2026 – THE POPCORN LIST
2026 Official Recommendations
12 Narratives & 13 Documentaries
17 Feature Film Directorial Debuts
14 Directed by Women
4 Films with Multiple Recommendations
18 U.S. Productions and 1 U.S. co-production
11 “Market Festival” World Premieres: SXSW (5), Sundance (2), Tribeca (1), TIFF (1), Berlinale (1), and Venice (1)
16 films came through the festival’s submission portals
14 have worked or are working with a Sales Agent
3 Spirit Award Nominees
1 Critics Choice Nominees
2 IDA Award Nominees/Winners
1 Oscar Short Listed Film
Special Mentions
(not included due to distribution status)
IT ENDS, Dir. Alex Ullom (Tim Anderson, Florida Film Festival)
KITES, Dir. Walter Thompson-Hernandez (Faridah Gbadamosi, Tribeca Festival)
LIFE AFTER, Dir. Reid Davenport (Beth Seymour, ACT Human Right Festival)
LONE WOLVES, Dir. Matt Foss (Mallory Martin, Formerly Cleveland International Film Festival)
MUSTACHE, Dir. Imran Khan (Nate Shu, Boston Asian American Film Festival)
MOTHERLAND, Dir. Evan Matthews, (James Faust, Dallas International Film Festival)
NORA, Dir. Anna Campbell (Michael Rabehl, Cinequest)
SHE DANCES, Dir. Rick Gomez, (Selin Sevinç, Bend Film Festival)
THE EYES OF GHANA, Dir. Ben Proudfoot (Greg Sorvig, Heartland Film Festival)
THE SCOUT, Dir. Paula Andrea González-Nasser (Maria Akay, New York Latino Film Festival)
Special thanks to the following festival professionals for participating:
Allegra Madsen (Frameline), Andrew Peterson (Provincetown Film Festival), Ariana Farina (Dances with Films), Barbara Morgan (Austin Film Festival), Ben Delgado (Refocus Film Festival), Beth Barrett(SIFF), Beth Seymour (ACT Human Rights Film Festival), Brian Hu (San Diego Asian Film Festival), Caitlin Boyle (Middlebury New Filmmakers Festival), Cara Ogburn (Milwaukee Film Festival), Claudia Puig (CASCADIA International Women’s Film Festival), Clint Bowie (New Orleans Film Festival), Dennis Lim (New York Film Festival), Diana Cadavid (LALIFF), Drea Clark (Bentonville Film Festival), Faridah Gbadamosi (Tribeca Festival), Greg Sorvig (Heartland Film Festival), Isaac Zablocki (ReelAbilities Film Festival), James Faust (Dallas International Film Festival), Jason Carney (Phoenix Film Festival), Javier Chavez (AFI), Kristin McCracken (Hamptons International Film Festival), Lauren Thelen (Nashville Film Festival), Mallory Martin (Formerly Cleveland International Film Festival), Maria Akay (New York Latino Film Festival), Melissa Randle (Pan African Film Festival), Michael Rabehl (Cinequest), Nate Shu (Boston Asian-American Film Festival), Neha Aziz (Austin Asian American Film Festival), Patrick Schweiss (Sedona International Film Festival), Paul Sloop (Cordillera International Film Festival), Peter Baxter (Slamdance), Rebecca Schankula (Traverse City Film Festival), Sapana Sakya (CAAMFest), Sean Flynn (Camden International Film Festival), Selin Sevinç (Bend Film Festival), Sky Sitney (DC/DOX), Stephanie Owens (Sundance Film Festival), Sunrise Tippeconnie (deadCenter Film Festival), Tim Anderson (Florida Film Festival).
