Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo – The Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival wrapped up its third season last night with an awards ceremony and gala at Dreams Aventuras Riviera Maya, closing out five days of screenings, events, and filmmaker gatherings in the heart of the Riviera Maya.
Still a relatively new addition to the region’s cultural calendar, PAIFF has grown quickly in size and notoriety since its debut in 2024. Founded by Moe Taylor and Dewey Paul Moffitt, the festival was designed as a destination-style event—bringing independent filmmakers and audiences together in a more intimate, highly interactive setting.
Set within the gated marina community of Puerto Aventuras, screenings and events take place across multiple venues, blending indoor spaces with open-air locations that take advantage of the tropical setting. The festival spans several days and has positioned itself as both a cultural exchange and a networking hub, where audiences play an active role in judging and engaging with the films.
This year’s edition featured more than 70 films from nearly 30 countries, continuing the festival’s focus on global storytelling, independent voices, and diverse genres, from documentary and experimental work to narrative features and shorts.
A highlight of the awards ceremony were remarks from keynote speaker Arq. Roman Rivera Torres, the visionary credited with the creation and development of the Puerto Aventuras resort community. Throught the evening, 43 prizes were presented across categories including feature film, documentary, short film, music video, and screenwriting. Leading the night was Audience, directed by Tom Miller, which took home five awards, including Best Feature Film and Audience Choice.
Other standout winners included Piggy Duster by Jesse Stewart, It’s About Time and The Series 10K by Dan Hertzog, and The Space Between Attack And Decay by Jessica Kourkounis, highlighting the festival’s range, from experimental cinema to culturally driven storytelling.
With steady growth in submissions, attendance, and international reach, PAIFF is quickly establishing itself as a meaningful cultural event in the Riviera Maya, one that brings a different kind of audience to Puerto Aventuras and adds a creative layer to a community better known for tourism.
The complete list of PAIFF 2026 winners is as follows. New award categories introduced this season are marked with an asterisk.
PAIFF Season 3: Winning Films and Awards
Audience, dir. by Tom Miller (United States)
- BEST FEATURE FILM
- BEST DIRECTOR FEATURE FILM: Tom Miller
- BEST ACTOR FEATURE FILM: Shamrock McShane as “Snerdly”
- *BEST PRODUCERS FEATURE FILM: Alex Davidowski, Doug Waltonbaugh
- AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Big Mama Thornton: I Can’t Be Anyone But Me, dir. by Robert Clem (United States)
- BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
It’s About Time, dir. by Dan Hertzog (United States)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY SHORT FILM: Dan Hertzog
- *BEST FIRST TIME ACTRESS: Alni Zaya Hertzog as “Justine”
The Series 10K, dir. by Dan Hertzog (United States)
- BEST ANIMATION SHORT
It’s About Time / The Series 10K
- *BEST PRODUCERS SHORT FILM: Dan Hertzog, Ganna Hertzog, In The Wee Hours
Piggy Duster, dir. by Jesse Stewart (United States)
- BEST FIRST FEATURE FILM
- BEST VISIONARY DIRECTOR: Jesse Stewart
- *BEST EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Gary Fieldman
Leaving Beringia, dir. by Barbara Hager (Canada / United States / Mexico)
- BEST INNOVATIVE CULTURAL STORYTELLING
Flowers Beyond The Dark, dir. by Iryna Pravylo (Ukraine)
- BEST CULTURAL DOCUMENTARY
The Dog, My Father And Us., dir. by Pablo Arturo Suárez (Ecuador)
- BEST CULTURAL FEATURE FILM
Sargassum, dir. by Claude Barnes (Canada / United States / Barbados / Mexico)
- *BEST ENVIRONMENTAL FILM
Class Of Her Own, dir. by Boaz Dvir (United States)
- *BEST EDUCATIONAL FILM
The Unfixing, dir. by Nicole Betancourt (Spain / United States)
- BEST EDITING – DOCUMENTARY
Jailhouse To Milhouse, dir. by Buddy Farmer (United States)
- *BEST VÉRITÉ DOCUMENTARY FEATURE FILM
Zubr: Here Be Giants, dir. by Giles Pitman (United Kingdom)
- BEST FIRST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
- *BEST VÉRITÉ DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
Shield. The Living Wall Of The Caribbean, dir. by Mario Cuesta Hernando (Spain / United States / Mexico / Panama / Puerto Rico)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Color Of Exile, dir. by Azlarabe Alaoui (France)
- BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY FEATURE FILM
The Reach, dir. by Luca Caserta (Italy)
- BEST SHORT FILM
- BEST ACTRESS: Jana Balkan as “Stella Flanders”
Bloodroot Reserve, screenplay by Kerra Bolton
- BEST SCREENPLAY
Mutación (Mutation), dir. by Carlo Ayhllón (Mexico)
- BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
- STEVE PHILLIPS AWARD FOR BEST SOUND DESIGN
Food Roots, dir. by Michele Josue (United States)
- BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
The Family Photo, dir. by John Norris Ray & Maria Victoria Sanchez (United States / Mexico)
- *BEST FAMILY FILM
Xpendable, dir. by Walter E. Haussner (United States)
- BEST FILM NOIR SHORT
Cats, dir. by Danilo Stanimirović (Serbia / Switzerland)
- BEST DIRECTOR SHORT FILM: Danilo Stanimirović
Miami Creek, C. 1350, dir. by Walter Bender (United States)
- BEST MUSIC VIDEO
The Ale, dir. by Adrian Eppel (Australia)
- BEST MICRO-SHORT
The Space Between Attack And Decay, dir. by Jessica Kourkounis (United States)
- BEST EXPERIMENTAL SHORT FILM
- BEST VISIONARY DIRECTOR SHORT FILM: Jessica Kourkounis
- BEST ACTOR SHORT FILM: Boris McGiver as “Ricki Constant”
Hide, dir. by Brenden Hubbard (United States)
- *BEST PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER SHORT FILM
Heart Failed, dir. by Diana Näcke (Germany)
- BEST DIRECTOR MUSIC VIDEO: Diana Näcke
Caminos Al Cielo (Roads To Heaven), dir. by Erik Y. Montiel (Mexico)
- BEST FIRST SHORT FILM
Aloof (Desden), dir. by Dylan Vega Aragon (Mexico)
- BEST FIRST STUDENT FILM
This Is How The Mexican Revolution Began, dir. by Nurh Elizabeth Trejo Aguilar (Mexico)
- *BEST YOUNG FILMMAKERS AWARD
PAIFF Season 3 winners reflect the festival’s international scope and its focus on original, independent filmmaking. The awards recognized a broad range of contributors, including directors, actors, screenwriters, producers, and technical teams, as well as emerging talent making their first mark on the festival circuit.
Filmmakers and fans interested in the 4th edition of the Puerto Aventuras International Film Festival can find information on the official event website. https://www.pafilmfestival.com/
Photo Credit: Pam Duns
Press release submitted by Puerto Aventuras Living.
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