Awareness Film Festival Recap: Merit Award Winner for Art For The Soul: A Creative Journey for Well-Being
What an exciting film festival experience!
I just wrapped up attending the Awareness Film Festival in Santa Monica, CA, which took place October 13–18, 2026, at Laemmle Monica, Miles Memorial Playhouse, and Illusion Magic Lounge Lobby.
This festival is especially meaningful to me because my short documentary, Art For The Soul: A Creative Journey for Well-Being, was selected as a Merit Award Winner out of more than 1,000 submissions! It will be streamed as part of the online film festival which opened on October 19 and closes on December 31, 2026. Thank you to the jury for this honor!
During the festival, I attended the opening night red carpet and reception, watched select film screenings, listened to panel discussions, attended the Filmmakers’ Breakfast, and joined the closing night ceremony. Here are a few highlights from my experience!
Red Carpet Opening Reception
I thoroughly enjoyed my red carpet moment at the opening night reception! The reception was held in a beautiful outdoor setting at the Miles Memorial Playhouse, a historic landmark in the city of Santa Monica that dates back to 1929.
Following the screening of Crowning Achievement, a feature-length documentary that weaves together interviews with 13 former Miss America winners, dating back to 1948, we enjoyed a delicious reception filled with engaging conversations with fellow filmmakers. The film offers a nostalgic and in-depth look at the pageant’s history, cultural impact, and evolution over nine decades.
I loved hearing how director Jim Merkel’s travels to Kerala, Cuba, and Slovenia helped shape his documentary, Saving Walden’s World. I also enjoyed chatting with director Sasha D’Or about his film, Burning the Midnight Gaslight, a political drama, comedy, and thriller. Another meaningful conversation was with Dianne Martin about her film, Into the Light of a Dark Black Night, which explores sudden loss and the profound grief of losing a loved one.
Given that my own film explores art as a tool for well-being, this led to a meaningful conversation about how art can also help us process grief and navigate difficult emotions.
Filmmaker’s Breakfast
On the morning of Saturday October 17, 2026 a wonderful Filmmaker’s Breakfast and networking event was held at a quaint and historic venue in Santa Monica, appropriately named Historic Rapp Saloon.
Breakfast items were either homemade by Skye Kelly, festival’s founder and director, or sourced from local vendors - all delicious!
Each filmmaker got a chance to come up and speak about their film as well as be interviewed by Cinelot. You can find these interview clips on my Instagram Reel!
Every filmmaker there had an important story to tell, and being surrounded by that creative energy was truly a remarkable experience. I loved hearing about the inspiration behind each film and connecting with people who are passionate about sharing meaningful stories with the world.
Closing Night Ceremony
Closing night was just as eventful as opening night! The closing night film was Alchemy in Venice, a film set in the eclectic world of Venice Beach where three artists searching for purpose discover that transformation is possible through art, creativity and human connection.
During the Filmmakers’ Breakfast, I met the film’s director, Jon Fitzgerald, who suggested that I might connect with its themes after hearing me speak about my own film. He was right - I really did!
One of the highlights of the evening was the awards ceremony. As each Merit Award winner was called on stage to collect their award, we also had a chance to speak to the audience and share what our films were about.
I loved hearing my film’s name called, walking up on stage, receiving my award, and having the opportunity to speak about my film and connect with the audience. As a filmmaker, it is incredibly rewarding to see a project that began as a simple idea come to life and connect with others. This recognition is an encouraging milestone for me, and I’m grateful to everyone who has supported my creative journey!
📸 Catch a Few Festival Highlights!
I also shared some moments from the festival on Instagram! Check out the Reels below for a glimpse of the experience.
- Filmmakers’ Breakfast — Cinelot Feature: Watch the Reel
- Closing Night Ceremony: Watch the Reel
- More Festival Highlights: Watch the Reel
Now Streaming
The Awareness Film Festival’s mission is to share films that do more than entertain, and that was very evident in the robust lineup of films screened in person. The online festival continues that mission, allowing even more impactful stories to be told and discovered by audiences.
How can you watch and support independent filmmakers? Here are the details!
🎟️ To watch my film, Art For The Soul: A Creative Journey for Well-Being, purchase your ticket here.
You can purchase a ticket to an individual film, a 4-film pass, or an All Access Pass.
🍿 Want to explore more films?
There are so many amazing films to discover! Check out the full lineup of films available to stream and find the ticket option that works for you here. (Click on “LIVE” to view the streaming films!)
Thank you for supporting independent filmmaking and the filmmakers who bring these stories to life! ❤️
AND A special thank you to Skye Kelly and the Awareness Film Festival team for creating such a wonderful experience for filmmakers and providing a platform for meaningful stories to reach audiences. I’m grateful to have been part of this year’s festival!
