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Our Judging Philosophy
To ensure each film is studied and rated on an individual basis, RFIFF uses a system where entries do not compete against each other, but instead are recognized for their own individual merits. Each entry is judged on individual merits and scored on an inherent value system. The judges focus entirely on your film when evaluating it, ensuring no comparisons with other films distract from your unique achievement.
Winning entries are recognized at multiple levels: Best of Festival & Best of Show honors are granted to the top scoring entries for each season; Awards of Excellence are granted to entries with truly exceptional artistic and technical achievements; and notable achievements are recognized at the Merit and Kudos award levels.
BEST OF FESTIVAL WINNER ONLY: Request information on deliverable instructions to have your film screened at the Cinema Art Theater in June 2026. Email
live_screening@wrpn.tv
We screen only Best of Festival winners. Our screening event is to collect audience reactions to be used by our distributors. We don't conduct after-screening networking parties or seminars. Video interviews of the viewing audience may be conducted and shown on WRPN.tv.
Raising The Bar: The Alma Richards Story
Director: T.C. Christensen
Category: Sports
Country: United States
BEST OF FESTIVAL
In 1908, eighth grader Alma Richards quits school. He doesn't see the point in going when he could be working as a ranch hand. A chance encounter with a Michigan State Professor sets Alma back on the road to education, which in turn leads him to more than he's ever dreamed of including a trip to the Stockholm Olympics competing in High Jump for a Gold Medal.
Chasing the Light
Category: Documentary
Country: Ireland
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Türkiye's Astonishing Antiquities
Category: Documentary
Country: Australia
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Voice-Over Talent: OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Indulge Me
Category: Student
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Angels Unawares
Category: Documentary
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
From Sea to Shining Sea: Katharine Lee Bates and the Story of America the Beautiful
Category: Documentary
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Cross Examination
Category: Human Spirit
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Saffron Robe
Category: Documentary, Religious/Faith
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
My Country
Category: Music Video
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Original Song: OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
At the Mercy of Faith - Short Film
Category: Religious/Faith
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Without A Doubt "God is Always There"
Category: Docu-drama Feature
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
The Big Green House
Category: Documentary
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Andrew Neighill's Death Wheel
Category: Horror
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Kūkai
Category: Biography, Religious/Faith
Country: China
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE - Both Categories
Alaska Rescue Story
Category: Documentary
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Giving Wings to a Movement
Category: Religious/Faith
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
The Bridge Less Traveled
Category: Human Spirit, Social Issues, Tight Shorts
Country: United States
OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE - All Three Main Categories
Actress: Lead - OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Cinematography - EXCELLENCE
Content/Message Delivery - EXCELLENCE
Original Score - OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Viewer Impact: Inspirational - EXCELLENCE
This Is Why I Believe
Category: Documentary
Country: United States
EXCELLENCE
Change
Category: Tight Shorts
Country: United States
EXCELLENCE
A Million Voices: Only One Matters
Category: Docu-drama Short, Religious/Faith
Country: United States
EXCELLENCE - In Two Main Categories
Voice-Over Talent - EXCELLENCE
Gimpel the Fool Returns to Poland
Category: Docu-drama Feature
Country: Israel
EXCELLENCE
Everything Comes to Harm
Category: Documentary
Country: Italy
EXCELLENCE
Holy Land 20:22
Category: Religious/Faith
Country: Israel, Palestine
EXCELLENCE
Left on Read
Category: Comedy
Country: United States
EXCELLENCE
Cinematography - OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Editing - OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Voice-Over Talent - OUTSTANDING EXCELLENCE
Following in the Footsteps of My Ancestors - An Ute Köhler Documentary
Category: Biography, Documentary
Country: Germany
EXCELLENCE
Full of Grace. A Madonna for a Day
Category: Documentary
Country: Italy
EXCELLENCE
Abraham's Bridge
Category: Documentary
Country: United States
EXCELLENCE
The Community
Category: Documentary
Country: Ukraine
EXCELLENCE
Kicking Toward Tomorrow!
Category: Sports
Country: South Korea
EXCELLENCE
A Faith Under Siege
Category: Documentary
Country: United States
EXCELLENCE
Cast Aside the Clouds
Category: Drama, Religious/Faith
Country: Canada
EXCELLENCE - In Both Main Categories
Just Call Me Sai, Master Sai
Category: Documentary
Country: Germany
EXCELLENCE
Light in the Sanità District – A Journey Through History, Art, and Regeneration
Category: Docu-drama Short
Country: Italy
EXCELLENCE
Kaleidoscope Child
Category: Documentary
Country: United States
EXCELLENCE
No Priests Left
Category: Tight Shorts
Country: United States
EXCELLENCE
The Deep Dive
Category: Docu-drama Short
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
The Muslim
Category: Drama
Country: Albania, Kosovo
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
American Orthodox
Category: Documentary
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
The Letter (Based on a True Story)
Category: Docu-drama Short
Country: Germany
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Vices and Virtues. From Giotto to Pope Francis
Category: Documentary
Country: Italy
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
She Prayed for Me
Category: Music Video
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Everyman
Category: Religious/Faith
Country: Romania
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Direction - EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Mephisto Appears to Faust
Category: Human Spirit
Country: Germany
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
A Theory of Colours (2017)
Category: Inspirational
Country: Germany
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
The Missionary
Category: Documentary, Religious/Faith
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT - In Both Main Categories
The Ecstatic Tree Dwellers
Category: Art-house Film, Religious/Faith
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT - In Both Main Categories
Tree of Fire: A Story of Love and Resilience
Category: Religious/Faith
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Beyond Mountains of Bulang Children
Category: Student
Country: China
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Carny Hallelujah!
Category: Drama
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
The Crucifixion
Submitter: Jonathan Parisen
Category: Religious/Faith
Country: Not specified
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
My Father, Winston
Category: Documentary
Country: Canada
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Three Greek Songs
Category: Music Video
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Contact: The Divine Realm
Category: Documentary
Country: Australia
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
In the Company of Change
Category: Religious/Faith
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
The Help of the Invisibles - Himalayan Oracles
Category: Documentary
Country: Czech Republic
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Mercy at the Gates [Feature Length]
Category: Human Spirit
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Legends Remembered: Yogi Berra: Faith, Family & Baseball
Category: Sports
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
The Family Rosary in 25 Days
Category: Webisode (Pilot)
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Triumph of Hope
Category: Human Spirit
Country: United States
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
Permission: Fr. Bob Bedard's Vision for the Church
Category: Religious/Faith
Country: Canada
EXCEPTIONAL MERIT
