

Indian-origin filmmaker, actor, and producer Venkat Sai Gunda successfully launched the ‘The Storyteller Universe’ International Film Festival in New York. The boutique festival provides a global platform for independent storytellers. Venkat Sai Gunda, originally from Karimnagar, Telangana, gained international recognition with his feature film ‘The Deserving,’ which was screened at over 25 festivals and won multiple awards. Now, as festival director, he aims to support independent cinema through this platform.
The inaugural edition, held on January 10-11, 2026, hosted filmmakers and artists from various countries. The festival focused on emotions, authenticity, and human-centered stories rather than commercial aspects. It was successfully organized with the collaboration of a dedicated team including Jaggi Arora, JD Brookshire, Maheshwar Pandian Sarvanan, Tarun Degal, Tirumalesh Gundrat, and Pratyusha Vudtala. Venkat Sai Gunda emphasized, “Our goal is to support independent filmmakers and showcase their stories to the world”.
Winners :
Best Feature Film: Mohammadmahdi Katirachi - In Other Words
Best Short Film: Moon Romance, Moon
Best Documentary: Matthew Floyd - Lessons from 100: Reflections In My Centennial Year
Best Director: Nadan Pines - Father's Son
Best Actor: Taha Mohammadi - In Other Words
Best Actress: Anja Bothe - Loslassen
Best Screenplay: Christine Marie Bush - Serenity Peak
Best Comedy: Greg Kirkpatrick Jr. - Another Day
Best Editing: Javier Yañez - Amira
Best AI Film: Michal Jan Owerczuk - Broken Arrow
Best Horror/Thriller: Darwin Reina - Blood Mist
Best Social Impact Story Award: Douglas Ryan - 3 Minutos
Best Debut Filmmaker - Making Megaforce
Best Documentary Short (Jury Award): Brian Knappmiller - Sheepdogs
Best Micro Short: Julia Ulbrich Horta - The Other One
Best Experimental Film: Ethann Néon - Blickity Black
Best Music: Malik Maliki - In the Bad Times
Best Sci-Fi Film: Maxence Bossé &Nolan Corlay - Ignis Oppidum
Best Animation: Cristina Colmenares, Manuel-Antonio Monteagudo - Memoria Colectiva
Best South Asian Film: Rishi Raj Acharya - Draupadi
BestPhoto/ Visual Art: CR Sherman - Drawing in Dreams
Storyteller Appreciation Award: Guruswamy Raviteja – Cockery
Excellence in Musical Storytelling - Anil - Priya Priya Song.













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