ANNOUNCES 2025 AWARD FINALISTS
Hamnet, Man On The Run, Librarians, and The Floaters lead this year’s class of honorees; Annual visual arts celebration continues to screen and stream through Saturday
St. Louis Park, Minn. (October 24, 2025) – The Twin Cities Film Fest, presented by Stearns Bank, unveiled
more than 20 finalists for its top awards today, many of which are still set to stream during the event’s final
weekend. Among the contenders for the 2025 Best Feature Film Award are the acclaimed new Chloé Zhao
drama Hamnet; Rachel Israel’s feature, produced by Shai Korman, The Floaters; Marisa Guterman & Keith
Gerchak’s comedy Lost & Found In Cleveland, starring Santino Fontana; Rental Family, directed by Hikari and
starring Brendan Fraser; and Sovereign, directed by Christian Swegal.
On Saturday, Oct. 25, TCFF will welcome other notable guests at their respective film screenings, including:
Actor Vincent Kartheiser, in attendance for his two films
o Go On, 2:30 p.m. at Edina Mann Theaters in Edina, Minn.
o Unholy Communion, 4:30 p.m. at Edina Mann Theaters
Actor Jacob Tremblay of Sovereign, 4:30 p.m. at Marcus West End Theater in St. Louis Park, Minn.
Actor Santino Fontana of Lost & Found In Cleveland, 7:15 p.m. at Marcus West End Theater
See below for the complete list of 2025 awards finalists. For more information on the films and to purchase
tickets for the final streams and screenings, visit TwinCitiesFilmFest.org.
2025 TCFF FINALISTS
Best Feature Film Award: Hamnet, directed by Chloé Zhao; The Floaters, directed by Rachel Israel; Lost &
Found In Cleveland, directed by Marisa Guterman & Keith Gerchak; Rental Family, directed by Hikari; and
Sovereign, directed by Christian Swegal.
The Robert Byrd Best Documentary Film Award: Man On The Run, directed by Morgan Neville; The Eagle
Obsession, directed by Jeffrey Morris; The Doctrine, directed by Gwendolen Cates; The Librarians, directed by
Kim A. Snyder; and We Are Pyramids, directed by Dr. Tracine Asberry.
The Bill Cooper Best Minnesota Feature Award: Searching for the Light, directed by Andrés A. Parra; Silly
Little Wounds, directed by Vanessa Magowan Horrocks Powers; The Eagle Obsession, directed by Jeffrey
Morris; Magic & Monsters, directed by Norah Shapiro; and Vida Nueva, directed by Eliana Reyes.
Best Short Film Award: Daly City, directed by Nick Hartanto; Detlev, directed by Ferdinand Ehrhardt; Maybe
It’s Just the Rain, directed by Reina Bonta; Sally, Get the Potatoes, directed by Danicah Waldo; and Saverio,
directed by Ellen Ancui.
Fun Is Good Bill Murray Comedy Shorts Award: Murray will be choosing his favorite comedic short from
these three finalists – Halfway Haunted, directed by Sam Rudykoff; What’s the Deal with Birds, directed by
Taylor Bakken; and Chips or Crackers, directed by Michael Gabriele.
2025 Indie Vision — Directing: Eric Lin, Rosemead
2025 MN Webfest — Best Short-Form Series: Paper Cuts
2025 MN Webfest — Best Series Pilot: Dana + Char
2025 Series Fest Pitch-a-Thon: Margaret Katch
2025 Audience Best Feature and Documentary & Short Award: To Be Announced at Closing Night
Ceremony
ABOUT TWIN CITIES FILM FEST
Twin Cities Film Fest (TCFF) is a Minneapolis-based 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization founded by
Executive Director, Jatin Setia. We change perspectives, transform lives, and strengthen our communities by
supporting and spurring on the art of filmmaking. TCFF’s vision is to cultivate immersive experiences that
amplify communities of creation, celebration, and change. To learn more about TCFF, events, film submissions
or to donate, visit twincitiesfilmfest.org.
ABOUT STEARNS BANK
Minnesota-based Stearns Bank National Association is a $3.1 billion, independently-owned financial institution
with locations in Minnesota, Florida and Arizona, and over 35,000 small business customers nationwide.
Stearns Bank specializes in nationwide commercial construction lending, USDA and SBA lending, and small
business and equipment financing.
ABOUT MARCUS THEATRES®
Marcus Theatres®, is the fourth largest theatre circuit in the U.S. and currently owns or operates 995 screens
at 79 locations in 17 states under the Marcus Theatres, Movie Tavern® by Marcus, and BistroPlex® brands.
Marcus Theatres’ facilities offer the latest amenities and technology in stadium seating, digital sound,
innovative food and beverage concepts and 72-feet-wide UltraScreen DLXs®.
ABOUT MANN THEATRES®
Mann Theatres® is a multi-generational, family-owned movie theatre chain dedicated to bringing people
together through the magic of the big screen. With locations across the Twin Cities and beyond, they create
experiences that are fresh, local, and fun.
CONTACT: Chad Olson, Nemer Fieger, colson@nemerfieger.com, 952-240-4982
