2025 FWD-Doc Member Awards Recap

2025 was a rollercoaster, but our members kept it pushing, making major moves in their careers, projects, skills, organizations, initiatives and more. We could not be more proud to see disability represented on screen, in the industry, behind the scenes and reaching new heights. Below are the achievements shared with us by our community from 2025.

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MEMBER FILMS

A QUIET LOVE

• Global Production Award for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion | Cannes

• "Being Oneself" Award | Doc Edge Festival

• Audience Choice Award | San Diego International Film Festival

BEING MICHELLE

• Inclusion Award | We Cam Fest

BIG VAPE: THE RISE AND FALL OF JUUL

• Outstanding Business and Economic Documentary | News & Documentary Emmy Award

DEAF PRESIDENT NOW!

• Audience Award | SXSW

• Outstanding Sound Design | Cinema Eye Honor

DISPOSABLE HUMANITY

• Audience Award | Slamdance Unstoppable

DOODLING FOR DEMOCRACY

• Pitch Finalist | Film Impact Georgia Rally Selection (Seed&Spark)

LIFE AFTER

• US Documentary Special Jury Award | Sundance Film Festival

LIVESTREAMS WITH GRANDMAPUZZLES

• Silver (Documentary) | Telly Awards

• Documentary Special Mention Jury Award | Aspen Shortsfest

• Next Great Filmmaker Award | Berkshire International Film Festival

MUSIC MAGIC: TURNING ACCESSIBILITY INTO ART

• Best International Short Documentary | Overcome Film Festival

NINA IS AN ATHLETE

• Audience Award | Austin Jewish Film Festival

PATRICE: THE MOVIE

• Exceptional Merit In Documentary Filmmaking | Emmy Awards

• Best Documentary Feature | Humanitas Prize

• Best Documentary Feature | Webby Awards

POISON IN MY BLOOD

• Best Short Documentary | Central Illinois Feminist Film Festival

• Audience Choice Award: Eye Opener (Most Illuminating Film) | Creative Guts Film Festival

PRODIGAL DAUGHTER

• Best Documentary Award | Arizona International Film Festival

RENEGADES

• Gold (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging - Show) | Anthem Award

• Silver (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging - Short-Form) | Anthem Awards

• Gold (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) | Telly Awards

• Bronze (Documentary Series) | Telly Awards

• Silver (Accessibility) | Telly Awards

• Silver (Biography) | Telly Awards

• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging | Webby Awards

• Best Community Engagement | Public Media Awards

THE RIDE AHEAD

• Gold (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging) | Anthem Awards

SOLDIER OF FORTUNE

• Best VFX | 48 Hour Film Project Orlando

• Best Use Of Dialogue | 48 Hour Film Project Orlando

QUERIDA FÁTIMA

• Work-In-Progress Award | GuadaLAjara Film Festival

Member & Organization Recognitions

• Ariel Baska — D-30 Diversability Impact List

• Dashiell Meier — Best Actor (DAY 21) | EasterSeals Disability Film Challenge

• Jeanie Finlay — Stirling 900 Award for Achievement in Documentary (Central Scotland Documentary Film Festival)

• Lindsey Dryden — Janet Pierson Champion Award (SXSW)

• ReelAbilities — Forbes Accessibility 100 List

• Social Audio Description Collective — Inclusion Excellence Award (American Council of Blind Audio Description Awards Gala)

• Steve Way & Danny Kurtzman — Best Writers (WE’LL MEET AGAIN) | EasterSeals Disability Film Challenge

Note from FWD-Doc: Info on awards pulled from responses in the FWD-Doc community within the parameters we set for this post. If you provided your information and it was not included, we are tracking your success internally! If your film was not included, please comment below with your successes and we will work to improve our process going forward!