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Check Out the Big Events
Prize Fest is known for its world-class creative events featuring local and national artists.
Find your favorites, buy passes, and become the Prize!
FILM PRIZE
The World’s Greatest Film Festival
Thursday, October 15—
Saturday, October 17
Various Events and Screening Times
Multiple Venues Available
Louisiana-made short films by local and national filmmakers. Vote for the $50,000 winner!
MUSIC PRIZE
2 Nights of Indie Music
Friday, October 16—
Saturday, October 17
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Remington Garage,
211 Market St
Ten musicians from near and far across two nights of concerts. The winner takes home $10,000!
COMEDY PRIZE
A Night of Live Standup Comedy
Thursday, October 15
Seating 1: 6:00 p.m.
Seating 2: 8:00 .p.m
Remington Garage,
211 Market St
See rising standup comedians perform live. The funniest comedian will win $2,500!
COME & GET IT
Wednesday, October 14
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Remington Suite Hotel,
220 Travis St
Explore three culinary events with six local and six national celebrity chefs.
Eat your heart out!
CELEBRITY BBQ
A finger-licking good time with local and celebrity chefs.
Friday, October 16
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
700 Texas Street
One celebrity chef teams up with local chefs for a smoky, delicious BBQ. Get your napkins ready!
BATTLE FOR THE GOLDEN FORK
Chefs battle for glory!
One Night Only
Saturday, October 17
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
700 Texas Street
Three finalist chefs from Shreveport-Bossier will compete for victory. Best chef wins $5,000!
PHOTO PRIZE
Photographers compete for your vote!
Gallery Open
Wednesday, October 14—
Saturday, October 17
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Bossier Parish Community College
Photographers share their snaps. Best photo wins $1,000!
Special Events
& Parties
The party never stops at Prize Fest!
Various venues and times.
Every day and every night there are special events — from meetups to parties — that you won’t want to miss! Get the lowdown below.
FILM PRIZE
The World’s Greatest Film Festival
Thursday, October 15—
Saturday, October 17
Various Events and Screening Times
Multiple Venues Available
Louisiana-made short films by local and national filmmakers. Vote for the $50,000 winner!
MUSIC PRIZE
2 Nights of Indie Music
Friday, October 16—
Saturday, October 17
6:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Remington Garage,
211 Market St
Ten musicians from near and far across two nights of concerts. The winner takes home $10,000!
COMEDY PRIZE
A Night of Live Standup Comedy
Thursday, October 15
Seating 1: 6:00 p.m.
Seating 2: 8:00 .p.m
The Garage, 211 Market St
See rising standup comedians perform live. The funniest comedian will win $2,500!
COME & GET IT
Wednesday, October 14
6:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Remington Suite Hotel,
220 Travis St
Explore three culinary events with six local and six national celebrity chefs.
Eat your heart out!
CELEBRITY BBQ
A finger-licking good time with local and celebrity chefs.
Friday, October 16
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
700 Texas Street
One celebrity chef teams up with local chefs for a smoky, delicious BBQ. Get your napkins ready!
BATTLE FOR THE GOLDEN FORK
Chefs battle for glory!
One Night Only
Saturday, October 17
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
700 Texas Street
Three finalist chefs from Shreveport-Bossier will compete for victory. Best chef wins $5,000!
Photo Prize
Photographers compete for your vote!
Gallery Open
Wed, October 14 —
Sat, October 17
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Bossier Parish Community College
Photographers share their snaps. Best photo wins $1,000!
Special Events & Parties
The party never stops at Prize Fest!
Various venues and times.
Every day and every night there are special events — from meetups to parties — that you won’t want to miss! Get the lowdown below.
Meetups and Parties
Prize Fest is more than creative competitions, it’s a celebration of community.
Join us for these free events throughout the festival.
Film Prize University
Thursday, October 15
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Robinson Film Center,
617 Texas St, Second Floor
Film industry professionals will share stories, insight, and advice on the world of filmmaking — current trends, festival recommendations, story advice and more!
Film Prize Red Carpet Event
Thursday, October 15
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
700 Block of Texas St
Join the filmmakers and the stars of this year’s Louisiana Film Prize on the red carpet. This event, open to all, will feature photographers, a filmmaker speed date, big toast with special drinks and more, all in the middle of Texas Street in downtown Shreveport.
Red Carpet Afterglow Party
Thursday, October 15
9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Noble Savage, 417 Texas St
The party doesn’t stop after the red carpet cameras stop clicking! Join us into the night with special drinks, mocktails just steps away from the red carpet!
