2026 Prize List
List of prizes awarded to the winners of the 2026 Focus on Ability Film FestivalÂ
Nova Employment Choice Award
Winner and Prize Details - To be confirmed
- Australian submissions only. At NOVA Employment's discretion, the award may be presented either to the filmmaker or to the person featured in the winning film, in recognition of their contribution to promoting ability and inclusion.
Australian Open Section
Judges Choice - Official Selection Short Film
Winner
- AUD $5,000 cash prize
- Diversity Pictures Development Mentorship
- Featured Guest appearance on the Let Me Talk Podcast with Zoe Markos
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Daisy Friedman (Director & Producer)
- Lucy McNulty (Canadian Filmmaker)
- Tsu Shan Chambers (WiseGoat Productions)
- Jessica Orcsik (CEO & Founder, Diversity Pictures)
- Isaac Elliot (Director)
- Judi Levine (Award-winning Producer, Such Much Films)
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $2,840
Judges Choice - Official Selection Documentary
Winner
- AUD $5,000 cash prize
- Featured guest appearance on the Let Me Talk Podcast with Zoe Markos
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Antony Talia
- Niyati Libotte
- Tahyna MacManus
- Bryanna Reynolds
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $1,700
Most Online Votes - (Short Film or Documentary)
Winner
- AUD $5,000 Cash Prize</b
Judges Choice - Best Screen Writer
Winner
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Sara Barton
- Gil Seltzer
- Jessica Orcsik (CEO & Founder, Diversity Pictures)
- Alyssa Stratton
- Travis Jeffery
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $3,545
Best Actor in Short Film
Winner
- Featured guest appearance on the Let Me Talk Podcast with Zoe Markos
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Nicole Lynne Evans
- Danny Gomez
- Robbie Ryde (Acting Coach & Producer)
- ER Ruiz
- Nicole MacNaughton (Untamed Talent)
- Russell Boast (Casting Director, Director & Producer)
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $3,545
Judges Choice - Best Director
Winner
- Featured guest spot on the Let Me Talk Podcast with Zoe Markos
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Daisy Friedman (Director & Producer)
- Isaac Elliot (Director)
- Tony Gardiner (Director)
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $1,275
Best Producer Australia Award - (Short Film or Documentary)
Winner
- Featured guest appearance on the Let Me Talk Podcast with Zoe Markos
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Lucy McNulty (Canadian Filmmaker)
- Tsu Shan Chambers (WiseGoat Productions)
- Jessica Orcsik (CEO & Founder, Diversity Pictures)
- Nick Hardcastle
- Brian Altounian (Producer)
- Judi Levine (Award winning Producer, Such Much Films)
- Nicole MacNaughton (Untamed Talent)
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $3,265
NOVA Employment Australian Choice Awards
Five awards
- AUD $500 each
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Australian & New Zealand School Section
Judges Choice - Official Selection Short Film
Winner
- LG Product Package
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Robbie Ryde (Acting Coach & Producer)
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $700
Judges Choice - Official Selection Documentary
Winner
- Toshiba Product Package
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Antony Talia (Director & Producer)
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $565
Most Online Votes - (Short Film or Documentary)
Winner
- AUD $5,000 cash prize
Best Teen Actor in a Short Film
Winner
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Nicole Lynne Evans
- Danny Gomez
- Travis Jeffery
- Robbie Ryde (Acting Coach & Producer)
- ER Ruiz
- Katie McGrath (Arise Artists Agency)
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $3,545
NOVA Employment School Choice Awards
Seven Awards
- AUD $1,000 each
International Section (Outside of Australia)
Judges Choice - Official Selection Short Film
Winner
- AUD $5,000 cash prize
- Featured guest appearance on the Let Me Talk Podcast with Zoe Markos
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Nick Hardcastle
- Brian Altounian
- Judi Levine (Award winning Producer, Such Much Films)
- Russell Boast (Casting Director, Director & Producer)
- Katie McGrath (Arise Artists Agency)
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $2,055
Judges Choice - Official Selection Documentary
Winner
- AUD $5,000 cash prize
- Featured Guest on the Let Me Talk Podcast with Zoe Markos
-
Personal Career Mentoring
- Sarah Barton
- Niyati Libotte
- Tahyna MacManus
- Bryanna Reynolds
- Combined mentoring value: Approximately AUD $1,415
Most International Online Votes
Winner
- AUD $5,000 cash prize