The Ann Arbor Film Festival is committed to providing direct support to filmmakers. Our awards program presents more than $18,000 to filmmakers. Winning an award at the AAFF means not only prestige and financial support, but can also qualify filmmakers for Oscar®-nomination by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Ken Burns Award for Best of the Festival
$3,000
Presented to the film of any genre or length that best represents the artistic standards of excellence for the festival. This award is generously provided by influential documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, a graduate of Ann Arbor's Pioneer High School.

Lawrence Kasdan Award for Best Narrative Film
$1,000
The narrative film that best makes use of film’s unique ability to convey striking and original stories will receive this award distinction. A notable Hollywood filmmaker, Lawrence Kasdan got his start in Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan and continues his connection through support of this festival award.

Chris Frayne Award for Best Animated Film
$1000
Recognizing the animated film that delivers the best style, creativity, and content. This award is given in honor of the spirit of Chris Frayne, a key participant in the festival's early years, whose approach to life was reminiscent of his colorful cartoon characters.

The Barbara Aronofsky Latham Award for Emerging Experimental Video Artist
$1,000
This award intends to provide support to the most promising video artist at the inception of her/his career. Distributed by the Video Data Bank, the award was conceived by the Aronofsky family to honor the late Barbara Aronofsky Latham, a Chicago-based experimental video artist who passed away in 1984. [This award was transfered to the AAFF in 2008 following the unfortunate closure of the Cinematexas Film Festival. Sharon Aronofsky (Barbara’s sister) shared her thoughts, “Barbara would surely have approved of offering the prize (at the Ann Arbor Film Festival) in her memory partially as a symbolic gesture against art censorship; nothing would be more appropriate than boosting support for emerging video artists in this way. I can even think of at least one of her videos that would be banned by the same group that pulled funding from the Festival."]

Prix DeVarti for Funniest Film
$1,000
Awarded to the film likely to create the most laughs in the festival. This prize honors the 40-year friendship between Dominick's pub and the Ann Arbor Film Festival, and honors the memory of Dominick and Alice DeVarti.

Griot Editorial Award for Best Editing
$500
Presented to the film that demonstrates excellence in the art and craft of editing. This award is provided by Griot Editorial, the creative editorial boutique of Grace & Wild.

Peter Wilde Award for Most Technically Innovative Film
$500
The film which showcases the most pioneering, cutting-edge technical innovations will receive this award. Peter Wilde was a long-time projectionist for the festival and master of special effects. This award honors his creativity and pursuit of new techniques.

\aut\FILM Award for Best LGBT Film
$500
This award honors the film that best addresses and gives voice to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender (LGBT) issues. The \aut\BAR of Ann Arbor contributes this award to promote a diversity of voices that achieve excellence in filmmaking.

Award for Best International Film
$500
Granted to the film produced beyond the United States which most strongly wins over our Awards Jury, this award is co-supported by Ann Arbor’s Tios Mexican restaurant with local French tour guide and artist Sandy Schopbach.

Gus Van Sant Award for Best Experimental Film
$1,000
Honoring the film that most successfully showcases the use of experimental processes, forms, and topics. Acclaimed director Gus Van Sant supports this award, as his early short experimental films won awards at the Ann Arbor Film Festival in the 1980s.

Michael Moore Award for Best Documentary Film
$1,000
The best non-fiction film of the festival will receive this award from documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, who received inspiration from hundreds of films he viewed over the years at the Ann Arbor Film Festival. Proceeds from his film, Roger and Me, fund this annual award.

Tom Berman Award for Most Promising Filmmaker
$1,000
This award is intended to support an emerging filmmaker that the Award Jury expects will make a significant contribution to the art of film in the course of his/her filmmaking career. This award is endowed by the Berman family in honor of the memory of Tom Berman, who was a University of Michigan film student, an early festival supporter and close friend to many within the festival community.

The EMPA Work Life Award
$1,300
Granted to a film of any length or genre with excellent production-values that best provides a witty and insightful look at issues pertaining to any of the following: careers, employment, coworkers, the workplace, job hunting, job responsibilities, or the impact of employment on the individual's personal life. Employee Motivation & Performance Assessment (SurveysforBusiness.com) sponsors this award as part of its ongoing commitment to the simultaneous improvement of working conditions and profitability.

Kodak/Filmcraft Imaging Award for Best Cinematography
$1,500 of film plus processing
For the film that demonstrates the highest excellence and creativity in cinematography. The recipient of this award will receive $1,500 worth of 16mm or 35mm film stock from Kodak and film processing from Filmcraft Imaging, the lab division of Grace & Wild of Farmington, MI.

Ghostly Award for Best Sound Design
$500
Given for excellence and originality in sound design, this award is provided by Ghostly International, an Ann Arbor-based independent record label focusing on innovative electronic music, founded by University of Michigan alumni Sam Valenti IV, and home to Matthew Dear and Dabrye, among others.

The VUE/DFC Award for Best Michigan Filmmaker
$750
This award recognizes excellence in a Michigan-produced film within any genre. Co-sponsored by Michigan VUE Magazine, which is dedicated to promoting Michigan's film, video, and multi-media production industry and the Detroit Film Center, a non-profit resource and community center in downtown Detroit supporting independent filmmakers.

The Eileen Maitland Award
$500
This award is to be given to the film that best addresses women’s issues and gives voice to female voices. It was created to honor of the spirit and memory of Eileen Maitland who was a dear friend and long-time supporter of the festival, as well as a patron and practitioner of the arts.

Honorable Mentions
$1,050
Remaining prize monies that are distributed at the awards jurors' discretion as honorable mentions to films of distinction and artistic accomplishment.