Prize Fest 2025 ended its annual event in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana. The five-day festival attracted thousands of attendees. It featured competitions and activities in film, food, music, and comedy. The Prize Foundation organized the event. The festival has become a regular event in the city, drawing participants and audiences from across the country. Gregory Kallenberg, the founder and executive director, said the event helps raise Shreveport’s profile as a center for creative work.
The Louisiana Film Prize was a main part of the festival. The 2025 Grand Prize went to ‘Last Minute,’ directed by Michael Cusumano. The film tells the story of a single mother helping her son with a homework assignment. Cusumano received a $50,000 cash prize and an Oscar-qualifying screening. Nineteen short films, all shot in Louisiana, competed as finalists. Winners were chosen through a voting system that combined audience and industry judge input. Other finalists included ‘Girl Dad’ by Rachael Hudson, ‘M.R.I. (or, Michael Returns Indefinitely)’ by John F. Beach, ‘The Old Man at the Bar’ by Alexander Jeffery, and ‘Rug Pull’ by Carlos Jimenez.
Individual awards were also given. Ty Hudson won Best Actor for ‘Girl Dad.’ Abby Tozer won Best Actress for ‘Old Man at the Bar.’ The festival also awarded Founder’s Circle Grants of $3,000 each to five filmmakers: Mackenzie Bell, Haley Kirton, Kai Tan, Devon Johns, and Austin Gorski. These grants will support their future projects for the 2026 Louisiana Film Prize…