Complete List of 2025 Blue Glass Award Winners
The 2025 Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival has come to close after screening 32 films selected for exhibition and competition at a variety of Chicagoland area venues. The Shorts and Features competition was held at the Classic Cinemas Elk Grove XQ in Elk Grove Village from April 27-29 and May 4-6. The Beyond competition was held at the Palatine Public Library from April 30 - May 3, the Classic Cinemas Tivoli Theatre on May 10 and Music Box Theatre on May 13.
Of these films, the top award-winner was narrative feature Never Not Yours receiving 5 Blue Glass awards. Watch the full presentation now available on YouTube.
BWiFF 2025 Award Winners
Best Original Score
Gino the Ghost, Water Baby
Best Production Design
Christiana Laine, An Autumn Summer
Best Cinematography
Brandon Somerhalder, An Autumn Summer
Best Sound
Kevin Cagnolatti, Never Not Yours
Best Editing
William Neal & Julia Szromba, The Pantone Guy
Best Achievement by a Young Actor
Kynlee Heiman as Sally in Sally, Get the Potatoes
Best Supporting Performance
Maureen Casey as Maggie in Back of the Net
Best Lead Performance
Markell Williams as Marty in Flush
Best Ensemble
Never Not Yours
Best Screenplay
J.D. Sandella & Jad Adkins, Battersea
Best Director
John Klein & Steve Kniss, Never Not Yours
Beyond Jury Award for Acting
Irina Rudy as Olga in Stampila
Beyond Jury Award for Writing
Daniel Klein, Taste the Revolution
Beyond Jury Award for Directing
Seth McClellan, Shiners: Voices from Owsley County
Best Music Video
The Deep Rolling: Magma
Best Documentary Short
Nothing Safer
Best Narrative Short (Drama)
Sally, Get the Potatoes
Best Narrative Short (Comedy)
Just Be Awesome
Best Documentary Feature
Segal
Best Narrative Feature
Never Not Yours
Beyond Competition Audience Favorite
Discovering Catharine
Audience Favorite
An Autumn Summer
Best of Illinois
Dawn Dusk
Beyond Jury Award for Producing
Bob Martin & Seth McClellan, Shiners: Voices from Owsley County
Best of Fest
Never Not Yours