Friday Night After Party
Friday, October 16
8:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Location TBD
Join all of the Prize Fest competitors, cast, crew, and fellow audience members with a continued celebration of their accomplishments. A live DJ will spin music that will make you move!
Heaven & Hell Halloween Party
Saturday, October 17
9:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
The Capri, 620 Milam St
The infamous Prize Fest Halloween-themed party is back — complete with a live DJ and decorations! Costumes are highly encouraged. Festival pass holders enter for free. All others will pay cover.
Film Prize Awards Ceremony
Sunday, October 18
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Stream on prizefest.com
You watched, you voted — now find out who will win Film Prize! Awards will be given for Best Actress, Best Actor, Founder’s Circle Filmmaking Grants, Top 5 Films, and the Grand Prize Winner of up to $50,000!
Meet the Artists
Prize Fest is known for its world-class creative events featuring local and national artists.
Find your favorites, buy passes, and become the Prize!
FILM PRIZE
Twenty Louisiana-made films will compete for $50,000 — the largest cash prize for a short film in the world.
Abnegation
Directed by
Niko Kochalidze
Film Synopsis
In a world irreversibly damaged by Al data centers, a couple is forced to rely on the very same tool responsible for creating resource scarcity.
Runtime: xx min
Carolina Blue
Directed by
Mark D. Bonner
Film Synopsis
A 19-year-old woman who’s been postponing her life discovers that her grandpa, who’s running out of time, is doing the exact opposite.
Runtime: xx min
The Day I Met Aretha Franklin
Directed by
Brian Egland & Carlos Jimenez
Film Synopsis
Two women in a beauty salon transform a playwright’s day before his play world premieres.
Runtime: xx min
Doom Lift
Directed by
David Culotta
Film Synopsis
A human and a puppet find themselves stuck on a ski lift hurdling towards their doom and try desperately to escape their fate.
Runtime: xx min
Fruits of Our Labor
Directed by
Taylor Deville
Film Synopsis
Tensions rise and plans derail when a group of experienced art thieves reluctantly team up with a rookie informant.
Runtime: xx min
Grad Night
Directed by
Travis Bible
Film Synopsis
A graduation tape from the Class of 2001 captures one last night of freedom and the beginning of a relationship that will shape a lifetime.
Runtime: xx min
The Great White Wolf
Directed by
Zac Cino
Film Synopsis
Stan has been sober for a year, but is accidentally served a cocktail instead of a mocktail during a lunch meeting.
Runtime: xx min
Harvested
Directed by
Justin Livingston
Film Synopsis
After waking up in a motel ice bath with one of his kidneys stolen, a recently graduated medical student sets out on an absurd quest to get his missing organ back.
Runtime: xx min
Hours to Minutes to Seconds
Directed by
Catalina Cielo & Stevie Cavalier
Film Synopsis
A teenager lives with The Clockmaker in a house filled with mysterious creations. When a new friend, Cleo, comes to life, they discover The Clockmaker is not as altruistic as he seems.
Runtime: xx min
Inhumation
Directed by
Austin Gorski
Film Synopsis
After being pronounced dead prematurely, a man afflicted with a rare condition is determined to put his fears to rest – no matter the cost.
Runtime: xx min
The Jade Stallion
Directed by
Devon Johns
Film Synopsis
A fading manager tries to preserve his authority at a corporate liquor store.
Runtime: xx min
The King of Time
Directed by
Erinn Hayes
Film Synopsis
An overworked man goes to cabin in the woods hoping to fall into a time loop.
Runtime: xx min
The Man I Love
Directed by
Kai Tan
Film Synopsis
Every year, on the eve of the 1973 UpStairs Lounge fire in New Orleans, a man returns to the house where his lover who died in the fire still waits to say goodbye all over again.
Runtime: xx min
Max Capacity
Directed by
April Yanko
Film Synopsis
While packing up her family home, a woman and her boyfriend discover her dead dad’s nude centerfold.
Runtime: xx min
Smoke
Directed by
Gian Smith
Film Synopsis
When a powerful political wife kidnaps the young woman she suspects is having an affair with her husband, a tense spring afternoon of weed, whiskey, and psychological warfare spirals into a deadly loyalty test.
Runtime: xx min
Someday They’ll Go Down Together
Directed by
Taylor Bracewell
Film Synopsis
A young couple lives on the margins, bound together by status, devotion, and a shared defiance of a world that has already written their ending.
Runtime: xx min
Spatial
Directed by
Paul Petersen
Film Synopsis
Henri Beckett, a reclusive, audio field recordist captures a chilling occurrence during one of her ambient sessions.
