
FILM AWARDS & JUDGING PANEL
HONORING SOUTHWEST STORIES
On November 14, 2026, independent filmmakers and audiences come together at the historic Pioneer Opera House for curated short-film screenings, introductions, and brief discussions. Every Official Selection is eligible for jury and audience recognition.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2026 · PIONEER ARIZONA LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM
MEET THE FILM JURY
EXPERIENCED VOICES. INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVES.
Our jury brings decades of experience across independent film, studio production, writing, directing, animation, visual effects, and interactive entertainment. Together, they will select the festival’s jury awards.

PRODUCER • AMAZON GAMES
Jon Judelson
Jon Judelson is Head of Asset Production at Amazon Games. Trained at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, he has produced more than 90 projects across film, commercials, and games, with work for Amazon, Netflix, Electronic Arts, Company 3, and Digital Domain.
His producing credits include the feature Dating Daisy, the Mass Effect live-action film Invasion, Rush: Inspired by Battlefield, and the Disney XD pilot Shark Bites. He has also served as a juror for the Bel Air Film Festival.

WRITER • DIRECTOR
Neel Upadhye
Neel Upadhye is a writer and director with 16 years in film and video games. A USC graduate, he wrote and directed the feature Dating Daisy, which won Best Comedy at the 2016 Sedona Film Festival, a Disney XD pilot, Shark Bites, and two Star Wars shorts produced by ILM, including Star Wars: Squadrons – Hunted.
At Electronic Arts he was lead writer on Need for Speed Unbound and a writer and director on Battlefield 2042, and he created the Apex Legends series Stories from the Outlands. He is principal writer at Giant Skull and is represented by WME and Anonymous Content.

FILMMAKER • CREATIVE EXECUTIVE
Tanner Boyajian
Tanner Boyajian co-founded Dark Burn Creative with his brothers Chase and Hunter in 2014 and serves as its president. The studio produces gameplay trailers, capture, and live-action campaigns for game publishers, including work for Fortnite, Call of Duty, Apex Legends, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
Trailer Park Group acquired Dark Burn in 2022, and the studio has since opened a London office to serve clients in Europe. In film, Tanner was a producer on the feature Dating Daisy. He continues to write, direct, produce, and mentor emerging filmmakers.

FESTIVAL CO-FOUNDER
Chase Boyajian
Chase Boyajian is a filmmaker and motion graphics artist with more than 20 years of creative experience. In 2014 he co-founded Dark Burn Creative with his brothers Tanner and Hunter; the studio’s work includes campaigns for Apex Legends, Valorant, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. He was also a producer on the feature Dating Daisy.
He serves as Technical Director of Banzerini House, working across independent film and theater, and co-founded the Phoenix Stage & Screen Festival to create opportunities for artists to share their work.

EXECUTIVE & CREATIVE DIRECTOR, BANZERINI HOUSE
Angela Lavelle
Angela Lavelle is executive and creative director of Banzerini House, a youth theatre and film academy based at the historic Opera House at Pioneer Living History Museum. She teaches acting and directs the company’s stage productions, including William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker.
On screen, she directed the Banzerini House short films Lost and Finders Club and I Didn’t Do It, and wrote and directed Stolen Wishes, which earned her Best Director (Woman) at the Summer 2026 RED Movie Awards. Her next short, Last Ride at Pioneer Park, is in pre-production.
2026 FILM AWARDS
Every Official Selection is eligible for festival recognition. Jury awards are selected by the film panel, while Audience Choice is decided by viewers attending the in-person screenings.

BEST SHORT FILM
Presented by the festival jury to the strongest overall film in the 2026 Phoenix Stage & Screen Festival film program.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Recognizing outstanding visual storytelling, including camera work, lighting, composition, and the overall visual language of the film.

BEST DIRECTOR
Recognizing outstanding direction, storytelling, and creative vision.

SOUTHWEST SPIRIT AWARD
Presented to a film that most memorably and authentically engages with the people, communities, landscapes, heritage, culture, history, or traditions of the American Southwest.

BEST EDITING
Recognizing exceptional craft in editing, including storytelling, pacing, structure, and the creative use of picture and sound.

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Selected through audience voting during the festival’s in-person film screenings.