The Imaginarium 2026 Awards Banquet was held last evening and the winners of this year’s Imadjinn Awards, Film Festival Awards, the Michael Knost Wings Award, Arlan Andrews Sr. Science Fiction and Fantasy Challenge, Del Weston Excellence in Film Awards, and staff awards were announced! The Awards Ceremony also included the Imagination Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductions!
The evening featured great live entertainment, including a dance performance from Sako Tumi and a music performance from RockPaperFox and Carl R. Moore! The Toastmaster for the evening’s ceremonies was Michael Knost.
Below is the full list of 2026 award-winners and Imagination Hall of Fame Class of 2026 Inductees! Congratulations to all who were recognized and celebrated at the Imaginarium 2026 Awards Banquet!
Michael Knost Wings Award
Ben Henry Bailey
Arlan Andrews Sr. Science Fiction and Fantasy Short Story Challenge
First Place: “Immigrant” by Chad Elliott
Second Place: “The Escape Artist” by Devin Hilton
Third Place: “This Storm” by Amy Leigh McCorkle
Del Weston Excellence in Film Awards
JoAnn Hess
Roxanne Warren
Tony Acree
Imagination Hall of Fame
2026 Inductee Class
Lee Martindale (poshumous)
Hallee Bridgeman
John Palisano
Film Festival Awards
Best Directing Short Film
Artur Matveev
Too Late
Best Actor Short Film
Joe Howell
Northpointe
Best Actress Short Film
Cameron Crawford
Dreams of a Dead God
Best Cinematography Short Film
Forememberence
Best Score Short Film
Black Saturday
Best Sound Short Film
Another Day in the Neighborhood
Best Plot Short Film
Cherry Cola
Best Score Feature Film
Kevlar Soul
Best Directing Feature Film
Ethan Avery
Shot Clock
Best Actor Feature Film
Trey Dawson
Shot Clock
Best Character Development Feature Film
Shot Clock
Best Plot Feature Film
Shot Clock
Best Screenplay Feature Film
Shot Clock
Best Dialogue Feature Film
Shot Clock
Best Actress Feature Film
Scarlett James
Traction Park Massacre
Best Cinematography Feature Film
Traction Park Massacre
Best Editing: Feature Film
Traction Park Massacre
Best SFX Feature Film
Traction Park Massacre
Best Stunt Choreography Feature Film
Traction Park Massacre
Best Sound Feature Film
Traction Park Massacre
International Awards
Best International Short
Jacopo Cullin
Empathy Rehearsal
Best International Feature
My Boyfriend, My Mannequin
Film Category Awards
Best Web Series Runner Up
The Mysteries of Science
Best Web Series
Posers
Best Documentary Runner Up
Black Gold: The Trail of Standing Rock
Best Documentary
Resilience
Best Music Video Runner Up
Transform
Best Music Video
The End
Best Short Film Runner Up
My Foot is in Heaven
Best Short Film
Cherry Cola
Best Feature Film Runner Up
Traction Park Massacre
Best Feature Film
Shot Clock
Best Non-produced Screenplays:
Recognized as Film Festival Awards and as part of the Imadjinn Awards
Best Screenplay Short Format Runner Up
Monster Movie
Dwan L. Hearn
Best Screenplay Short Format Runner Up
Stalked
Carol Preflatish
Best Screenplay Short Format Runner Up
Alienated
James Sabata
Best Screenplay Short Format
Worth
Devin Hylton
Best Screenplay Long Format Runner Up
Prison Dogs
Tobi Solvang
Best Screenplay long format Runner Up
Once Bitten
Alison Weaverdyck
Best Screenplay Long Format Runner Up
Mission Black
Mick Williams
Best Screenplay Long Format
Dead Man’s Flood
Tony Acree
Imaginarium 2026 Spotlight Awards
Andrew Huxley
Riley Scott
Todd Padgett
Imaginarium 2026 Outstanding Achievement Awards
Eryn Rhea
Jim Weter
Rick Pate
The Imadjinn Awards
Best Anthology (multiple authors)
What Swallows the Light
Editors & Proofers: Paula Limbaugh, Victoria Kiska, Charlene du Toit, & Theresa Derwin
Best Audiobook Narration
HARVEST OF EVIL: Book one of the John Fisher Chronicles
Narrator: Perry Wince
Best Children’s Book
What Farm Boots Are For
Carol June Franks
Best Cross Genre Novel
The Eagle Flies at Night
Lance Loot
Best Faith-Based Novel
The Stories We Carry
Robin W. Pearson
Best Fantasy Novel
Rise From Ruin
Melissa Olthoff
Best Game Module / Rule Book
Evolved: Super Heroic Time Travel RPG
Josh Palmer
Best Historical Fiction Novel
In Harm’s Way
Thomas M. Wing
Best Horror Novel
Darkness Calls
Joe Chianakas
Best Literary Fiction Novel
The Ashes of Us
Ashley Baker
Best Middle Grade Book
Not Lucille
Mike Steele
Best Mystery Novel
CROSSFIRE: A Folly Beach Mystery
Bill Noel
Best Magazine/Periodical
Kentucky Monthly
Stephen M Vest
Best Non-Fiction Book
A Monster in Mount Pleasant
CJ Williams
Best Paranormal Romance Novel
Dancing with a Demon
L. R. Braden
Best Poetry Collection (single author)
The Eighth
Rita Spalding
Best Romance Novel
No Apologies
Andrea Jenelle
Best Science Fiction Novel
Dead to Rights: A Car Warriors Autoduel Novel
Jay Barnson
Best Short Story Collection (single author)
Midnight Vintage
Joshua Viola and Sean Eads
Best Short Story
“Through the Holler, Into the Dark”
Emma E. Murray
Best Song Lyrics
Finish Line
Jayson William Allen
Best Thriller Novel
The First Wives
S.E. Reed
Best Urban Fantasy Novel
The Unlife of Lisa Cooper: Vengeance
JM Celi
Best Western Novel
Legends of the West
Michael Black
Best Young Adult Novel
The Unraveling of Emlyn DuLaine
Lindsay A. Franklin
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