The Denton Black Film Festival embraces both the vision to imagine and the strength to act.
Our 2026 theme—Hope and Courage—reflects the power of Hope to dream and envision what’s possible, and the Courage to take action and bring those visions to life.
This year we continued our honorary award- DBFF Texas Filmmaker EPIC Award. It was our pleasure to award this to Ya’Ke Smith.
Ya’Ke Smith is an award-winning director whose films have been showcased at over 130 film festivals globally. His works have premiered on notable platforms such as HBO, PBS, SXSW, BET, Showtime, and Lifetime. He has been recognized by the Directors Guild of America and the Student Academy Awards for his outstanding contributions to the film industry. In honor of his achievements, two U.S. cities have officially designated a “Ya’Ke Smith Day.” Furthermore, Variety has acknowledged him as one of the world’s leading film educators.
Best Narrative Feature
“Outdoor School” Directed by Ime Nyong Etuk
A tree can be a home and a forest can be a school, but raised in the wilds of 90’s Portland, Vin must first learn to be a child. OUTDOOR SCHOOL – A transformative true story about the search for shelter and the power of being seen.
Runner-Up: “Meta Take One”
Directed by John Dierre and Ryan Dutter
Best Documentary Feature
“Unashamed” Directed David Rivera
Unashamed is the story of Lecrae and The 116 Clique, a group of unlikely rappers who broke the mold of hip hop culture and sparked a movement. At a time when Christianity and rap were seen as incompatible, their infectious sound and unabashedly Christian message sold out shows, topped charts, and won Grammys. Yet no one knows who they are. Unashamed is the story of a pilgrimage to find peace and acceptance, and birthed an entirely new genre of music while navigating the tumultuous worlds of hip hop and the culture wars.
Runner-Up: “Beyond the Headlines: The NABJ Journey” by James Franklin Blue III
Honorable Mention: “The Khaki 3 and Me” by Amber Monet
Best Narrative Short
“Dante’s Inferno- The Ascension” Directed by Sofian Francis
Dante, a regretful ex military contractor and his companion, his horse, search for his missing wife and daughter in the remnants of civilization decimated by thousands of malevolent entities known as ‘ Reapers ‘.
Runner-Up: “Laundry” by Okema T. Moore
Honorable Mention: “The Ohio, Texas Remix” by Ya’Ke Smith
Best Documentary Short
“We Make” Directed by Brian Foster and Ethan Payne
We Make is a short documentary about Siggers High School, an all-black secondary school – partly built by local community members – in Shannon, Mississippi that operated from the early 1940’s until 1970.
Runner-Up: “Futures Without Guns” by Kyra Knox
Honorable Mention: “Reconciliation” by Ian Phillips
Best College Short
“Way Back Home” Directed by Chad Hamilton
Jared and Van inherit their grandmother’s dilapidated brownstone. The siblings have opposing views on what to do with the house until a surprise offer forces one to make arrangements behind the other’s back.
Runner-Up: “Best Eyes” by Kira Powell
Best Texas College Short
“Soaring Mission: Peripheral Arterial Disease in the Black Community” Directed by Emmanuel Chiemela Ebrim
Soaring Mission is a powerful documentary that centers the lived experiences of Black individuals diagnosed with Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), a condition that disproportionately leads to lower extremity amputations. Through intimate patient stories, the film traces the progression of PAD—from diagnosis and surgery to life after amputation—highlighting the emotional, physical, and socioeconomic challenges faced along the way.
Interwoven with these narratives are expert perspectives from vascular surgeons at The University of Texas Medical Branch, who address social determinants of health, systemic healthcare disparities, and persistent misinformation about PAD in the Black community. Filmed in hospitals, clinics, and patients’ homes, Soaring Mission serves as both an educational resource and a call to action—aimed at empowering communities, informing healthcare professionals, and advancing equity in vascular health.
Runner-Up: “The Letter” by Zariyah Perry
Best Texas Short Screenplay
“Scallywag” Directed by Ashlee Smith
When a 5-year-old shaves her head hours before her mother’s wedding, the family scrambles to cover up the mess and uncovers a horrible secret in the process.
Runner-Up: “Vutures” by Keshia Thomas
Honorable Mention: “BO, BE, 90” by Essence Wilson
Best Original Music Video
“Jeremiah 20” Directed by: Grace Kelly
Jeremiah 20 is the fourth song on Spoken Word Artist Poetically Janae’s Open Heart Poetry album. The visuals play with the theme of light by incorporating elements of fire to visualize the words of the poem “fire in your bones”,
Some highlights include performances by Blue Flame Fire Dancer, Siabhan Brown, a contemporary praise dancer, and Justin Ingram (JTracks).
Filming took place at the Blackbird Loft Studios in downtown Dallas and the Oak Cliff Arts Mission in Bishop Arts.
Runner-Up: “Reach out and Help Somebody” by Archie Woods
Honorable Mention: “Spell” by Spartakus Santiago
Best Texas Short Narrative
“The Ohio, Texas Remix”
Directed by Ya’Ke Smith
A woman travels from Ohio to Texas to kidnap her son from her estranged ex-husband. Based on a true story.
Runner-Up: “Curl Jam” By Tonya D. Holloway
Best Texas Short Documentary
“Stories From a One-Room School” Directed by Jonathan Presson
A woman returns to her Louisiana hometown to honor her grandmother’s legacy, uncovering the story of a one-room schoolhouse that once educated generations of Black children in the segregated South.
Runner-Up: “Root Shock” by Marc Newsome
Best Texas High School Short
“A Game of Chess” Directed by Trentin Youngblood Harris and Mason Triche
A father and son – separated by years of addiction and absence – face each other across a chessboard that holds more than pawns and kings. It’s a silent reckoning of love lost, time wasted, and the hope of redemption before the final move.
Runner-Up: “Spilled Coffee” by Jireh White
Virtual People's Choice Awards
TBA after 2026 Virtual Festival
