The 2026 Twin Cities Film Fest has wrapped!! TCFF announced this year’s award winners Saturday evening, recognizing films and artists across 10 top categories.
The top honors, Best Narrative Feature, went to the dark comedy Wild Horse Nine, which captivated audiences at TCFF with its emotional depth and outstanding performances. Directed by Martin McDonagh and starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, the film reimagines a mission in 1973 Chile, where CIA agents Chris (Malkovich) and Lee (Rockwell) travel from Santiago to Easter Island just before the Chilean coup.
The year’s top non-fiction, Best Documentary, award went to One in a Million, directed by Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes, a powerful documentary that follows a girl and her parents after they flee Syria and settle in Germany, where the new culture is the catalyst for unexpected change.
The Bill Cooper Best Minnesota Feature Award was bestowed to Morelife, directed by C.J. Renner. A young man’s plan to jump into an icy river at night is interrupted by a half-man, half-fish there for the same reason. These two strike a bargain to find a rare Morel mushroom, hoping it will provide something worth living for.
Twin Cities Film Fest honored acclaimed actress Frances Fisher with its 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her extraordinary career and lasting contributions to film and television.
Photo courtesy of Twin Cities Film Fest
In other awards, Not Dead Yet, directed by Eric and Nick Weber, starring Richard Kind, Paul Raci, Polly Draper, Bill Smitrovich, Claudja Bicalho, Ed German, Toby Huss, Dan Mahboubian Rosen, Mishel Prada, and Tovah Feldshuhl, received the Indie Vision—Best Ensemble award. Actress Mason Reeves was awarded the Indie Vision—Breakthrough Performance award for ‘Josephine,’ directed by Beth de Araújo. The Indie Vision—Directing award was presented to director Sal Bardo for his film, Out of the Woods.
Acclaimed actor Bill Murray again served as a TCFF guest judge this year, choosing his favorite funny short from a trio of finalists. This year’s ‘Fun Is Good’ Bill Murray Comedic Shorts Award went to CR Sherman’s Avant Guard about a museum director chasing fame, her museum about to become famous with a priceless painting that has never been seen; it just needs to be guarded for one night…from the Guard.
TCFF 2026 Full Award Winners ✨
Best Feature Film: Wild Horse Nine, directed by Martin McDonagh;
The Robert Byrd Best Documentary Award: One in a Million, directed by Itab Azzam and Jack MacInnes
The Bill Cooper Best Minnesota Feature Award: Morelife, directed by C.J. Renner
Best Short Films: Superconscious, directed by Christianne Hedtke
Audience Award, Feature: Jane’s Not Here, directed by Jonathan Oster
Audience Award, Documentary: A Month in Minnesota, directed by Annie Sundberg
Audience Award, Short Film: Tangled Roots, directed by Tiffany Cornwell
Indie Vision—Directing: Sal Bardo, director of Out of The Woods
Indie Vision – Breakthrough Performance: Mason Reeves in Josephine
Indie Vision – Ensemble Cast: Not Dead Yet
‘Fun Is Good’ Bill Murray Comedic Shorts Award: Avant Guard, directed by CR Sherman
Changemaker Award (The Refugee Experience): Alight Minnesota
Series Fest Pitchathon: Flyover State by Jasia Ka
TCFF/Raymond J. Christensen ‘Make the Cut’ Award: Whipple by J.D. O’Brien
I had to scale back my viewing this year because work has been demanding and I still need to watch non-TCFF films. Despite this, I managed to watch four more movies than last year, including both streaming and theater releases. I’ll be seeing Wild Horse Nine on Wednesday, plus Laika Studio’s WILDWOOD and the bizarre fantasy romance WICKER via online screeners before the end of the week.
Here are the 12 films I watched, with four directed by women (marked by an asterisk). I’m making great progress on my #52FilmsByWomen challenge, having already seen 56 films by women so far.
- Welcome to Fishbowl*
- Josephine*
- Give me the Ball* 🎾
- Small Town Girl
- Clarissa
- Morelife
- Ashes
- Comedy through the Chaos*
- I Play Rocky
- Queen at Sea
- A Talent for Murder
- Not Dead Yet
🌟 FlixChatter’s Top 3 TCFF Films of 2026 🏆
I love the eclectic selections I get to see at film festivals! These three movies couldn’t be more different in story, tone, or style.
A Talent for Murder is easily my favorite film I saw at TCFF 2026. Dame Helen Mirren can do no wrong, and she is phenomenal as the abrasive Patricia Highsmith. It’s a stylish, sexy, and beautifully shot crime thriller. Alden Ehrenreich is dapper and dangerous in his best role to date.
Josephine is a difficult film to watch and definitely not something I’m keen on rewatching. But it’s truly one of the best films of the year! Written and directed by Beth de Araújo, it’s a gripping and emotional drama that explores the ripple effects of trauma, seen from the perspective of an 8-year-old girl. Mason Reeves, who plays the title role, deservedly won TCFF’s Indie Vision for Breakthrough Performance. This 10-year-old actress is incredible and carries the entire movie on her shoulders.
I Play Rocky is a fun crowd-pleaser that delivers what it says on the tin. Anthony Ippolito looks remarkably like Sly Stallone in an almost eerie way. The movie is just as uplifting and motivating as the original Rocky film, which was carefully recreated. A touching and heartfelt story about believing in one’s dreams and how success in life doesn’t always mean being number one. I’m surprised that Stallone didn’t have a hand in making this, but the film portrays him in such a positive light—as a genuinely good guy, maybe a bit naive, but someone with real integrity.
I have my work cut out for me in the coming weeks, as award season is in full swing! Stay tuned for full reviews of TCFF movies and other new releases!