Posted by Alongside Best Short of the Season winner Untethered Souls, the Awards of Excellence at Independent Shorts Awards celebrate films that distinguished themselves through exceptional storytelling, artistic vision, and cinematic craftsmanship.
The April-May 2026 recipients reflect the remarkable diversity of contemporary independent short filmmaking. From a socially grounded British crime drama exploring family and redemption, to an absurdist Australian comedy that transforms the apocalypse into a meditation on creativity, and an emotionally resonant American psychological drama where music, memory, and faith intertwine, each of these films demonstrates a distinctive creative voice and a compelling command of the cinematic form.
All the Colours by Leo De Haan (UK)
British filmmaker Leo De Haan receives an Award of Excellence at the April-May 2026 edition of Independent Shorts Awards for All the Colours, an emotionally charged crime drama that transforms one of Britain’s most pressing social issues into a deeply personal story of survival, family, and redemption. Conceived as the proof of concept for an upcoming feature film, the short follows teenager Katie, groomed into Brighton’s county lines drug network, whose refusal to carry out a murder forces her to flee into the care of her estranged father. Inspired by real events, the film examines the devastating consequences of criminal exploitation while never losing sight of the human relationships at its center.
Rather than approaching gang violence through sensationalism, De Haan grounds the narrative in emotional authenticity. The central father-daughter relationship becomes the film’s emotional anchor as Katie and Danny attempt to rebuild trust while confronting dangers from both the criminal world and their shared past. In his director’s statement, De Haan explains that the project grew from his own experiences in Brighton and his concerns as a father, exploring how trauma, disappearing community support, and the influence of technology have left vulnerable teenagers increasingly exposed to criminal grooming. The result is a film that balances social realism with intimate character drama, allowing its themes to emerge naturally through the lives of its protagonists.
The production is elevated by an outstanding British ensemble. Jefferson Hall, internationally recognized for performances in House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones, Tenet, Oppenheimer, and Taboo, brings quiet emotional weight to Danny, while Lorna Dale delivers a compelling performance as Katie, capturing both resilience and vulnerability. Jamie Kenna, whose credits include Peaky Blinders, The Crown, Gran Turismo, and House of the Dragon, lends quiet menace as gang leader Donal, while Charles Furness adds further dramatic intensity. Behind the camera, producer Nick Hale, cinematographer Jonathan Nicol, BAFTA-winning sound designer Karl Mainzer, and first assistant director Jonay Sevillano Regalado contribute to a polished production whose visual confidence matches the emotional urgency of its story.
De Haan’s career reflects a consistent interest in grounded, socially conscious storytelling. His previous shorts, including Persistence, Loves Lost, and Vendetta, earned international festival recognition, while his feature documentary Race Across America reached audiences through Eurosport and Amazon Prime. Earlier collaborations with companies including LoveFilm, Amazon, and producer Bill Kenwright helped shape a filmmaker equally comfortable with documentary realism and dramatic fiction. With All the Colours, he demonstrates a mature cinematic voice that combines urgent contemporary commentary with emotional nuance, creating a powerful portrait of fractured families, vulnerable youth, and the enduring possibility of redemption. Recognizing both its artistic achievement and its social relevance, Independent Shorts Awards jury proudly presents All the Colours with an Award of Excellence for the April-May 2026 season.
Have a Great Apocalypse by François Theurel (Australia)
French filmmaker François Theurel receives an Award of Excellence at the April-May 2026 edition of Independent Shorts Awards for Have a Great Apocalypse, a delightfully absurd dark comedy that finds unexpected humor in humanity’s final moments. Set against the backdrop of the end of the world, the film follows Sean, whose overwhelming desire to write a book survives even the collapse of civilization—despite having absolutely no idea what the book should be about. Rather than embracing spectacle or disaster, Theurel transforms the apocalypse into an existential playground where creativity, identity, and purpose become far more pressing than survival itself.
