FFTG Awards
| Location | worldwide digital |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 New York, United States. |
| Founded by | Rohit Gupta |
| Hosted by | Dot & Feather Entertainment |
| Festival date | November 29th - December 12th, 2025 |
| Website | fftgawards |
The FFTG Awards Film Fest is an annual international digital film festival held entirely online over two weeks in late November. Founded in 2020, the festival operates through a technology-driven model, offering a virtual platform for film screenings, public voting, and jury deliberation. Awards are presented across both jury-selected and public-voted categories, including Film of the Fest, FFTG Spirit Award, Audience Choice Award, and recognitions for feature films, documentaries, screenplay, shorts and student filmmakers. The festival highlights independent storytellers from around the world and follows a digital-first curatorial model.[1]
History
FFTG stands for Film Festivals To Go, a platform originally established to support independent filmmakers through marketing, consulting for independent filmmakers and distribution services.[2]The FFTG Awards Film Fest was conceived by filmmaker Rohit Gupta and officially launched on August 16, 2020, as a fully digital film festival under Dot & Feather Entertainment. Designed as a technology-driven platform, the festival was created to offer online screenings, audience voting, and remote jury participation — all conducted virtually.
Official Program
The first edition of the festival was held from November 23 to December 13, 2020. Over a 72-day submission period, the festival received more than 400 entries from 48 countries. A total of 129 projects were selected for the Official Program, and 51 were nominated for awards. Major honors included Film of the Fest, People’s Choice Award, FFTG Spirit Award, and Best Screenplay.[3][4][5][6][7]
We, The Chosen One’s (Jury)
We, The Chosen One’s is the official name of the FFTG Awards jury initiative, launched in 2020. It is an invitation-only program based on the festival’s editorial philosophy that \"all is destined.\" The FFTG team selects filmmakers, writers, and artists from the previous year’s Official Program and invites them to join the Grand Jury panel for the following edition.[8][9]
A coffee table book titled We, The Chosen One’s was also published in 2021, featuring creators and projects from the 2020 Official Program.[10]
FFTG Awards Film Fest events
2020 FFTG Awards Film Fest
The 2020 FFTG Awards Film Fest was held digitally from November 23 to 13 December 2020. The first edition took place for three weeks which featured several activities including contests, People Choice award, FFTG Spirit award, Film of the fest award and various Jury choice awards in multiple categories.[11][12]
All films from the Official Program qualify for the Film of the Fest, People Choice award through public vote. No committee has any say in the selection. The FFTG Spirit Award represents a theme. The theme for 2020 was "story that moved me" and the winner is dependent on the majority votes from the participating filmmakers, writers that make up the Official Program.[13]
Award Winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Film of the Fest | We by Mani Nasry Canada[14] |
| People Choice Award | Dastoor by Niranj Menon India[15] |
| FFTG Spirit Award | A Niggling Question by Danielle Arden Dubai, U.A.E. |
| Best Feature Film | Hamlet/Horatio by Paul Warner (USA)[16][17] |
2021 FFTG Awards Film Fest
The 2021 FFTG Awards Film Fest was held digitally from November 28 to December 12, 2021. The second edition took place for two weeks which featured several activities including contests, People Choice award, FFTG Spirit award, Film of the Fest award, and various Grand Jury choice awards in multiple categories.
All films that made up the Official Selection 2021 slate qualify for the 'People Choice Film of the Fest' award through people's vote. No committee has any say in the selection. The 'FFTG Spirit' Award represents a theme. The theme for 2021 was "story that moved me" and the winner is dependent on the majority votes from the participating filmmakers, writers that make up the Official Program.[18]
Award Winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Film of the Fest | The Plumber by Cate Carson United States[19] |
| People Choice Award | Troll by Heather Coombs United Kingdom[20] |
| FFTG Spirit Award | The Day I Had to Grow Up by Stefano Da Fre, Laura Pellegrini United States[21] |
| Best Feature Film | Trade by Trae Briers United States[22] |
| Best Female Filmmaker | One-way mirror by Elina Kurbatova Russia[23] |
| Best Screenplay of the Fest | A Colorful Life by Ana Luísa Abreu Brazil[24] |
| Best NewWave (Student) Filmmaker of the Fest | The Crab Basket by Paulo Cabrera Lasala Chile[25] |
2022 & 2023 FFTG Awards Film Fest
The 2023 FFTG Awards Film Festival, a combined event for 2022 and 2023, was held online from November 25 to December 10. This two-week festival featured various contests and awards, including the Audience Choice, FFTG Spirit, and Film of the Fest awards, along with multiple Grand Jury Choice Awards. The 'Audience Choice Film of the Fest' award was decided by public vote, with all films in the Official Selection eligible. The 'FFTG Spirit' Award for 2023, themed 'freedom in expression,' was chosen by votes from participating filmmakers and writers.