Runtime: xx min
Stalling
Directed by
Xander Topich
Film Synopsis
Minutes before a job interview, a man with a stubborn case of shy bladder becomes the center of an increasingly surreal restroom spectacle as every well-intentioned attempt to help only makes things worse.
Runtime: xx min
Tannenbaum
Directed by
Matthew Spriggs
Film Synopsis
Jake’s holiday season takes an unexpected turn as he tries his best to give his daughter, ex-wife, and dog a memorable Christmas.
Runtime: xx min
Winter Wind
Directed by
Heath Hill
Film Synopsis
Following the warning of a mysterious, ghostly stranger, a notorious gang of thieves seeks shelter from a brutal wind storm in the very town they plundered into poverty.
Runtime: xx min
FOOD PRIZE
Six local chefs will team up with six celebrity chefs to fight to win the title of Golden Fork Champion.
LOCAL CHEF
Jasmine Cherry
Houston-born and Art Institute of Houston-trained, Jasmine learned soulful Southern cooking beside her mom. Now Shreveport-based, she’s Executive Chef at the Noble Savage and owner of Boujee Bites LLC, with over 15 years’ experience.
Celebrity Chef
Dawn Burrell
LOCAL CHEF
Chelsea Girard
With five years in the kitchen, Chelsea values teamwork, adaptability, and joy. Raised around a family dinner table, she believes food brings people together. Off duty: fishing, hiking with her dogs, and home projects.
Celebrity Chef
Katianna Hong
LOCAL CHEF
Jacob Mouser
A chef at The Chop Shop, Jacob cooks with deep respect for the whole animal. He works seasonally, wastes little, and uses fire, knife, and time to make food that’s honest and full of flavor.
Celebrity Chef
Paula Endara
LOCAL CHEF
Lalo de los Santos
Born in Oaxaca, Mexico, Abelardo — known as Lalo — carries his homeland’s culinary heritage into every kitchen. His career began over a decade ago under Chef Gabriel Balderas of Zuzul Coastal Cuisine and El Cabo Verde.
Celebrity Chef
Paula Endara
LOCAL CHEF
Darrielle Stephens
A Southern Cajun chef with a passion for teaching, Darrielle has owned Stephens Family for 11 years and now instructs at Bossier Parish Community College, bringing real-world experience and deep respect for Cajun tradition.
Celebrity Chef
Lana Lagomarsini
LOCAL CHEF
Selena Tomic
Co-owner of Bella Fresca and Sauvage, Sanela has shaped Shreveport’s dining scene for 28 years. Her Balkan heritage and years in Germany define her cooking, now carried forward with her sons Igor and Sasha.
Celebrity Chef
Zubair Mohajir
CELEBRITY CHEF
Lana Lagomar-sini
Fronted by powerhouse vocalist AJ Haynes, the group is known for their energetic fusion of punk blues, classic R&B.
CELEBRITY CHEF
Zubair Mohajir
Known for arena-ready anthemic energy and introspective lyrics, they hit new heights opening for Bon Jovi in 2022 being awesome.
CELEBRITY CHEF
Katianna Hong
Known for their blend of club-ready beats, rock swagger, and stadium-sized hooks, the quintet consists of members River Gibson.
CELEBRITY CHEF
Dawn
Burrell
A young black male reunites with his high-school crush after doing five years in prison for being an accomplice to a crime.
CELEBRITY CHEF
Paula
Endara
A teen raised in a southern home in the mid-1960s risks everything to cross-dress for the first time after receiving an invitation to a party.
CELEBRITY CHEF
Paula
Endara
A teen raised in a southern home in the mid-1960s risks everything to cross-dress for the first time after receiving an invitation to a party.
MIXOLOGIST
Walker
Adams
Serving as the bar manager and cocktail artist at Fat Calf Brasserie, Walker Adams is a staple of Shreveport fine dining.
MIXOLOGIST
Dakota
Craig
Known as one of the core crew at Bear’s in Shreveport’s Highland neighborhood, Dakota serves up delicious drinks daily.
MIXOLOGIST
Chase Boytim
Owner of Fatty Arbuckle’s in Highland, Chase has been in the restaurant and bar business for over 20 years.
MIXOLOGIST
Audrey DeLaune
Bio coming soon.
MIXOLOGIST
Paul
Loggins
Paul is a head mixologist at Shreveport’s Zuzul Coastal Cuisine, founded by Food Prize finalist and serial restaurateur Gabriel Balderas.
MUSIC PRIZE
Ten musicians will perform live for an opportunity to win $10,000 cash and other prizes.
