From the Newsroom: We’re excited to share a major milestone for GIFT as it continues its festival run.

From a highly competitive pool of submissions from filmmakers around the world, GIFT has been selected as a semi-finalist in two international film festivals:

- AREA51 Underground Film Contest (2026)

- Planet Cinema NYC Film Festival (2026)

This recognition builds on the project’s growing list of awards and selections, further affirming GIFT as a standout entry on the global festival circuit.

A Strong Showing in Competitive Fields

At the Planet Cinema NYC Film Festival, GIFT was selected as a semi-finalist among 429 worldwide submissions, placing it in the top 18% of all entries. The jury, composed of filmmakers and industry voices based in New York City, cited the project as a standout among an exceptionally competitive field.

Meanwhile, the AREA51 Underground Film Contest, a festival focused on bold, boundary-pushing cinema, has advanced GIFT into its semi-final round as part of its April preliminary selections. Organizers described the selected projects as part of an “elite vanguard of filmmakers” pushing the limits of traditional storytelling.

Final results for AREA51 will be announced on September 30, 2026, following additional rounds of evaluation.

Additional Recognition and Awards

The momentum for GIFT extends beyond these semi-final placements.

The film has been named a Nominee at Darkland Film Awards, selected from 714 submissions worldwide and advancing into a final pool of just 213 nominees. Darkland is known for highlighting work that explores psychological depth, thematic complexity, and the darker edges of the human experience, making this recognition a strong alignment with the film’s tone and intent.