The Awards
Racism / Social Change
Embrace the Power of Words. Unite with Nature. Retrieve forward. Sankofa.
Join a transformative expedition, living among diverse communities around the globe to explore their traditional ways of life, with the goal of brining back a single word—a word the world desperately needs to embrace if it wants to survive.
Category: Culture • History • People
Type: Special
Awards: Award Winning,
Impact: Racism / Social Inequity / Culture Change
Native Land / Region: Name Name
Wattle Best Feature Film
Honoring the skill and creativity of cinematogrThis award recognizes excellence in feature-length films that effectively convey Indigenous stories, cultures, and perspectives. The Wattle represents unity and new beginnings. It signifies the start of something great, symbolizing the connection between people. (Australia)aphers who capture the essence of Indigenous stories through visuals. The Blue Gum
Kangaroo Paw Best Short Film
Celebrating outstanding short films that pack a powerful narrative punch in a limited timeframe. The Kangaroo Paw plant is native to Western Australia and is admired for its unique and vibrant appearance. This award recognizes the outstanding achievement in creating a short film that captures the essence of Indigenous storytelling and culture, much like the Kangaroo Paw stands out with its striking appearance in the Australian landscape.
Sagebrush Best Documentary
Honoring documentaries that provide in-depth exploration and insight into Indigenous themes and issues. Sagebrush is a symbol of wisdom, purification, and clarity. It represents the quest for understanding. (Native American)
Grevillea Best Animation
Recognizing exceptional animated works that convey Indigenous stories and creativity through the art of animation. The Grevillea signifies beauty, creativity, and the importance of artistic expression in storytelling. (Australia)
Eucalyptus Best Actor
Recognizing remarkable performances by actors in Indigenous films and series. Eucalyptus embodies healing and transformation, much like the transformative power of acting. (Australia)
Sweetgrass Best Actress
Celebrating outstanding female performances in Indigenous films and series. Sweetgrass symbolizes connection and unity among women. It honors the actress's role in bringing stories to life. (Australia)
Kakadu Plum Best Artist
Celebrating outstanding artist performances in films and series. Kakadu Plum represents wisdom, clarity, and the spotlight's focus on works of exceptional beauty and wisdom.
Thuja Cedar Best Director
Awarded to the director who exhibits exceptional vision, storytelling, and artistic direction. Cedar represents protection and strength. It signifies the director's guidance and leadership. (Native American)
Melaleuca Paperbark Best Writing
Acknowledging the strength of storytelling and scriptwriting in Indigenous narratives. Paperbark signifies the importance of storytelling and the wisdom conveyed through the written word. (Australia)
blue Gum Leaf Best Cinematography
Honoring the skill and creativity of cinematographers who capture the essence of Indigenous stories through visuals. Bleugum represents the strength and vision of teh strongest tree across australia.
Rosemary Best Original Score
Recognizing outstanding musical compositions that enhance the storytelling experience. Rosemary symbolizes remembrance and inspiration. It recognizes the powerful impact of music on storytelling. (Native American)
Winter Cress Best Indigenous Language
Celebrating films or series produced in Indigenous languages, preserving linguistic heritage. Weld is a symbol of cultural preservation and the importance of language in storytelling. (Australia)
Yew Community Engagement
Awarded to the project that exhibits a strong commitment to engaging and collaborating with Indigenous communities Yew is...
Whispering Willow Best Podcast / Voice Production
Honoring exceptional voices and podcasts that share Indigenous stories, wisdom, and knowledge. The whispering willow, symbolizing the lyrical and introspective qualities of the willow tree, known for its graceful, bending branches.
maple youth Achievement
Recognizing the talent and potential of young Indigenous filmmakers and storytellers. The maple embodies the growth, potential, and the future of the youth. what they will become. all they can be.
milkweed audience choice
This award is voted by the audience for the People's Choice, representing the collective voice and appreciation of the festival attendees, inspired by the national flower, the golden wattle.
bottlebrush Environmental Stewardship
This award honors a film that highlights the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable practices in storytelling and filmmaking. It acknowledges the role of filmmakers in advocating for a more ecologically conscious world
Orchid Global Impact Award
Found on every continent except Antarctica, orchids showcase a wide spectrum of diversity in color, shape, size, habitat, scent and many other aspects. It honors the ability of storytelling to transcend borders and inspire positive change worldwide.