Ado Soul
Genre
Soul
About the Artist
Ado Soul is the New Orleans–based singer and frontman of Ado Soul & The Tribe, blending funk, R&B, blues, and New Orleans soul. He was named an Essence “New & Next” Artist in 2023 and has appeared at both Essence Festival and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
Listen to the Music
Dezi5
Genre
Soul Rock
About the Artist
Dallas-born singer, songwriter, and bandleader Dezi 5 blends soul, blues, rock, country, Americana, and Latin into his signature “Texas Soul.” The Dallas Observer named Dirty Laundry and Dirty Laundry: Unfolded among the best of 2024 and 2025.
Listen to the Music
Elijah Delgado
Genre
Indie Rock
About the Artist
Elijah Delgado is an Austin-based artist blending indie folk, pop, and rock into “indie rock lullabies.” Since his 2021 debut EP When I Was On Cloud 9, he’s topped 700,000 Spotify streams and played alongside Better Than Ezra and Bartees Strange at Old Settler’s, UtopiaFest, and Stubb’s.
Listen to the Music
The Family
Genre
Americana
About the Band
The Family is a Muscle Shoals group rooted in shared history, lived-in songwriting, and North Alabama’s musical traditions. Recorded at legendary FAME Studios, their debut album Delusions of Grandeur draws on ’70s folk rock, Southern rock, and Muscle Shoals soul, with rich harmonies at its core.
Listen to the Music
Gran Moreno
Genre
Rock
About the Band
Gran Moreno is an Austin-based psychedelic rock band formed by brothers Ricardo and Christian Rodríguez. Named KUTX Artist of the Month in April 2026, the band has built a reputation for ferocious, high-energy performances.
Listen to the Music
J. Isaiah Evans & the Boss Tweed
Genre
Blues Rock
About the Band
J. Isaiah Evans & The Boss Tweed are a Texas organ trio playing what they call “Garageicana Rock-N-Roll,” with keys front and center of Americana rock. Fueled by American rock & roll and Texan country-boogie, they bring a raw and rowdy spirit to revved-up roots music
Listen to the Music
Jesse Rawlinson
Genre
Country
About the Artist
Louisiana’s upstate country crooner that captures the old style of soul/country/songwriter sound of the past. A Shreveport, LA native that sings about pain, heartache, and things that make you think about pain and heartache.
Listen to the Music
Madame Radar
Genre
Rock
About the Band
Madam Radar is an Austin-based Americana rock band that punches hard with explosive harmonies, soaring guitar work, and high-energy songwriting. A two-time Sonic Guild grant recipient, the band has shared stages with Bon Jovi, Lukas Nelson, 3 Doors Down, Hayes Carll, and Jackie Venson.
Listen to the Music
Parker Woodland
Genre
Indie Rock
About the Band
Led by Austin singer and activist Erin Walter, Parker Woodland brings a cathartic strain of indie rock rooted in punk, pop, and heart-on-sleeve songwriting. The Austin trio was part of Sonic Guild’s 2024 class and has continued building its local following with punchy songs, big hooks, and energy distinctly Austin.
Listen to the Music
Rococo Disco
Genre
RnB-Soul
About the Band
Rococo Disco is the project between David Soto and Paul Chu. The band combines soul rnb and indie music to create new fun sounds and impress crowds. Chu and Soto are known for their wild crowd work and electric shows.
Listen to the Music
COMEDY PRIZE
Eight comedians will take the stage to earn your laughs and the votes of the judges to win big.
April Boddie
Bringing a sharp comedic voice from New York City, April Boddie is a stand-up comedian, writer, and creator with credits including Hulu, Netflix, CBS, BET, and the New York Comedy Festival. She has opened for Roy Wood Jr., Mike Epps, Jay Jurden, and Mia Jackson, and hosts the comedy podcast Co-Pay with April.
Gary Simons
Gary Simons is a Connecticut-raised, New York City–based comedian, writer, and actor who has opened for Mike Birbiglia, Roy Wood Jr., Ron Funches, and Sam Jay. A 2026 JFL New Face and 2024 New York Comedy Festival Comic to Watch, he performs regularly at the Comedy Cellar and runs Graveshift Comedy in Brooklyn.
John Novosad
A fixture of the Denver comedy scene, John Novosad has spent more than 40 years performing stand-up across the country. His credits include The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Comedy.TV, Dry Bar, Nateland Presents, and Don’t Tell Comedy, along with his 2023 album Jokes I Can Only Tell Here.
Papp Johnson
Papp Johnson is a Los Angeles based stand-up comedian and actor. He has appeared on Netflix’s Funny AF with Kevin Hart, and Comics Unleashed. His debut comedy special and album, “Timeless”, was named one of the best albums of 2023 by Paste Magazine. Last year, he also released a set for Comedy Central’s Featuring.