Award Winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Film of the Fest | Clouds of Chernobyl by Ligia Ciornei (Romania)[26] |
| Audience Choice Award | She'll be Tired by Kim GeonWook (South Korea) |
| FFTG Spirit Award | The World is My Stage by Andrew Arakkis (Russia) |
| Best Documentary Film of the Fest | Stolen Dough by Stefano Da Frè (United States) |
| Best Director | Once Upon a Time in Lahore by Jagat Joon (India) |
| Best Female Filmmaker | Blackbird by Morgan Davies (United States)[27] |
| Best Feature Screenplay of the Fest | Synesthesia Story by Jillian Vitko (United States) |
2024 FFTG Awards Film Fest
The 2024 FFTG Awards Film Fest was held digitally from November 30 to December 13, 2024. As with previous years, the festival featured competitive and public-vote-based categories, continuing its mission to showcase global storytelling in a fully online format.
All films that made the Official Selection 2024 slate were eligible for the Audience Choice Film of the Fest award via public vote. The FFTG Spirit Award, themed “Freedom", was selected by vote from participating filmmakers and writers. Several competitive Grand Jury Choice Awards were also announced, including honors for feature films, short films, screenplays, and female filmmakers. The 2024 edition featured films from across the globe as part of its Official Program. The Grand Jury, formed under the festival’s “We, The Chosen One's” initiative, included international filmmakers.
Award Winners
| Award | Winner |
|---|---|
| Film of the Fest | Reclaiming Our Humanity by Robert Mossi Alexander (United States) |
| Feature Film of the Fest | Long life to Memories by Mariana Cecilia Russo, Alberto Sergio Masliah (Argentina) |
| Short Film of the Fest | Brother's Horn by Majid Asadi (Iran) |
| Audience Choice Award | Conspiracy Conscription by Abbas Tahaei (Iran) |
| FFTG Spirit Award | Vasomotir Rhinitis by Mikheil Gabaidze (Georgia) |
| Best Director | Long life to Memories by Mariana Cecilia Russo, Alberto Sergio Masliah (Argentina) |
| Best Female Filmmaker | Winter Threshold by Soudabeh Beizaei (Iran) |
See also
References
- ^ MNA (December 22, 2021). "FFTG Awards Fest grants 5 prizes to Iran's A Trivial Thing". Mehr News Agency. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Modha, Roopa (9 April 2018). "Award-Winning Filmmaker Rohit Gupta's Film Festivals To Go (FFTG) To Aid Independent Filmmakers!". Urban Asian. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "FFTG Film Fest 2020". FFTG Awards.
- ^ Reporter, Gossipganj (2 February 2021). "Preeti Gupta Honored Internationally By FFTG, Receives The Best Actress Award For This Short Film". GossipGanj. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Spowart, Nan (27 December 2020). "Documentary brings global acclaim for Glasgow Tigers speedway team". The National. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Kazi, Farhan (3 February 2021). "Preeti Gupta honored internationally by FFTG". Nagpur Today. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Iranian shorts win awards at FFTG fest". ifilm. 23 December 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Success Stories". Fédération des Associations des Anciens. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Yassine, Hussein (4 February 2021). "Lebanese Director Selected As Juror In New York-Based Film Festival". The961. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "We, the Chosen One's book". FFTG Awards. Dot and Feather Entertainment. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Rasht (13 February 2021). "Iran's Bubble grabs award from Berlin Indie Film Festival". Islamic Republic News Agency. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ NH Web Desk (3 February 2021). "Preeti Gupta honored internationally by FFTG, receives best actress award for her role in a short film". The National Herald. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ HORNICK, LEILA (22 December 2020). "FFTG Awards Fest grants 5 prizes to Iran's A Trivial Thing". muhabarishaji.com. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "2020 FFTG Film of the Fest winner". FFTG Awards.
- ^ "2020 FFTG People Choice winner". FFTG Awards. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Film Festivals Success of the New York Film Academy (NYFA) Community". NYFA. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
- ^ King, John Paul (13 May 2021). "MOVIES'Hamlet/Horatio' queers the Bard". Washington Blade. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
- ^ Mason, Richard (28 December 2021). "Scottish puppet film Autumn Never Dies wins big at America's FFTG Awards". National Herald. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ Staff. "FFTG Awards Film of the Fest 2021". FFT Awards. Dot & Feather Entertainment. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "FFTG People Choice Award 2021". FFTG Awards. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "FFTG Spirit Award 2021". FFTG Awards. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "FFTG Awards Best Feature Film of the Fest 2021". FFTG Awards. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "FFTG Awards Female Filmmaker of the Fest 2021". FFTG Awards. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "FFTG Awards Screenplay of the Fest 2021". FFTG Awards.
- ^ "FFTG Awards Student Filmmaker of the Fest". FFTG Awards. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
- ^ "Clouds of Chernobyl Wins Film of the fest". Instagram.
- ^ "FFTG Awards Female Filmmaker of the Fest 2021". FFTG Awards. Retrieved 3 January 2022.