SHREVEPORT, La. — Shreveport filmmaker Paul Petersen won the $50,000 Louisiana Film Prize for “Spatial” as Prize Fest concluded five days of film, food, music, comedy and photography competitions Oct. 18.
The festival drew thousands of attendees and sold out multiple events, according to organizers, bringing audiences and creative professionals to downtown Shreveport. The announcement did not provide an exact attendance count or an economic impact estimate for this year’s festival.
“I think this year’s success was based on the highest level of talent we’ve ever seen at Prize Fest,” said Gregory Kallenberg, founder of Prize Fest. “And that talent attracted a national audience to Shreveport to celebrate this work. It was an amazing event this year!”
“Spatial” follows a reclusive audio field recordist who captures a chilling occurrence during an ambient recording session. Kallenberg said it was the first horror thriller to win the competition.
The Louisiana Film Prize featured 20 finalist short films produced entirely in Louisiana. Winners were determined through a voting system that gave equal weight to audience ballots and evaluations by industry judges. Audience members had to watch all 20 films to vote.
The competition also awarded four Founder’s Circle Grants to support filmmakers returning to Louisiana to produce future Film Prize entries. Each grant provides $3,000 in reimbursable funding.
Food Prize highlighted local restaurants and culinary professionals through collaborative tastings, a cocktail competition and a live cook-off.
Jacob Mouser of Chop Shop won the Golden Fork competition and its $5,000 prize. Mouser advanced to the final round alongside Lalo de los Santos of El Cabo Verde and Darrielle Stephens of Bossier Parish Community College Culinary Arts. The finalists prepared dishes using a mystery basket of ingredients.
Chase Boytim of Fatty Arbuckles won the Golden Shaker competition with “Better Than Cornbread,” a cocktail featuring cornbread-infused spiced rum, brown butter syrup and barbecued pineapple.
Music Prize brought 11 acts to downtown Shreveport for two nights of performances. Dallas-based J. Isaiah Evans & the Boss Tweed won the $10,000 grand prize, while Austin-based Parker Woodland received the $1,000 Audience Choice Award.
Rachel Williams of New York won the $2,500 Comedy Prize, competing in a field of eight comedians.
Photo Prize showcased regional photographers’ images of the Shreveport-Bossier area at Bossier Parish Community College. Its $1,000 Golden Lens Grand Prize and $500 People’s Choice Award were scheduled to be announced Oct. 19. Those results were not included in the release.
Prize Fest is operated by the Shreveport-based nonprofit Prize Foundation, founded in 2012. Its programs combine creative competitions with education and mentorship to support entrepreneurship, workforce development and tourism in Northwest Louisiana.
Prize Fest 2026: Winners at a glance
Louisiana Film Prize
Grand prize, $50,000: “Spatial,” directed by Paul Petersen.
Best actor: Brian Dietzen, “The King of Time.”
Best actress: Anne Brown Petersen, “Spatial.”
Top five films, listed in no particular order:
- “Grad Night,” directed by Travis Bible.
- “Hours to Minutes to Seconds,” directed by Catalina Cielo and Stevie Cavalier.
- “The King of Time,” directed by Erinn Hayes.
- “Someday They’ll Go Down Together,” directed by Taylor Bracewell and JC Doler.
- “Spatial,” directed by Paul Petersen.
Founder’s Circle Grants, $3,000 each in reimbursable funding:
- “The Day I Met Aretha Franklin,” directed by Brian Egland and Carlos Jimenez.
- “Hours to Minutes to Seconds,” directed by Catalina Cielo and Stevie Cavalier.
- “Fruits of Our Labor,” directed by Taylor Deville.
- “Someday They’ll Go Down Together,” directed by Taylor Bracewell and JC Doler.
Food Prize
Golden Fork champion, $5,000: Jacob Mouser, Chop Shop.
Golden Shaker champion: Chase Boytim, Fatty Arbuckles.
Music Prize
Grand prize, $10,000: J. Isaiah Evans & the Boss Tweed, Dallas.
Second place: Dezi 5, Dallas.
Third place, tie: Rococo Disco, Austin, Texas, and Jesse Rawlinson, Shreveport.
Audience Choice Award, $1,000: Parker Woodland, Austin, Texas.
Comedy Prize
Grand prize, $2,500: Rachel Williams, New York.