INDUSTRY / MARKET Poland / USA
Mackenzie and Mother Wolf scoop the top prizes at US in Progress
- A total of 20 awards have been handed out in the industry strand of the TAURON American Film Festival, which aims to connect US and European independent producers
The 15th edition of US in Progress, running from 4-8 November in Warsaw and Wrocław, which constitutes the central pillar of the TAURON American Film Festival’s industry activities, has wrapped with the announcement of its award winners, celebrating the best US independent works in post-production. This year’s edition showcased a strong line-up of emerging US voices, with 20 awards worth a total of $160,000 offered by a wide range of European partners and post-production studios.
The top honours went to Mackenzie, directed and produced by Mylissa Fitzsimmons (co-produced by Jaffe Zinn), which received post-production services worth up to $10,000 from Platige Image. Meanwhile, Mother Wolf, directed by Suzi Yoonessi and produced by MediaPro and Aspire Productions, took home colour-correction services worth up to $10,000 from Black Photon. In addition, Yoonessi received a $25,000 grant for a virtual studio shoot for her next project from ATM Virtual, including one day of shooting and a pre-lighting session.
Another major winner was Night Nurse by Georgia Bernstein, produced by Liane Cunje for Missing Link Productions and Ruby Mannequin Films, which impressed juries and partners alike, earning image post-production services worth up to $10,000 from Orka, a $6,000 sound mix from Soundflower and a travel grant to Poland for post-production, courtesy of New Europe Film Sales.
Perfect, directed by Millicent Hailes, received deliverables worth up to $5,000 from Di Factory, while producer Liz Cardenas was awarded a $20,000 production grant from the Wrocław Feature Film Studio to use its facilities and equipment for a future project. She was also invited by the Lower Silesia Film Centre (DCF) for a location-scouting trip in the region.
Pocket Dream by Julia Baylis and Sam Guest was recognised with design and sound support, receiving opening-title design or VFX (up to $5,000) from XANF and foley recording (up to $5,000) from Aeroplan Studios. Ruby Road by Talia Lugacy collected a package of post-production prizes including $10,000 worth of VFX from XANF, and $10,000 each in sound post-production from EarWorks and Aeroplan Studios. She Keeps Me Young by Doron Max Hagay received VFX services worth $5,000 from Fixafilm, while New Europe Film Sales awarded the filmmaker sales and promotion consulting services as well as a script consultation for his next project.
Finally, Take Me Home by Liz Sargent won colour services worth $5,000 from Fixafilm, while Unknownia by Dash Shaw, produced by Electric Chinoland and MUBI, scooped image post-production services worth $10,000 from Di Factory, sound services worth $5,000 from Aeroplan Studios and score-recording supervision worth up to $4,000 from Soundflower.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the Polish Film Institute and the Lower Silesia Film Centre, with additional support from the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Aeroplan Studios, ATM Virtual, Black Photon, Di Factory, EarWorks, Fixafilm, Orka, Platige Image, Soundflower, XANF, Wrocław Feature Film Studio, New Europe Film Sales, the Polish Producers Alliance and the Mazovia Warsaw Film Commission.
Here is the full list of award winners at the 2025 US in Progress:
US in Progress Awards
Platige Image Post-Production Award
Mackenzie – Mylissa Fitzsimmons (USA)
Producers: Mylissa Fitzsimmons, Jaffe Zinn
Black Photon Colour Correction Award
Mother Wolf – Suzi Yoonessi (USA)
Producer: Alexander Stegmaier (MediaPro, Aspire Productions)
ATM Virtual Studio Award
Mother Wolf – Suzi Yoonessi
Orka Image Post-Production Award
Night Nurse – Georgia Bernstein (USA)
Producer: Liane Cunje (Missing Link Productions, Ruby Mannequin Films)
Soundflower Awards
Sound Mix Award
Night Nurse – Georgia Bernstein
Score Recording Supervision Award
Unknownia – Dash Shaw (USA)
Producer: Kyle Martin (Electric Chinoland, MUBI)
New Europe Film Sales Awards
Post-Production Award
Night Nurse – Georgia Bernstein
Consulting Award
She Keeps Me Young – Doron Max Hagay (USA)
Producer: Niel Champagne (Tiny Giant, International Pigeon Production)
Di Factory Awards
Deliverables Award
Perfect – Millicent Hailes (USA)
Producer: Liz Cardenas (Freenjoy, Steak & Rose, Ten to the Six Pictures)
Di Factory Image Post-Production Award
Unknownia – Dash Shaw
Wrocław Feature Film Studio Production Grant
Perfect – Millicent Hailes
Lower Silesia Film Centre (DCF) Location Scouting Award
Perfect – Millicent Hailes
XANF Awards
VFX / Opening Title Design Award
Pocket Dream – Julia Baylis, Sam Guest (USA)
Producers: Vero Kompalic, Gia Rigoli (Anarene Films, One Two Twenty, Discordia, Simone Films, Tanbark Pictures)
VFX Award
Ruby Road – Talia Lugacy (USA)
Producers: Acoustic Pictures, Witchcraft Motion Picture Company
Aeroplan Studios Awards
Foley Recording Award
Pocket Dream – Julia Baylis, Sam Guest
Sound Post-production Award
Ruby Road – Talia Lugacy
Sound Award
Unknownia – Dash Shaw
EarWorks Sound Post-production Award
Ruby Road – Talia Lugacy
Fixafilm Awards
VFX Award
She Keeps Me Young – Doron Max Hagay
Colour Award
Take Me Home – Liz Sargent (USA)
Producer: Apoorva Charan (Cyprian Films NY, All Caps)
Did you enjoy reading this article? Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive more stories like this directly in your inbox.
