THE 11TH ANNUAL HIP HOP FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2026 G.O.A.T. AWARD WINNERS

The Sight Unseen Takes Best of the Fest; Kyle Mosonyi Wins Best Director; Gangstaz In Korea Takes Best Series; and Seat at the Table Captures the Audience Choice Award

NEW YORK — August 24, 2026 — Harlem Film House announced the winners of the 11th Annual Hip Hop Film Festival G.O.A.T. Awards, capping five days of independent cinema, music, filmmaker discovery, industry access and community programming.

The festival concluded Sunday, August 23, with the G.O.A.T. Awards and Sneaker Ball at LOOK Dine-In Cinemas, where filmmakers from across the 2026 festival were celebrated.

Leading the night was THE SIGHT UNSEEN, directed by Shawn Antoine II, which captured the festival’s highest competitive honor, BEST OF THE FEST.

The 2026 awards also recognized Kyle Mosonyi for Best Director, Alpachino Howard for Best Actor, Alexandra Paul for Best Actress, and SEAT AT THE TABLE as the festival’s Audience Choice Award winner.

From narrative features and documentaries to animation, science fiction, television, music video and horror, the 2026 winners reflect the range of independent storytelling presented during the 11th Annual Hip Hop Film Festival.

2026 G.O.A.T. AWARD WINNERS

BEST OF THE FEST — THE SIGHT UNSEEN

Director: Shawn Antoine II

Logline: In 1971 Bronx, a glowing cross appears in a girl’s window, drawing crowds; 50 years later, she returns to confront the miracle that shaped her faith.

Trailer: Watch THE SIGHT UNSEEN on myFRESHtv

AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD — SEAT AT THE TABLE

Director: Prince Edwin Sprauve

Logline: After their grandmother’s death, two brothers spiral into grief and street violence, where one wrong move could cost them everything.

Trailer: Watch SEAT AT THE TABLE on myFRESHtv

BEST DOCUMENTARY — THE BOOK OF AHMAD

Director: Ian Phillips

Logline: A documentary portrait of a New York artist whose persistence turns survival into a long-awaited chance at recognition.

Trailer: Watch THE BOOK OF AHMAD on myFRESHtv

BEST FEATURE — META TAKE ONE

Directors: John Dierre and Ryan Dutter

Logline: A kinetic filmmaking drama about ambition, desperation and the chaos of chasing art at any cost.

Trailer: Watch META TAKE ONE on myFRESHtv

BEST SHORT — NO BIGGIE

Director: Marshall Cooper

Logline: In 2010 Harlem, a teen steals his brother’s prized Biggie jacket to impress a girl, only to step into danger the jacket can’t protect him from.

Trailer: Watch NO BIGGIE on myFRESHtv

BEST DIRECTOR — KYLE MOSONYI

Film: ADD TO CART Director: Kyle Mosonyi

Logline: A reclusive aging rapper is pulled back into the spotlight for one last battle: reclaiming the music rights that could define his legacy.

Trailer: Watch ADD TO CART on myFRESHtv

BEST ACTOR — ALPACHINO HOWARD

Film: SOUTHSIDE KEV Director: Jamel E. Furlow

Logline: Chasing street respect in South Jamaica, Queens, a misguided teen drifts further from the innocence he may never get back.

Trailer: Watch SOUTHSIDE KEV on myFRESHtv

BEST ACTRESS — ALEXANDRA PAUL

Film: REDLINING Director: Jason Stuart

Logline: In 1970s Georgia, a Black family and a white family sharing one property collide over inheritance, identity and who gets to call a house home.

Trailer: Watch REDLINING on myFRESHtv

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY — DUENDE

Directors: Petey McGee and Kevin Kittle

Logline: A music-driven tragedy linking classical rivalry and hip-hop ambition through the timeless danger of envy.

Trailer: Watch DUENDE on myFRESHtv

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY — WHAT’CHU MIXED WITH?

Director: Maya Cameron-Gordon

Logline: With her father gone and identity in question, a biracial San Francisco teen finds confidence when an older girl teaches her to embrace herself.

Trailer: Watch WHAT’CHU MIXED WITH? on myFRESHtv

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN — REDLINING

Director: Jason Stuart

Logline: In 1970s Georgia, a Black family and a white family sharing one property collide over inheritance, identity and who gets to call a house home.

Trailer: Watch REDLINING on myFRESHtv

BEST SOUNDTRACK — THE HEADLINER

Directors: Kevin James Savo and Daniel James Cimini

Logline: A struggling artist chasing music distribution drags famous rappers, family chaos and personal drama into his messy bid for a breakthrough.