One Fire Awards
In the heart of the VA One Fire Film Festival lies a unique tradition – awards that transcend the ordinary, symbolizing our commitment to fostering lasting, sustainable change. Instead of traditional overpriced statues that gather dust on shelves, our awards take the form of living, breathing symbols of hope and growth: native plants. These plants, carefully selected from the regions where our award winners hail from, carry with them the essence of the storytellers and the communities they represent.
But these awards are more than just potted plants; they are agents of transformation. As award recipients take these native plants back to their homelands, they become part of a global reforestation movement. Planted in various corners of the world, they contribute to the restoration of ecosystems, support local biodiversity, and serve as a reminder of the festival’s commitment to nurturing life in all its forms.
Wattle ( Acacia ) Best Feature Film
This award recognizes excellence in feature-length films that effectively convey Indigenous stories, cultures, and perspectives.
The Wattle represents unity and new beginnings. It signifies the start of something great, symbolizing the connection between people. (Australia)
Kangaroo Paw Best Short Film Award
Celebrating outstanding short films that pack a powerful narrative punch in a limited timeframe.
The Kangaroo Paw plant is native to Western Australia and is admired for its unique and vibrant appearance. This award recognizes the outstanding achievement in creating a short film that captures the essence of Indigenous storytelling and culture, much like the Kangaroo Paw stands out with its striking appearance in the Australian landscape.
Sagebrush Best Documentary
Honoring documentaries that provide in-depth exploration and insight into Indigenous themes and issues.
Sagebrush is a symbol of wisdom, purification, and clarity. It represents the quest for understanding. (Native American)
Grevillea Best Animation
Recognizing exceptional animated works that convey Indigenous stories and creativity through the art of animation.
The Grevillea signifies beauty, creativity, and the importance of artistic expression in storytelling. (Australia)
Eucalyptus Best Actor
Recognizing remarkable performances by actors in Indigenous films and series.
Eucalyptus embodies healing and transformation, much like the transformative power of acting. (Australia)
Sweetgrass Best Actress
Celebrating outstanding female performances in Indigenous films and series.
Sweetgrass symbolizes connection and unity among women. It honors the actress’s role in bringing stories to life. (Australia)
kakadu plum artist
Celebrating outstanding artist performances in films and series.
Kakadu Plum represents wisdom, clarity, and the spotlight’s focus on works of exceptional beauty and wisdom.
Thuja Cedar Best Director
Awarded to the director who exhibits exceptional vision, storytelling, and artistic direction.
Cedar represents protection and strength. It signifies the director’s guidance and leadership. (Native American)
Melaleuca Paperbark Best Writing
Acknowledging the strength of storytelling and scriptwriting in Indigenous narratives.
Paperbark signifies the importance of storytelling and the wisdom conveyed through the written word. (Australia)
blue Gum Leaf Best Cinematography
Honoring the skill and creativity of cinematographers who capture the essence of Indigenous stories through visuals.
Bleugum represents the strength and vision of teh strongest tree across australia.
Rosemary Best Original Score
Recognizing outstanding musical compositions that enhance the storytelling experience.
Rosemary symbolizes remembrance and inspiration. It recognizes the powerful impact of music on storytelling. (Native American)
Winter Cress Best Indigenous Language
Celebrating films or series produced in Indigenous languages, preserving linguistic heritage.
Weld is a symbol of cultural preservation and the importance of language in storytelling. (Australia)
Yew Best Indigenous Community Engagement
Awarded to the project that exhibits a strong commitment to engaging and collaborating with Indigenous communities
Yew is…
Whispering Willow Best Podcast / Voice Production
Honoring exceptional voices and podcasts that share Indigenous stories, wisdom, and knowledge.
The whispering willow, symbolizing the lyrical and introspective qualities of the willow tree, known for its graceful, bending branches.
maple youth Achievement
Recognizing the talent and potential of young Indigenous filmmakers and storytellers.
The maple embodies the growth, potential, and the future of the youth. what they will become. all they can be.
milkweed audience choice
bottlebrush Environmental Stewardship
This award honors a film that highlights the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable practices in storytelling and filmmaking. It acknowledges the role of filmmakers in advocating for a more ecologically conscious world
Orchid Global Impact Award
Found on every continent except Antarctica, orchids showcase a wide spectrum of diversity in color, shape, size, habitat, scent and many other aspects. It honors the ability of storytelling to transcend borders and inspire positive change worldwide.
With every plant given, we sow the seeds of change. Through this gesture, we hope to cultivate a lasting impact that goes beyond the festival, breathing life into the landscapes and communities that inspire our stories. The native awards are a testament to our belief in the power of storytelling not only to inspire change but also to sustain it, one plant at a time.
