Illinois Film Festival Announces Winners of First Annual Festival at Wilmette Theatre

The Illinois Film Festival has announced the winners of its inaugural festival, held at the historic Wilmette Theatre, celebrating emerging filmmakers, actors, writers, animators and documentarians from across Illinois.

The first annual festival showcased a diverse selection of independent and student films, with several awards going to Chicago-area filmmakers and students.

2026 Illinois Film Festival Award Winners:

• Best Writer: Justin Duggan — Dead Ball
  Chicago-based actor and filmmaker Justin Duggan wrote and produced the award-winning short, which marked his first directing project.
• Best Actor: Makenna Sears — Hot Chai With Honey
  Sears plays Hannah in the film, which was filmed in Peoria, Illinois.
• Best Documentary – Tier I: To The Grave
  Directed by Francis W. Parker High School students Wesley Knights, Chase Wayland and Ava Farhat, the documentary explores the history of racial segregation in Chicago cemeteries and the movement to integrate them.
• Best Documentary – Tier II: There’s No Planet B!
  Directed by Katy Coakley, a Chicago-based digital media and storytelling graduate, the film highlights Clean Up-Give Back and its efforts to reduce pliable plastic waste throughout the Chicagoland area.
• Best Animated Film – Tier I: Unstoppable: Star Power
  Written, directed and produced by Olympia Fields filmmaker Jonathan Sturgess.
• Best Animated Film – Tier II: Penguin With A Sword
  Directed by Chicago-based filmmaker and Columbia College Chicago animation student Olivia Nendick, the film was created as a student collaboration involving 26 students.
• Best Short Film – Tier I: The Loop
  Directed by Asher Dennis and Diego Mora, written by Nate Nicholas and produced by Delilah Lane. The film was a student project from Lane Tech College Prep High School in Chicago.
• Best Short Film – Tier II: Strawberry Milkshake
  Directed by Chicago filmmaker and recent film graduate Jillian Green, with writing by Calista Cardenas. The film was produced as a student project at Loyola University Chicago.

The Illinois Film Festival’s inaugural event brought together filmmakers and audiences to celebrate independent storytelling and the next generation of Illinois filmmaking talent.

For more information about the Illinois Film Festival, visit https://ilfilmfest.org/.

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