The 2018 Best Documentary Film 

Winner Is: 

Poster for the documentary
"The Louisiana Project" explores the anguish and ongoing struggles as well as the recovery and triumphs of the survivors of 2005's Hurricane Katrina.
PIFA 2018 Best Documentary Winner Levilyn Chriss
Director-producer Levilyn Chriss showcases her award for Best Documentary film, flanked by PIFA Outreach Specialist Malik Omar (left) and PIFA Assistant Director Keyon Smith (right). During her acceptance speech, Chriss said she had recently earned her Master of Fine Arts.
  • The Louisiana Project - (Levilyn Chriss, director-producer; USA; documentary, history, news; 52 min. 36 sec.; English) A few strong willed survivors of Hurricane Katrina who tell how their life has been for the past 10 years and the challenges they encountered due to the storm.  Watch the Trailer
Documentary film director Levilyn Chriss is interviewed
Chriss is interviewed after her award win.

2018 Best Documentary Film Nominees:

Poster of the documentary
"The Legacy of Blumberg" documentary explores the history of a Philadelphia neighborhood.
  • The Legacy of Blumberg - (Tracey Jenkins, director-writer-producer; USA; 2009; documentary, urban, history; 58 min. 54 sec.; English) A North Philadelphia resident explains the good and bad that came from within his urban neighborhood. 
    Watch the Trailer
Running scene from the documentary
New Jersey champion track and field athlete Rey Rivera discusses his passion for running in this documentary.
  • Rey Rivera: Inside the Athlete - (Daniele Salvatore Sestito, director; USA; 2017; documentary, sports; 11 min. 41 sec.; English) A documentary centered around Rey Rivera, a five-time New Jersey track and field state champion and the 2017 national 800-meter champion. Weeks before nationals, a confident and eager-to-win Rey discusses his career and his love-hate relationship with running, while he prepares to win states one last time. ​
Women embrace in a moving scene from the documentary
"The Shepherds" chronicles the history of the first LGBTQ-affirming Christian church in Taiwan and the heterosexual female pastor who founded it.
  • The Shepherds - (Elvis Lu, director; Taiwan; 2017; documentary, LGBTQ; 60 min.; black and white, color; Chinese) A heterosexual female pastor founded Taiwan’s first LGBT-affirming church in May 1996. For LGBTQ Christians, who had been rejected by the Christian community, this church finally provided them with a safe haven. Today, while the founder has passed away, the church members continue to struggle in the conflicts of the religion as Taiwan’s LGBTQ marriage equality bill is being put forward. Watch the Trailer

Nominees in Other Categories...

The list of movie production nominees for the 2018 film awards are now available: