The Tom Brandau Award for Best Narrative Short is selected by the jurors serving the category.  The Fargo Film Festival added Brandau’s name to Best Narrative Short in 2022.

Tom Brandau was a filmmaker, actor, writer, festival volunteer, and educator whose contributions to the cinematic arts shaped a legacy that will be treasured for generations. In 2020, he received the Fargo Film Festival’s highest honor, the Ted M. Larson Award, recognizing his lifelong dedication to film production and education.

2024: Closing Dynasty (Lloyd Lee Choi)
2023: The Voice Actress (Anna J. Takayama)
2022: The Letter Room (Elvira Lind)
2021: Feeling Through (Doug Roland)
2020: The Neighbors’ Window (Marshall Curry)

2019: Caroline (Logan George and Celine Held)
2018: Confection (Ed Rigg)
2017: Bon Voyage (Marc Wilkins)
2016: Winter’s Journey (Susanne Boeing)
2015: Into the Silent Sea (Andrej Landin)
2014: The Interviewer (Genevieve Clay)
2013: Throat Song (Miranda de Pencier)
2012: After the Credits (Josh Lawson) and 5 Dollars (Clay Jeter)
2011: The Butterfly Circus (Joshua Weigel)
2010: True Beauty This Night (Peter Besson)

2009: Las gafas (Alberto Garcia Martin)
2008: Hiyab (Xavi Sala)
2007: Chronicles of Impeccable Sportsmanship (Erika Tasini)
2006: Dammi il la (Matteo Servente)
2005: Lift (Hugues Dalton and Jeff Garton) and Winter Sea (Erika Tasini)
2004: Agora (Chris Newberry)