Joey Bueno Breese has been named the winner of the 2026 Deutsche Bank Frieze Los Angeles Film Award, per variety.com. At a ceremony held on Friday at Santa Monica Airport, Breese received the $10,000 jury prize for his film, El Rio Nuestro.
The $2,500 Audience Award was presented to Devin O’Guinn for his work, Julian.
Now in its seventh year, the initiative supports emerging filmmakers in Los Angeles in partnership with the Ghetto Film School. This year’s entries responded to the theme of “Renewal and Resilience.”
The 2026 jury featured a prestigious line-up of industry leaders, including Connie Britton -Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor and producer, Orlando von Einsiedel – Oscar-winning director, Claudio de Sanctis – Head of Private Bank at Deutsche Bank, Ché Chisholm: CEO of Ghetto Film School and Jorge Villon: Founder of Grace Lab.
“The films respond to the theme of Renewal and Resilience in deeply personal ways,” said Christine Messineo, Director of Frieze Americas. “Our fellows remind us that storytelling is a vital tool for transformation.”
Claudio de Sanctis added: “Their work leaves a lasting impression. We are proud to champion artists whose creativity challenges and enriches cinematic expression.”
Since its 2019 inception, the award has acted as a professional incubator for over 40 filmmakers, providing a critical platform for the next generation of cinematic talent.
•Featured image courtesy of Joey Bueno Breese