Philipp Kostelecky
Philipp Kostelecky is a New York–based stand-up comedian who performs across the U.S., U.K., and Europe. His credits include the BBC, Comedy Cellar, and the BBC New Comedy Awards, and he has supported comedians such as Russell Kane, Rafi Bastos, and Des Bishop on tour.
Rachel Williams
Rachel Williams is a Long Island–raised, New York City–based stand-up comedian known for sharp, self-aware takes on everyday life. She has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, released a Don’t Tell Comedy special, and was named a 2025 New York Comedy Festival Comic to Watch.
Shane Bianchi
Shane Bianchi is a Los Angeles based comedian originally from Nashville, Tennessee. He regularly performs at The Comedy Store in LA and Zanies in Nashville. He has opened for comedians such as Big Jay Oakerson, Joe List, and Nick Mullen. He’s pretty funny.
Tatiana Frank
Tatiana Frank was named a Comic To Watch by New York Comedy Festival. She has a viral Don’t Tell Special on YouTube, headlined across the country and recently taped a new special coming out soon! Originally from Miami, Tatiana now lives in New York City where she is a comedy club regular.
PHOTO PRIZE
Explore photos taken in Shreveport and Bossier City by regional photographers.
Stay tuned… Finalists will be announced in September!
Jeremy
Hernandez
About the Photographer
Based in New York, Conquest was named a “New Face” at Montreal’s Just for Laughs Comedy Festival and cast as ‘TSA Bae’ in season 4 of HBO’s series Insecure.
Mollie
Corbett
About the Photographer
Originally hailing from Kentucky, Katherine hits the road sharing confessions of her southern family secrets and awkward adolescent years across the country.
Holly J
About the Photographer
A young black male reunites with his high-school crush after doing five years in prison for being an accomplice to a crime he didn’t commit.
Jenn
Brooke
About the Photographer
A teen raised in a southern home in the mid-1960s risks everything to cross-dress for the first time after receiving an invitation to an underground party.
Bailey
Green
About the Photographer
A teen raised in a southern home in the mid-1960s risks everything to cross-dress for the first time after receiving an invitation to an underground party.
Prize Foundation is Changing Lives and Creating Carreers
We love a good contest. We love a good festival. Prize Fest is both, but it is also something bigger. Each spring and fall, we bring together creators who are serious about sharpening their craft, building careers, and turning artistic ambition into real economic opportunity. What audiences see on stage and on screen is only part of the story. Behind the scenes, we are building an ecosystem for learning, mentorship, collaboration, and professional growth. Prize Fest is where we do more than showcase work. We help creative people build futures.
Here's How We Make the Magic
Attract Talent By Offering Huge Cash Prizes and Awards
Sure, we have some of the largest prizes for our creative competitions in the world. One major difference between Prize Fest and other competitions is that we speak green. All of our grand prizes are cash money. You can take that to the bank. Our commitment to prize money doesn’t end at cutting a check, however. Our mentors are available to offer you advice on how to invest your winnings back into your creative endeavors. After all, “it’s called show business, not show art” as actress Jean Seberg would say. Building a successful career doesn’t stop at winning — in fact, it’s just the beginning
Provide Industry Mentorship to Competitors
Lots of festivals and competitions have judges and panel discussions with guests. Sometimes those panels are disconnected from the competitors, seated high up on a stage and available only for short conversations afterward. Not at Prize. We have built a network of working industry professionals who have been where you are and want to see you succeed. We make our mentors available to the creative competitors before, during, and after the competition so that you can not only ask them questions, but so you can get to know them and they can get to know you. When you put in the work, who you know can be an incredibly powerful tool.
Participation-Driven Attendance
Between 10,000 and 15,000 people attend Prize events throughout the year, culminating in our largest event — Prize Fest — which takes place in Shreveport, Louisiana each October. People from across the world come to (and stream) Prize Fest events. But it’s not just about the size of the audience, it’s about how they interact with the artists. Each attendee gets to vote in the competitions, meaning they have a direct impact on the outcome of the festival. And because each audience member has attendance requirements they have to meet in order to vote, they are incentivized to get to know you work better than any festival audience on the planet.
Cultivate Real Community Through Engaging Events
One of the biggest parts of building a career and making moves in this world is building a community around you. Yes, our audience is engaged in your success. Yes, we bring mentors and we write big checks. The biggest thing you can take from Prize, however, is a connection with other artists like you who are driven to succeed. Prize is like summer camp: You will make friendships, find collaborators, and raise glasses screaming to the heavens in celebration of what you have all accomplished individually and together. Beyond all of that, you will carry it forever. In the end, the Prize gives to you what you put in, just like life.