Louisiana Film Prize 2026: Official Top 20 Finalists Announced

It is almost officially the most wonderful time of the year in Northwest Louisiana! Get ready, because Prize Fest 2026 is right around the corner, and the Prize Foundation just officially dropped the full list of finalists. I cannot wait!

From October 14th through the 18th, some of the absolute best and brightest independent creative talent in the entire country will invade downtown Shreveport for five unforgettable days of epic competition.

We are talking about visionary filmmakers battling for a life-changing $50,000 grand prize, which happens to be the largest cash prize for a narrative short film in the world! On top of the incredible cinema, top-tier chefs, musicians, photographers, and comedians will also be putting their skills to the ultimate test.

“Every year, we think Prize Fest can’t get any bigger, and every year these artists prove us wrong,” said Gregory Kallenberg, Founder and Executive Director of the Prize Foundation. “This year’s finalists are a remarkable group... who are bringing their best work to Shreveport. We’re proud to give them a platform, and we’re ready to show the world what happens when creative geniuses take over and show us how cool Shreveport and Bossier can really be.”

The iconic Louisiana Film Prize kicks off on October 15th with a massive Red Carpet Event, followed by two full days of Top 20 film screenings across downtown Shreveport and Bossier City on October 16th through the 17th. The best part? The audience votes determine who wins right alongside industry judge panels! If you cannot make it in person, you can even watch and vote online. The massive winner announcement happens at the awards brunch on October 18.

Scroll through our photo gallery below to meet this year's official Top 20 Film Prize Finalists!