Happy 58th Star Trek Anniversary, everyone! It’s September 8, 2024, and that means it’s time to announce the winners of the third annual Star Trek Fan Film SHOWRUNNER AWARDS!
As usual, I’d like to begin by shouting a huge THANK YOU to my eleven judges (I was the twelfth). Here are the names of each of our judges and the fan films and/or series they run…
- JOSE CEPEDA – NATURE’S HUNGER
- SAMUEL COCKINGS – TREK SHORTS and TEMPORAL ANOMALY
- LEE GARTRELL – THE ROMULAN WARS
- JOSHUA IRWIN – THE AVALON UNIVERSE
- JONATHAN LANE – INTERLUDE and AN ABSENT FRIEND
- MARK LARGENT – STALLED TREK
- GREG LOCK – AMBUSH
- VANCE MAJOR – CONSTAR
- BRIAN W. PETERSON – THE LOST STARSHIP
- IAN RAMSEY – STAR REKT PARODY MUSIC VIDEOS
- GLEN L. WOLFE – THE FEDERATION FILES
- RANDY WRENN – DREADNOUGHT DOMINION and other series
These dedicated fan filmmakers each needed to view nearly nine hours of 27 submitted Star Trek fan films—plus four 2-minute short scene entries—as well as record their choices. Every judge ranked their top five selections in each of 23 categories, with their top choice earning 10 points, second choice earning 7 points, then 5, 3, and 1 points for choices three through five. A judge was not allowed to vote for a fan film they themselves submitted as any of their top three selections.
Let me assure you, this was no easy task! Several judges reported keeping tally sheets with scores for each film, and many of them took advantage of the full two and a half months provided for getting their final ballots submitted. (And yes, there was some urgent nagging involved in a few cases as the deadline got closer.)
One of my favorite aspects of the Showrunner Awards (similar to the DIRECTORS CHOICE AWARDS) is that each of our judges possess insights into the entire production process from conception through release. As such, filmmakers who submit their projects can be confident that those fan films are being judged by knowledgeable and experienced peers who know exactly what to look for when making their final decisions.
This year’s entrants included a couple of 800-pound mugatos who took the lion’s share (mugato’s share?) of awards, as tends to happen with fan films. Fortunately, with 23 categories and three tiers in each—first place (Admiral Award), second place (Captain Award), and third place (Commander Award)—there are more than enough honors to go around. And I am happy to say that, out of 27 Star Trek fan films that were entered, 24 earned at least one award. So even if a fan film didn’t win Best Writer or Director, it could still win for Best Musical Score or Best Hair & Make-Up…more than enough categories and awards to go around!
Scroll to the bottom of this page for a final tally of how many awards each film received. And you can view all entered fan films on this YouTube playlist.
Speaking of winners, for a third year in a row, we had a fair number of ties…mostly 2-way but a couple of 3-way ties, as well (and two categories this year had double 2-way ties). Over the years, I’ve looked for patterns—and I always crunch the numbers twice—but it just seems to happen in random categories each time. I’ve considered adjusting the scoring, but frankly, I think of this more as a feature than a bug, since it allows even more fan filmmakers and their teams to enjoy the thrill of a well-earned victory. So I’m actually happy when ties happen.
An amusing footnote to the ties this year happened with GLEN L WOLFE and DAN REYNOLDS, the co-owners of WARP-66 STUDIOS. The two men typically work together on episodes of the “fanthology” series THE FEDERATION FILES, sometimes with Glen directing and sometimes with Dan directing. But this year, the two filmmaking partners competed directly against each other in the Best Direction category. I found myself wondering who was going to get bragging rights, but guess what happened. Yep, they TIED, each winning a Commander Award, Glen for VOICES FROM THE PAST, and Dan for DOPPELGANGER. Coincidently, they also tied each other in the Best Costuming category, where they were also going head-to-head. I guess they’ll be buying drinks for each other this year!
Occasionally, I am asked where the Showrunner Award entrance fees go, and usually they help fund the ongoing costs for keeping Fan Film Factor running. But this year, a portion of the entry fees went to help a prominent member of the fan film community who was not only down on his luck but in a near life-or-death situation.
For several years, ERIC L. WATTS used to organize and run the mother of Star Trek fan film contests, the BJO AWARDS, and he inspired others like me to keep the tradition going. Eric still needs our help, rather desperately, and so I ask all of you—especially those who have won awards that would never have existed had Eric not blazed the trail—to please consider donating at least a little something to his GoFundMe campaign…
https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-car-repair-household-bills-medical-expenses-taxes
And with that, my friends, let’s get to the results of the 2024 Showrunner Awards for Star Trek Fan Films released between January 2019 and December 2023. (By the way, next time we will be reducing the 5-year window of eligibility down to 3 years).