Trailer: Watch THE HEADLINER on myFRESHtv

BEST ANIMATION / XR — FURIOUS & FAT CAT

Directors: K.L. Reeves and Pierre Sutton Jr.

Logline: A buddy comedy about opposite lives colliding under one roof, where friendship may be the only thing keeping adulthood together.

Trailer: Watch FURIOUS & FAT CAT on myFRESHtv

BEST COMEDY — THE HEADLINER

Directors: Kevin James Savo and Daniel James Cimini

Logline: A struggling artist chasing music distribution drags famous rappers, family chaos and personal drama into his messy bid for a breakthrough.

Trailer: Watch THE HEADLINER on myFRESHtv

BEST SOCIAL HORROR / THRILLER — MYSTIC STYLEZ

Director: Giovanni Fleming

Logline: A horror story where Memphis hip-hop ambition meets the occult, and every bar pulls the artist deeper into darkness.

Trailer: Watch MYSTIC STYLEZ on myFRESHtv

BEST SCI-FI — RECALL

Director: Kent Faulcon

Logline: A paralyzed veteran sends signals into deep space, convinced UFOs can heal him — until something answers and changes everything.

Trailer: Watch RECALL on myFRESHtv

BEST SERIES — GANGSTAZ IN KOREA

Director: Jong Gil Lee (aka. G-ill)

Logline: A cross-cultural hip-hop documentary about discovery, collaboration and the global rhythm connecting artists across borders.

Trailer: Watch GANGSTAZ IN KOREA on myFRESHtv

BEST DRAMA — BROWN CHARLIE

Director: Jermaine Wells

Logline: A warm drama-comedy about a man reinventing himself late in life and learning that real success starts within.

Trailer: Watch BROWN CHARLIE on myFRESHtv

BEST MUSIC VIDEO — 95 GOODIE MOB

Director: Ty Brueilly

Logline: North Carolina legends OC From NC and Jooselord team up to bring the purest, most authentic hip hop the world can offer.

95 Goodie Mob screened as a 2026 myFRESHtv Network Screening. A dedicated public myFRESHtv trailer page is not currently indexed.

Film Page: View 95 GOODIE MOB at the Hip Hop Film Festival

SPECIAL AWARDS

HUSTLE HARD AWARD — PRINCE SPRAUVE

Film: SEAT AT THE TABLE Director: Prince Edwin Sprauve

Logline: After their grandmother’s death, two brothers spiral into grief and street violence, where one wrong move could cost them everything.

Trailer: Watch SEAT AT THE TABLE on myFRESHtv

The Hustle Hard Award recognizes the filmmaker whose drive, execution and commitment embody the independent filmmaking spirit at the heart of the Hip Hop Film Festival.

THE TUBMAN — CHARLES “CHAS BRONXSON” FORD

Film: A BLACK MAN’S STATE OF MIND IN THIS POLICE STATE OF MINE Director: Charles “Chas Bronxson” Ford

Logline: The headlines told one story. The buried footage tells another.

Trailer: Watch A BLACK MAN’S STATE OF MIND on myFRESHtv

ACT UP! WRITER — ROD CAMPBELL

Screenplay: HIP HOP HEAD

Rod Campbell was recognized through the Hip Hop Film Festival’s ACT UP! Screenwriters Competition for Hip Hop Head, continuing the festival’s commitment to identifying stories at the script stage and creating pathways for writers to move their projects toward production.

CHECKS NOT TROPHIES

For Harlem Film House, the G.O.A.T. Awards represent more than recognition.

Through its CHECKS NOT TROPHIES initiative, participating filmmakers share in festival box office and streaming revenue, pairing awards and exposure with economic participation.

Throughout the 11th Annual Hip Hop Film Festival, filmmakers also connected directly with entertainment professionals through the BOSS PITCH, Master Cyphers, ACT UP! Screenwriters Competition, theatrical screenings, community screenings and myFRESHtv Network Screenings.

The festival’s approach is built around a simple principle: independent filmmakers should leave with more than a laurel.

They should leave with access, opportunity, audience and revenue.

Audiences can continue discovering films and filmmakers from the 2026 Hip Hop Film Festival on myFRESHtv.

Explore the 2026 films on myFRESHtv

ABOUT HARLEM FILM HOUSE

Harlem Film House is an independent film organization dedicated to creating platforms, opportunities and sustainable pathways for storytellers.

Its flagship program, the Hip Hop Film Festival, connects filmmakers, audiences and entertainment industry leaders through screenings, education, mentorship, competition, marketplace opportunities and year-round exhibition.

The Hip Hop Film Festival celebrated its 11th year in 2026.

Rock. Don’t Stop.

MEDIA CONTACT

press@hiphopfilmfestival.org