Shreveport’s Film Prize Just Made a Major Announcement: Meet the 20 Finalists!

The Prize Foundation has officially announced the 20 finalist films selected for the award-winning Louisiana Film Prize 2025 at the Noble Savage in downtown Shreveport on Thursday, August 7th.

"This has been the strongest crop of films we've ever seen competing for the 20 slots at Film Prize," said Gregory Kallenberg, the founder of both the Louisiana Film Prize and the Prize Foundation. It’s a testament to the incredible talent being cultivated right here in our state.

The energy at the announcement party was a testament to that. The tequila and drinks were flowing, and delicious food was being served. As I looked around, I saw so many people just like me, fans of it all, local artists, filmmakers, and locals who love seeing our community come together to support one of the most epic festivals in America. This event continues to churn out some of the most talented artists around.

This competition is a really big deal. The 20 finalists will be competing for up to $50,000, the world’s largest cash prize for a narrative short film, during Prize Fest, which takes place October 15th through the 19th in downtown Shreveport.

In addition to the cash prize, this year’s winning filmmaker will also get an extraordinary career-boosting opportunity through a new partnership with the Fort Worth Film Commission. The winner will receive a Premiere Package, which includes a red-carpet premiere and a full one-week theatrical run of their short film at a Fort Worth cinema, which officially qualifies the film for Academy Award consideration. It’s a prestigious gateway for independent filmmakers to step onto the national stage and into Oscar™ contention.

The following films, all from talented directors, are among the top contenders: Abuelo, directed by Trevor Chapman; Disorder, by Eric Kirton; Girl Dad, by Rachael Hudson; High Cotton, by Melissa Goslin; Hivemind, by Chris Alan Evans; Last Minute, by Michael Cusumano; Leaving My Mother, by Cory Steele; The Loneliness of an American Woman, by Brad Negrotto; and Mentality, by Mackenzie Bell. M.R.I. or Michael Remains Indefinitely, from John F. Beach; The Old Man at the Bar, by Alexander Jeffery; (OM)EN, by Mary McDade; On the Seventh Day, by Kai Tan; Perfect Night, by David Michael Long; and Perpetual Care, by Katie Royer. Ramon Makes a Movie, by Haley Kirton; Rug Pull, by Carlos Jiminez; Strand, by Austin Gorski; The Vivid Imagination of David Thursby, by Devon Jones; and Vultures Prey at the Starlight Motel, by Ben Maner and Ben Mathe.