Blending dark comedy with absurdist storytelling, Have a Great Apocalypse embraces contradiction with infectious confidence. The film’s central premise is wonderfully ironic: as the world reaches its conclusion, Sean becomes consumed by perhaps the most universal of creative struggles: finding something meaningful to say. The result is a witty reflection on artistic ambition and the human need to create, suggesting that storytelling may be one of our most enduring instincts, even when there is no future audience left to hear it. Beneath its playful humor lies an unexpectedly thoughtful meditation on why we create stories in the first place.
The production marks an important milestone in Theurel’s career. Best known in France for his work across documentaries, experimental filmmaking, and video essays, the writer-director makes his first fully narrative fiction film with Have a Great Apocalypse. That eclectic creative background is evident in the project’s willingness to blend philosophical ideas with accessible comedy, resulting in a film that feels both intellectually playful and emotionally sincere. The principal cast includes Alexander Lloyd as Sean, supported by Jack Doherty, Chrissy Miller, Juan Fernando Monge, and Jonathan Zsofi, while cinematographer Kirk Mihelakos helps shape the film’s visual identity.
With Have a Great Apocalypse, François Theurel demonstrates a distinctive ability to merge philosophical inquiry with accessible comedy, creating a film that is both entertaining and unexpectedly reflective. Its playful exploration of creativity, purpose, and the enduring impulse to tell stories lingers well beyond its comic premise, revealing a filmmaker with a confident and original cinematic voice. Equal parts absurd comedy and existential fable, Have a Great Apocalypse earns its place among this season’s recipients of the Award of Excellence at Independent Shorts Awards.
The Listeners by Joslyn Rose (USA)
American filmmaker Joslyn Rose receives an Award of Excellence at the April-May 2026 edition of Independent Shorts Awards for The Listeners, a psychologically rich drama that explores the fragile boundaries between perception, memory, faith, and healing. The film follows David, a once-celebrated jazz musician who mysteriously loses the ability to hear music. As medical experts struggle to determine whether his condition is neurological or psychological, David embarks on an unconventional journey through memory, spirituality, and unresolved trauma, discovering that true healing may require listening not to the world around him, but to the voice within.
The Listeners embraces the emotional and spiritual dimensions of its protagonist’s experience. Joslyn Rose’s director’s statement reveals the film’s deeper intentions: to explore listening as an act of faith, imagination, and human connection. Music becomes more than sound—it becomes memory, prayer, and identity itself. As David moves between the hospital, the chapel, and fragments of his past, the narrative raises compelling questions about perception, emotional truth, and whether healing always requires rational explanation. The result is an intimate psychological drama that invites audiences to experience the invisible spaces where science, faith, and personal transformation intersect.
The production brings together an exceptional ensemble led by Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Blair Underwood, whose acclaimed career spans L.A. Law, Selma, When They See Us, and numerous stage and screen performances. Joining him are former NFL champion Vernon Davis, who also serves as producer, acclaimed Haitian actor Bechir Sylvain (Jurassic World), Simone Leanora, and Cindy Herron of the legendary R&B group En Vogue. Behind the camera, Rose collaborates with producer Dominique Mouton and consulting producer D’Angelo Louis, whose recent work includes Ryan Coogler’s Sinners. The film attracted significant industry attention following its casting announcement, reflecting both the strength of its creative team and the reputation Rose has built across narrative and documentary filmmaking.
An Emmy®-nominated director, producer, and writer, Joslyn Rose has established herself through a diverse body of work spanning documentaries, scripted films, and socially conscious storytelling. Her acclaimed documentary Stand, chronicling the life of activist and basketball legend Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, earned a Sports Emmy® nomination, while her earlier narrative films received recognition at Sundance London and numerous international festivals. With The Listeners, Rose once again demonstrates a remarkable ability to unite emotional intimacy with ambitious ideas, crafting a film that resonates intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally. Through its thoughtful exploration of trauma, faith, and the restorative power of inner listening, The Listeners stands as a compelling example of contemporary independent short filmmaking and a deserving recipient of an Award of Excellence at the Independent Shorts Awards.
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