Winner - Sundance Film Festival 2025 - U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Prize, Best Ensemble

Winner - Provincetown International Film Festival 2025 - Best Narrative Feature

Winner - FilmOut San Diego 2025 - Best First Narrative Feature

Winner - Out on Film 2025 - Best Narrative Feature (Audience Award) and Best Screenplay (Jury Award)

Winner - Sidewalk Film Festival 2025 - Sidewalk Programmer's Feature Film Award

Winner - Thessaloniki Film Festival 2025 - Mermaid Award

Winner - Tampa Bay International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2025 - Audience Choice

"We are living through some of the darkest and most divided times in recent memory. But filmmaking - and especially queer filmmaking - remains one of the last truly radical acts of empathy. Our job is to capture hearts and minds, to take audiences on journeys that expand their understanding of the world, and to show them what it means to live, love, and dream differently. This year, our jury watched 22 films - each bold, each deeply human - but one stood out. It was unapologetically queer and fearlessly tender, immersing us in a world we didn't know and yet instantly felt connected to. Through its extraordinary vision and craft, it reminded us why cinema still matters. We are honored to present the Mermaid Award to Plainclothes - a film that redefines visibility, belonging, and what it means to be seen."