In order to insure that each film is studied and rated on an individual basis, DWBFF has instituted a system where entries do not compete against each other, but instead are recognized for their own individual merits.
For all intents and purposes, they compete against themselves:  each entry is judged on individual merits and scored on an inherent value system.

The judges focus is on your film when it is your turn to be evaluated, not on all the other films that are in cue: this insures that they will not have comparisons going on in their minds when they should be focusing entirely on YOU.

Judges score entries on a performance scale and winning entries are recognized and awarded not only for Best Of Show, but also for two Awards of Excellence levels, two Awards of Merit levels, a Kudos Endeavor Award, or no award.

Best of Show honors are granted to the top scoring entry/entries for each season;  Awards of Excellence are granted to entries with truly exceptional artistic and technical achievements; and Notable achievements are recognized at the Award of Merit and 'Kudos' award levels.

The number of awards granted at any given level will fluctuate based on the total number of entries received for each competition deadline.




Best Of Show
SWITZERLAND
UK
NEW ZEALAND

Alegria - A Humanitarian Expedition
Social Issues Short
Cinematography
Direction
Editing


ETHIOPIA RISING: Red Terror to Green Revolution
Environmental Feature
Cinematography
 Editing
 Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery


FIFTY - The Movie
Human Spirit Feature
Cinematography
Viewer Impact Inspirational
Editing
Sound





USA CANADA

By War & By God
Human Spirit Short
Direction
Editing
Viewer Impact:
 Content Message Delivery Research
To My Father
Docu-drama Short
Viewer Impact: Message Delivery
 Cinematography
 Direction
 Editing
Sound








Outstanding Excellence


Code Of Survival Germany Environmental Feature; and Cinematography; Editing; Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery; Research
Counter Histories: Rock Hill United States Docu-drama Short and Direction
Death and Life United States Human Spirit Short; and Direction
Do you see me? Human rights and discrimination on the streets of Calgary. Canada Human Spirit Short; and Editing; Research
ETHIOPIA RISING: Red Terror to Green Revolution U.K. Human Spirit Feature; Narration Talent
Handicapable United States Human Spirit Short; and Editing; Sound
Index Funds: The 12 Step Recovery Program United States Social Issues Feature; and Research; Editing
Journey to a Miracle: Freedom From Insulin United States Human Spirit Feature; and Research; Viewer Impact: Inspirational
No Asylum: The Untold Chapter of Anne Frank's Story United States Docu-drama Feature; and Research
Power To Change: The Energy Rebellion Germany Social Issues Feature; Cinematography; Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery
Scarves Or History Argentina Social Issues Feature; Direction
Temple Of The Ghost Owl United States Wildlife Short; and Direction; Editing; Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery; Narration Talent
To My Father Canada Lead Actor (Antoni Porowski)
Village Of The Baboons, Story of Community Conservation United States Wildlife Feature; and Cinematography; Direction; Editing; Viewer Impact: Inspirational
Women Are The Answer Australia Social Issues Feature; and Research; Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery
Yunshan: Ripples from a Stone United States Social Issues Short; and Editing





Excellence Award Winners
52 - The Trolleybus Austria Cinematography
A Bold Peace United States Social Issues Feature; and Editing
A Short Film About Hope Australia Docu-drama Short; and Cinematography; Viewer Impact:Content/Message Delivery
Dagh Dagh Ujala Pakistan Social Issues Feature
#doinggood - short Netherlands Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery
The Farmer And I Germany Social Issues Feature
Is Anybody Listening? United States Editing
The JJ Project United States Human Spirit Feature; Direction
La Troisie`me Langue Switzerland Human Spirit Feature 
MAJOR! United States Social Issues Feature
Our Last Stand United States Social Issues Feature
Population Earth United States Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery
Requiescat In Pace Japan Social Issues Feature; and Cinematography; Editing; Research
Take The Reins United States Docu-drama Short; and Direction; Editing; Ensemble Cast
To Russia for Love or: How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cold War. United States Editing; Original Concept; Original Song
Trapped in the Trade United States Docu-drama Short
Turn Cambodia Original Score; Cinematography




Exceptional Merit
The Country Side of Care Netherlands Social Issues Feature
Four Motherless Children United States Social Issues Feature; and Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery
Frivolous Things United States Social Issues Short
Good Thinking, Those Who've Tried to Halt Nuclear Weapons United States Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery
I Was Here First United States Social Issues Short
Is Anybody Listening? United States Human Spirit Feature; and Research
Jetty Cats United States Wildlife Feature
Lakhwinder United States Social Issues Short
The Man Behind the Faces: A Conversation with Tyree Guyton United States Human Spirit Feature 
North Town United States Social Issues Feature; and Editing
Oneida Soldier United States Human Spirit Short
Pedro Cano - Travel Notebooks. The Studio Spain Narration Talent
Places of Fear and Hatred Brazil Social Issues Short
R-evolution Croatia Social Issues Feature
The Secret Life Of Pianos Canada Direction; Original Concept
South Texas Gentle Men Of Steel - Los Padres United States Social Issues Feature; and Direction
Spikes At Her Elbow Canada Docu-drama Short
Turn Cambodia Docu-drama Feature; and Direction; Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery
Weaving the Past: Journey of Discovery United States Direction; Editing
Why She Calls Me Cheryl Canada Human Spirit Short




Merit
A Trek to the River's Edge United States Social Issues Short
Akong: A Remarkable Life U.K. Human Spirit Feature 
Beirut Kamikaze Lebanon Social Issues Feature
Beyond Barbed Wires India Human Spirit Short
Black Power in Papua Australia Human Spirit Short
Cheers For Mushrooms United States Editing
Courage Brazil Social Issues Feature
Globuline's Game France Human Spirit Feature, Experimental
Gonzales: Come and Take It! United States Docu-drama Short
Justice Denied United States Social Issues Short
Maasai: 10th Lost Tribe Of Israel U.K. Docu-drama Feature
Pedro Cano - Travel Notebooks. The Studio Spain Human Spirit Feature
The Secret Life Of Pianos Canada Cinematography
Shifting Shelters India Social Issues Feature
Trip To Kagokiri United States Environmental Short
Turn Cambodia Social Issues Feature
Weaving the Past: Journey of Discovery United States Human Spirit Feature; and Viewer Impact: Content/Message Delivery
When The Sun Came For Them United States Social Issues Feature




Kudos Endeavor
Black Air Hungary Cinematography, Student
For My Friends in Detention Australia Social Issues Short
Higher EDucation United States Social Issues Short
(in) rhythm United States Docu-drama Short
Living With Fire United States Environmental Short, Student
Path To Sundaram United States Human Spirit Short, 1st Time Filmmaker
Pepe Netherlands Human Spirit Short 
Vanishing Borders United States Human Spirit Feature
Wally United States Human Spirit Short
Weaving the Past: Journey of Discovery United States Narration Talent