In its ongoing mission to honor the work of both established and emerging directors, PIFF has established a number of awards.
Awarded Films In addition to the usual "best film" types of awards, each year PIFF presents three unique and prestigious awards:
Filmmaker on the Edge Award, presented to a film artist whose outstanding achievement, innovation, and vision continue to push the boundaries of film.
The John Schlesinger Award, presented to a first-time feature film director whose work commemorates the legacy of one of our finest American directors. One narrative awardee and one documentary awardee annually.
Excellence in Acting Award, presented to a film artist whose admirable body of work pushes the boundaries of the medium, demonstrating originality and innovation.
Next Wave Award, presented to a film artist who has an exciting and distinctive voice, takes artistic risks, and has a passionate commitment to independent film.
Filmmaker on the Edge Award • 1999:
John Waters • 2000:
Christine Vachon • 2001:
Ted Hope &
James Schamus • 2002:
Gus Van Sant • 2003:
Todd Haynes • 2004:
Jim Jarmusch • 2005:
Mary Harron • 2006:
Gregg Araki • 2007:
Todd Solondz • 2008:
Quentin Tarantino • 2009:
Guy Maddin • 2010:
Kevin Smith • 2011:
Darren Aronofsky • 2012:
Roger Corman • 2013:
Harmony Korine • 2014:
David Cronenberg • 2015:
Bobcat Goldthwait • 2016:
Ang Lee • 2017:
Sofia Coppola • 2018:
Sean Baker • 2019:
John Cameron Mitchell • 2021:
Richard Linklater • 2022:
Luca Guadagnino • 2023:
Bruce LaBruce • 2024:
Andrew Haigh • 2025:
Ari Aster The John Schlesinger Award • 2014: • Documentary: Alan Hicks for ''Keep on Keepin' On'' • 2015: • Narrative:
Mélanie Laurent for
Breathe • Documentary:
Alan Chebot for
Outermost Radio • 2016: • Narrative:
Remy Auberjonois for
Blood Stripe • Documentary: Adam Irving for
Off the Rails • 2017: • Narrative: Dave McCary for
Brigsby Bear • Documentary: Anthony Caronna and Alexander Smith for
Susanne Bartsch: On Top • 2018: • Narrative: Ofir Raul Graizer for
The Cakemaker • Documentary: Joanna James for
A Fine Line • 2019: • Narrative:
Carlo Mirabella-Davis for
Swallow • Documentary: David Charles Rodrigues for
Gay Chorus Deep South • 2021: • Narrative: Bassam Tariq for
Mogul Mowgli • Documentary:
Questlove for
Summer of Soul • 2022: • Narrative: Max Walker-Silverman for
A Love Song • Documentary: Alex Pritz for
The Territory • 2023: • Narrative:
Savanah Leaf for
Earth Mama • Documentary:
Zackary Drucker,
Kristen Lovell for
The Stroll • 2024: • Narrative: Robert Kolodny for
The Featherweight • Documentary:
Julian Brave NoiseCat and
Emily Kassie for
Sugarcane Excellence in Acting Award • 2002:
Marcia Gay Harden • 2006:
Lili Taylor • 2007:
Alan Cumming • 2008:
Gael García Bernal • 2009:
Alessandro Nivola • 2010:
Tilda Swinton • 2011:
Vera Farmiga • 2012:
Parker Posey • 2013:
Matt Dillon • 2014:
Patricia Clarkson • 2016:
Cynthia Nixon • 2017:
Chloë Sevigny • 2018:
Molly Shannon • 2019:
Judith Light • 2021:
Riz Ahmed • 2022:
Dale Dickey • 2023:
Billy Porter • 2024:
Colman Domingo Next Wave Award • 2017:
Aubrey Plaza • 2018:
Chloe Grace Moretz • 2019:
Jillian Bell • 2020:
Mya Taylor • 2021:
Natalie Morales • 2022:
Jenny Slate &
Bowen Yang • 2023:
Megan Stalter &
Julio Torres • 2024:
Joel Kim Booster Career Achievement • 2007:
Kathleen Turner • 2008:
Michael Childers • 2009:
Strand Releasing • 2011:
Albert Maysles ===
Faith Hubley Memorial Award=== • 2003:
Mira Nair • 2008:
Jane Lynch • 2010:
Rob Epstein and
Jeffrey Friedman • 2012:
Kirby Dick • 2013:
Edward Lachman • 2014:
Debra Winger • 2015:
Jennifer Coolidge ==References==