Boise Film Festival 2025 announces filmmaker awards and establishes itself as a fun stop and an industry player on the regional tour with 2nd edition
The Boise Film Festival 2025 awards crowned new indie voices and celebrated creativity at The Grove Hotel, cementing Boise’s growing film scene.
The 2nd Annual Boise Film Festival announced its filmmaker awards during the film festival’s gala ceremony at The Grove Hotel on Sunday evening. Michael K. Parandi’s April X won Best Narrative Feature, and Cody Sheehy’s The Last Dive took two awards, including Best Documentary Film and Best Director – Documentary Film. If You Should Leave Before Me’s B. Robert Anderson and J. Markus Anderson shared the Best Director Award for Narrative Film.
The Boise Film Festival 2025 awards crowned new indie voices and celebrated creativity at The Grove Hotel, cementing Boise’s growing film scene.
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Caden Butera’s Recollection won Best Pacific Northwest Film, and Drew Garcia won Best Director – Pacific Northwest Film for his work on Fan Film.
The Boise Film Festival cemented its mission to be a film event focused on discovery, with an increased emphasis on celebrating new cinematic voices and faces in Boise Idaho, and the Pacific Northwest, while bringing filmmakers to the city from both coasts and around the world.
The Boise Film Festival 2025 awards crowned new indie voices and celebrated creativity at The Grove Hotel, cementing Boise’s growing film scene.
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BFF Founders and Executive Directors, Christine, and Mark Holder, said, “In our second year, we are thrilled with the growth of the film festival and the continued enthusiasm of the local filmmaking community and our audiences here in Boise to make this truly an inspirational event. Our filmmakers had top professionals to give pragmatic and practical advice and knowledge in their film disciplines, we featured smart and entertaining post-screening Q&As, and we have clearly set a tone and expectation as to what the Boise Film Festival will deliver for film fans each and every year. We can’t wait until the next one!”
Additional award winners included the presentation of the Esther Simplot Excellence in the Arts Award to Boise’s beloved Larry Leasure which included a conversation about his influential career as an arts impresario. Leasure received a standing ovation following the presentation of his award.
Short Film awards went to Sofia Rubin’s Cub for Best Short Film, and Chelsie Pennello took Best Director – Short Film or her work on Cherry-Colored Funk. Hailey Jackson Boucher’s Brackett & Folder won Best Pacific Northwest Short Film.
The Boise Film Festival kicked things off with a salute to Idaho-based filmmakers on Opening Night at the historic Egyptian Theater. BFF’s Filmmaking Master Classes were once again a highlight including Tyler Cordova (Lilo & Stitch) breaking down the scope and practical applications for VFX work for the attending filmmakers, Heather Rae (Frozen River) taking aspiring film producers through the toolkit from the ground up at her Producing Masterclass, and Stephen Susco (The Grudge) focusing onstory conception and development during his session on Screenwriting. The Closing Night Gala and Filmmaker Awards Ceremony was hosted by comedian Craig Shoemaker, who kept the crowd laughing in between the awards presentations.
(L to R back) Caden Butera (Recollection), Drew Garcia (Fan Film), Cody Sheehy (The Last Dive), Lavinia Postolache (April X), J. Markus Anderson and B. Robert Anderson (If I Should Leave Before You)
(Photo by Wildman)
2025 BOISE FILM FESTIVAL (BFF) Award Winners
BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE FILM
April X
Director: Michael K. Parandi
BEST DOCUMENTARY
The Last Dive
Director: Cody Sheehy
BEST SHORT FILM
Cub
Director: Sofia Rubin
BEST DIRECTOR – NARRATIVE FEATURE
B. Robert Anderson, J. Markus Anderson (If You Should Leave Before Me)
BEST DIRECTOR – DOCUMENTARY
Cody Sheehy (The Last Dive)
BEST DIRECTOR – PACIFIC NORTHWEST FILM
Drew Garcia (Fan Film)
BEST DIRECTOR – SHORT FILM
Chelsie Pennello (Cherry-Colored Funk)
BEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST FEATURE
Recollection
Director: Caden Butera
BEST PACIFIC NORTHWEST SHORT FILM
Brackett & Folder
Director: Hailey Jackson Boucher
Mini FAQ: Boise Film Festival 2025
Q1: Where was the Boise Film Festival 2025 awards ceremony held?
A: The awards gala took place at The Grove Hotel in downtown Boise, Idaho.
Q2: Who won Best Narrative Feature?
A: April X, directed by Michael K. Parandi, won Best Narrative Feature.
Q3: What makes the Boise Film Festival unique?
A: BFF emphasizes discovery, education, and emerging voices, offering a mix of screenings, workshops, and industry networking in a warm, community-driven atmosphere.
The Boise Film Festival 2025 awards crowned new indie voices and celebrated creativity at The Grove Hotel, cementing Boise’s growing film scene.