opener
4. Anxiety Club*
5. The Floaters*
6. She Dances
7. Rental Family*
8. Lost & Found in Cleveland*

My contributor, Vince Caro, saw Bugonia and Christy.

Out of the 8 that I saw, these are my top 3:

I love the eclectic selections I get to see at film festivals! These three movies are totally unique from one another, yet they all share a common theme that connects them, like loss, grief, loneliness, and the need to belong.

Two of the films happen to be directed by women of Asian descent, woot! Beijing-born Chloé Zhao and Osaka-born Hikari, respectively.  I’m rooting for HAMNET to nab at least four Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Actress for Jesse Buckley, and Best Adapted Screenplay. RENTAL FAMILY is a worthy Oscar contender as well. A Best Picture nod is possible, though it’s a bit of a long shot. I think it’s more likely that it’d nab Best Original Screenplay nomination and a Best Actor nod for Brendan Fraser.

She Dances is a father-daughter indie dramedy starring Steve Zahn alongside his daughter, Audrey Zahn, who’s terrific in her first feature role. As they embark on a road trip to her last dance competition, they strive to repair their broken relationship. While it may seem frothy at first glance, the film delves into profound emotional themes of healing from a family tragedy, all the while giving us a glimpse into the world of dance competitions.

Stay tuned for our reviews in the coming weeks!