Links to the winning fan films in each category are provided under that category’s winners. Have a watch and see if you agree with our judges’ choices…
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch BROKEN REALITY
Click here to watch FALLEN HEROES
Click here to watch MASK
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
BEST HAIR & MAKE-UP
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch THE EQUINOX EFFECT
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch FLIGHT OF THE PROTOSTAR
Click here to watch DOPPELGANGER
Click here to watch THE GREEN MANIFESTO
BEST GREEN SCREEN
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch FLIGHT OF THE PROTOSTAR
Click here to watch DESTINY CALLS
BEST PROPS IN A FAN FILM
Click here to watch THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE FEDERATION
Click here to watch A FIGHTING CHANCE: ROARING THUNDER
Click here to watch DESTINY CALLS
BEST SET DESIGN
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch NO GOOD DEED
Click here to watch THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE FEDERATION
BEST SOUND DESIGN
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch STALLED TREK: THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FORECLOSURE
Click here to watch VOICES FROM THE PAST
BEST MUSICAL SCORE
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch STALLED TREK: THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FORECLOSURE
Click here to watch KNIGHTS OF THE VOID
BEST SPECIAL EFFECTS (non-CGI)
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch DOPPELGANGER
Click here to watch A FIGHTING CHANCE: ROARING THUNDER
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS (CGI)
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch PAKLED RESURGENCE
BEST EDITING
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch PAKLED RESURGENCE
Click here to watch 359
Click here to watch THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE FEDERATION
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch LEGACY OF THE ENTERPRISE-B
BEST WRITING
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch STALLED TREK: THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FORECLOSURE
Click here to watch 359
Click here to watch DOPPELGANGER
BEST DIRECTION
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch DOPPELGANGER
Click here to watch VOICES FROM THE PAST
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch KNIGHTS OF THE VOID
Click here to watch PAKLED RESURGENCE
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Click here to watch FLIGHT OF THE PROTOSTAR
Click here to watch KNIGHTS OF THE VOID
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch 359
Click here to watch PAKLED RESURGENCE
BEST ACTRESS
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch LEGACY OF THE ENTERPRISE-B
BEST ACTOR
Click here to watch KNIGHTS OF THE VOID
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
BEST STAR TREK “EASTER EGG“
(35:44) Odd crewmembers/Asian male crewmember in mini skirt – Recreation of a scene originally from the end of the the TNG first season episode “Where No One Has Gone Before.”
(8:45) “Wall-E” robot as wrist beacon
(2:05) The banners in the background are all for baseball teams mentioned in different episodes.
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch NO GOOD DEED
Click here to watch CARDASSIAN SPACE STATION
BEST SCENE
FUNNIEST FAN FILM
Click here to watch STALLED TREK: THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FORECLOSURE
Click here to watch AIRPLANE!
Click here to watch CARDASSIAN SPACE STATION
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
BEST MICRO-BUDGET FAN FILM
Click here to watch DOPPELGANGER
Click here to watch WHEN DUTY CALLS
Click here to watch TASK FORCE 78: KLINGON KRAMPUS (CHRISTMAS 2023)
Click here to watch UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Click here to watch CARDASSIAN SPACE STATION
BEST FAN FILM
Click here to watch CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS
Click here to watch THE LOST STARSHIP
Click here to watch STALLED TREK: THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FORECLOSURE
My congratulations to all of our winners, at whatever level! Your award(s) was/were well-earned and judged by your peers. And my thanks to everyone who submitted.
And finally, assuming that I haven’t miscounted, here are the total number of awards won by each fan film in descending order…
CRISIS ON INFINITE EXCALIBURS – 18 awards
THE LOST STARSHIP – 13 awards
DOPPELGANGER – 5 awards
KNIGHTS OF THE VOID – 5 awards
STALLED TREK: THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FORECLOSURE – 5 awards
PAKLED RESURGENCE – 4 awards
VOICES FROM THE PAST – 4 awards
359 – 3 awards
CARDASSIAN SPACE STATION – 3 awards
FLIGHT OF THE PROTOSTAR – 3 awards
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE FEDERATION – 3 awards
A FIGHTING CHANCE: ROARING THUNDER – 2 awards
FALLEN HEROES – 2 awards
LEGACY OF THE ENTERPRISE-B – 2 awards
NO GOOD DEED – 2 awards
AIRPLANE! – 1 award
BROKEN REALITY – 1 award
DESTINY CALLS – 1 award
MASK – 1 award
TASK FORCE 78: KLINGON KRAMPUS (CHRISTMAS 2023) – 1 award
THE EQUINOX EFFECT – 1 award
THE GREEN MANIFESTO– 1 award
UNFINISHED BUSINESS – 1 award
WHEN DUTY CALLS – 1 award
Congratulations to all the winners!
Agreed! Congratulations everybody! It was an honor to be in the competition.
Crisis on Infinite Excaliburs was, for me, an ultimate fan film. It was brilliant to see all that film IP on a screen and no better place than part of something that’s clearly done for the love. Pulling it all together was no mean feat. It was great fun throughout and what I like best, sci-fi with humour. A heartfelt well done to everyone involved and I’m glad it did so well.
That said, I’m also pleased to hear that most films picked up at least one award and my commiserations to those who didn’t, you’re still FANtastic! (as is often written here) There was a lot I’ve watched amongst the entries and enjoyed doing so, not least the work of Mr Largent above!
A job well done by all!