2016 : FFAnthem

2016 Winners Announced

WINNER

U.S. Documentary

FreedomFest Grand Prize

In the 1960s, cops arrested Lenny Bruce for word crimes, but today the policed have become the police. Many people are bent on silencing jokes and opinions that offend them, but now some of the sharpest comedic minds, people like Penn Jillette, Adam Carolla, Gilbert Gottfried, Lisa Lampanelli, Heather McDonald, Karith Foster, and Jim Norton, […]

WINNER

U.S. Documentary

OF DOGS AND MEN

AnthemVault Prize for Best Original Score

According to a Department of Justice estimate, police officers shoot and kill over 10,000 pet dogs in the US every year. The award winning, and critically acclaimed, documentary Of Dogs And Men shines a light on this disturbing trend. From SWAT raids to simple calls and even visits to wrong addresses, we are seeing more […]

WINNER

U.S. Documentary

DEEP WEB

Audience Choice

DEEP WEB journeys into the world of the hidden internet, its many facets and characters, as well as the challenges it presents. The film focuses on the online marketplace Silk Road, which operated on the anonymous TOR network and used only the digital currency bitcoin. The face of the Silk Road is its young libertarian […]

WINNER

Short narratives

LOVE GOV: FROM FIRST DATE TO MANDATE

Best Short Comedy

LOVE GOV: FROM FIRST DATE TO MANDATE portrays the federal government as an overbearing boyfriend, Scott “Gov” Govinski, who foists his “good intentions” on a hapless, idealistic college student, Alexis. The story follows Alexis’s relationship with Gov as his intrusions wreak havoc on her life. Alexis’s loyal friend Libby tries to help her see Gov […]

WINNER

International Narrative

I’VE JUST HAD A DREAM

Excellence in Filmmaking, International Short Narrative

Irene is an eight-year-old girl who just had a nightmare. She dreamed the her life had completely changed. Is it just a dream? Amina is also eight years old and also dreamed and just awoke from a lovely dream. Could these dreams come true? Available on many streaming platforms.

WINNER

Short documentaries

PEOPLE LIKE US

Excellence in Filmmaking, Short Documentary

How do you cope with being convicted of a crime you know you did not commit? Since DNA evidence has come into play, approximately 300 people have been released from death row after tests showed they had been wrongfully convicted. Many exonerees are released from their cells without fanfare, apologies or anywhere to go. People […]

WINNER

Short documentaries

MULE: LIVING ON THE OUTSIDE

Best Libertarian Ideals, Short Documentary

MULE: Living on the Outside follows the journey of John Sears aka Mule and his three mules. They have been traveling throughout the western United States for three decades and lived outdoors every single day for over twelve years. Practicing this nomadic lifestyle, however, is becoming more difficult. Urban sprawl and crowded highways are consuming […]

WINNER

Short narratives

THE RETURN

Best Libertarian Ideals, Short Narrative

A Filipino house maid, Ligaya, held captive by an upper class family in Orange County, California, seeks to find peace in her terrible reality until an observant deliveryman tries to help. The story of Ligaya is a composite, based on actual events, of an immigrant who was sold into servitude and now lives with her […]

U.S. Narrative

EVERYTHING

To save her daughter’s life, a mother is forced to take desperate actions: She must break an unjust law, and then find and confront the woman who backed out of a life-saving procedure. PANEL “Body Parts and Passion” John Kramer, Jeff Rowes You may watch the entire film here.

Short documentaries

SEIZED

Naeem grew up in Baltimore city during the 1980s surrounded by violence and drug abuse. He beat the odds and made it to college on a basketball scholarship. In his final semester, Naeem traveled back to Baltimore to pick up $4,200 in tax refunds. The money was going to help support his family and pay […]

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