Additional Standout Winners of June-July 2026 – Awards of Excellence

LOS ANGELES, CA — In addition to naming The Last Goodbye as Best Short of the Season, the June–July 2026 edition of IndieX Film Fest also recognizes three exceptional films with the Award of Excellence. From an intimate drama about addiction and recovery, to an inspiring documentary exploring the future of clean energy, and a thought-provoking dystopian fable examining power and human resilience, these standout works reflect the diversity, ambition, and cinematic excellence that continue to define IndieX Film Fest.

An Iris Wild by Benjamin Hess (USA)

Benjamin Hess returns to IndieX Film Fest with An Iris Wild, a deeply affecting drama that confronts addiction, trauma, and the possibility of redemption with honesty and compassion. The Colorado filmmaker, an IndieX alumnus whose film Symptoms May Include Shortness of Breath earned a nomination for Best Thriller Short of the Year at the 2022 IndieX Annual Awards, continues his commitment to character-driven storytelling through a work that embraces the emotional complexity of recovery.

An Iris Wild follows Iris, a twenty-five-year-old woman trapped in the cycle of narcotics addiction, whose life is unexpectedly interrupted by a text message that offers a chance to change her future. What follows is a tense and emotionally charged journey through a world where vulnerable women are too often exploited, forcing Iris to confront both external dangers and the internal battle between despair and hope. Rather than presenting recovery as a single transformative moment, the film portrays it as a series of difficult choices, each carrying profound emotional weight.

Drawing from real-world experiences and his background in law enforcement, Hess brings an uncommon sense of authenticity to the narrative. His direction avoids sensationalism, instead focusing on the psychological realities of addiction and the lingering effects of trauma. As he explains in his director’s statement, the goal was never to tell a story about “the addict,” but to explore “the fractured ways people survive pain, isolation, and manipulation.” That perspective gives the film a compassionate humanity that remains with the audience throughout.

The emotional core of the film is anchored by Zoe Young, whose portrayal of Iris captures both vulnerability and resilience with striking sincerity. Supported by Hess’s measured direction, the performance allows the audience to experience Iris’s uncertainty, fear, and determination without ever reducing her to a symbol of addiction. Through understated storytelling and carefully observed character moments, An Iris Wild becomes a portrait of survival that is as intimate as it is emotionally resonant.

IndieX Film Fest Jury Verdict: An Iris Wild approaches one of society’s most challenging subjects with empathy, honesty, and emotional intelligence. Through its authentic central performance, grounded direction, and unwavering commitment to portraying addiction with dignity rather than judgment, Benjamin Hess delivers a powerful short drama that exemplifies the kind of thoughtful independent filmmaking celebrated by the Award of Excellence.

Decarb by Roel Swierenga (Netherlands)

Dutch filmmaker Roel Swierenga returns to IndieX Film Fest with Decarb, another compelling documentary exploring the future of sustainable energy and environmental innovation. An IndieX alumnus, Swierenga was honored with Best Documentary Short of 2024 for Before the Oil, and once again demonstrates his ability to translate complex global issues into engaging, visually compelling cinema. Through a combination of journalistic curiosity and cinematic craftsmanship, Decarb offers an inspiring look at one of the most promising technologies in the transition toward a lower-carbon future.

The documentary follows Finnish clean-tech entrepreneur Matti Malkamäki, whose vision of splitting methane into clean hydrogen and solid carbon has the potential to transform the global energy landscape. The film centers on the determination of an innovator willing to challenge conventional thinking, exploring how technological breakthroughs begin with individuals prepared to turn ambitious ideas into reality. In doing so, Decarb presents decarbonization not as an abstract policy discussion, but as a tangible opportunity to reshape the world’s energy systems.

Swierenga approaches the subject with clarity, precision, and an instinct for accessible storytelling. Drawing from his experience as the founder of the Hansa Green Tour Foundation, he combines careful research with an engaging cinematic language that makes sophisticated environmental topics understandable without sacrificing their complexity. His direction maintains an effective balance between informative content and human storytelling, inviting audiences to consider not only what is technologically possible, but also the choices societies must make to embrace meaningful change.

Visually, Decarb reflects Swierenga’s continued evolution as a filmmaker. Cinematographer Martijn Heemstra, who also collaborated on Before the Oil, captures Finland’s industrial landscapes and natural surroundings with striking clarity, while confident editing and a polished visual style elevate the documentary well beyond a conventional educational film. Its measured pacing allows the ideas to unfold naturally, with every technical element serving the narrative and reinforcing the film’s central message about innovation, responsibility, and the future of global energy.

IndieX Film Fest Jury Verdict: Decarb demonstrates how documentary filmmaking can educate, inspire, and provoke meaningful reflection without losing its cinematic appeal. Through precise storytelling, accomplished craftsmanship, and an optimistic yet grounded perspective on one of today’s defining global challenges, Roel Swierenga delivers an insightful short documentary that is a worthy recipient of the Award of Excellence.

Once Upon a Time in the Apocalypse by Tiago Pimentel (Portugal)

Portuguese filmmaker Tiago Pimentel delivers an ambitious blend of dystopian science fiction and intimate human drama with Once Upon a Time in the Apocalypse, a cautionary tale that explores authoritarianism, fear, and the moral choices that define humanity in times of crisis. Based in Lisbon, Pimentel has steadily built a reputation through award-winning short films and larger productions, including the sci-fi television series Projeto Delta. His latest short demonstrates the same cinematic ambition while embracing the focused storytelling that makes the short-film format so compelling.

Co-written by Tiago Pimentel and António Miguel Pereira and set in the aftermath of a nuclear war, the film follows Ernesto, a man harboring a dangerous secret whose fragile existence is shattered when a government inspector arrives at his doorstep. What begins as a tense confrontation gradually evolves into a gripping cat-and-mouse game, where every conversation carries hidden meaning and every decision has irreversible consequences. Framed as “a fable in times of war,” the story uses its dystopian setting to examine enduring questions about freedom, conscience, and the human cost of oppression.

Pimentel demonstrates a confident command of suspense, allowing the narrative to unfold with patience and precision. The film’s carefully constructed world-building creates a convincing vision of a society transformed by fear, while its restrained approach allows the emotional and ethical dilemmas facing its characters to take center stage. Beneath its science-fiction premise lies a reflection on authoritarianism and the difficult choices ordinary people face when survival comes at the expense of their principles.

The production is elevated by a distinguished cast led by acclaimed Portuguese singer-songwriter and actor Sérgio Godinho as Ernesto, alongside Mariana Pacheco and Paulo Calatré, whose performances add dramatic tension to the unfolding conflict. Combined with polished cinematography, atmospheric production design, and a strong visual identity, the film creates an immersive post-apocalyptic world that feels both intimate and unsettling.

IndieX Film Fest Jury Verdict: Once Upon a Time in the Apocalypse combines intelligent science-fiction storytelling with accomplished filmmaking to deliver a thought-provoking meditation on power, sacrifice, and human resilience. Guided by a finely constructed screenplay from Tiago Pimentel and António Miguel Pereira, alongside confident direction, engaging performances, and a carefully crafted atmosphere, the film demonstrates both artistic ambition and thematic depth, making it a deserving recipient of the Award of Excellence.