Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival Shines Bright with Space Dance-Themed Celebration

People’s Choice for Best Film - A Stiff Situation

‘How to Sleep in the Cold’ Dominates MIFF Awards, Wins Best Actor, Actress, and Humanitarian Honors

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – The 27th annual Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival, held at Premiere Theaters Oaks 10 in Melbourne, October 16-18, has announced this year’s award winners.

Under the enchanting theme Space Dance, this year’s event celebrated the boundless artistry of independent filmmaking while honoring Florida’s Space Coast heritage and the enduring legacy of NASA’s human spaceflight program.

Attendees witnessed groundbreaking stories and helped raise vital funds for the No Limits Academy, which provides innovative education to children with complex physical disabilities.

In a festival lineup that fuses heart-pounding documentaries, laugh-out-loud comedy, and nostalgic retrospectives, MIFF delivered an unforgettable weekend of screenings, panels, and star-studded moments.

The MIFF 2025 award winners include:

• Best Animation: The Bedbug Hotel
• Best Comedy: To Have and To Fold
• Best Documentary: Unlikely Mermaids
• Best Drama: Always Play With Matches
• Best Horror: Flicker
• Best Music Video: Paradise
• Best Musical score: Silver Sizzle
• Best Production Design: Thoughts and Prayers
• Best Poster: Get It Done!
• Best Sci-Fi: All The Money In The World
• Best Shot on Mobile: Indiana Jones and the Secret File
• Best Actor Award: Daniel Wachs – How to Sleep in the Cold
• Best Actress Award: Franny Titus – How to Sleep in the Cold
• Best Volunteer: Pete LaMaster
• Special Recognition for Achievement in Film -The Man Behind The Six Million Dollar Man: The Untold Story of Martin Caidin
• People’s Choice for Best Film – A Stiff Situation
• Director’s Choice for Best Film – Memories Never Die
• Robin & Eddy “Independent Spirit” Award – Making Megaforce
• Robert W. Kurrus Humanitarian Award– How to Sleep in the Cold

Kicking off on Thursday, October 16, at 6 p.m. was the Florida premiere of ‘Making Megaforce’, a high-octane behind-the-scenes saga chronicling the wild production of the 1982 cult classic action flick.

Packed with archival footage, star interviews, and explosive revelations, this film revs up the adrenaline while paying homage to the DIY grit of independent cinema’s golden era. The after-party will be at Tide & Tonic and feature recording artist Char Good.

“This year’s Space Dance theme isn’t just about rockets and stars. It’s a tribute to the innovative spirit that propels both filmmakers and explorers forward,” said MIFF Program Chair and Co-Founder Dr. Terry Cronin.

“It’s wonderful when our community comes together to celebrate the artistry of filmmaking and is able to do it while raising money for a great cause.”

Anchoring the festival was the world premiere of the riveting documentary The Man Behind the Six Million Dollar Man: The Untold Story of Martin Caidin, a deep-dive into the life of the visionary author and aerospace pioneer whose groundbreaking work inspired one of television’s most iconic sci-fi franchises.

Audiences were be transported through Caidin’s untold contributions to aviation and space exploration, revealing the human ingenuity that blurred the lines between fiction and reality.

History buffs and space enthusiasts will orbit around ‘A Brief History of NASA Human Spaceflight’ with Jay Honeycutt, former NASA Manager and Kennedy Space Center Director.

This exclusive presentation, delivered by Honeycutt himself, charts the triumphs and trials of America’s journey to the stars —from Mercury to Artemis —offering insider insights that make the cosmos feel intimately attainable.

Laughter launches into orbit during the festival’s comedy segment, hosted by the incomparable Lisa Corrao, a comedian whose sharp wit has lit up stages from coast to coast.

Corrao’s high-energy hosting will intersperse hilarious takes on space-age absurdities with festival shorts, ensuring every screening ends on a high note of joy and connection.

Capping the cinematic constellations is the glamorous red carpet event —complete with photo ops, singing, dancing, and local celebrity mingling. Guests will step into a galaxy of glamour before diving into the cinematic cosmos of the always enjoyable VIP program with awards at Hemingway’s/One Oak after-party with Rockstar Entertainment.

The festival’s diverse film programs span 50+ shorts, features, and panels across three action-packed days, all screened in state-of-the-art theaters at Premiere Theaters Oaks 10, located at 1800 W. Hibiscus Blvd. Melbourne, Florida 32901.

From animated visions of interstellar battles to narrative dances with destiny, ‘Space Dance’ weaves a tapestry of films that challenge, inspire, and unite.

Similar Stories