DONDAGAFilm Studios

Recognition

Dondaga Film Studios Awards & Festivals

From Cannes to Toronto to Texas — our work has been honored across international and independent festival circuits.

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Festival wins

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Nominations

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Countries & regions

Upcoming ceremony · September 26, 2026

11 Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards nominations

Mister Gates heads into the 2026 Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards with 11 nominations across directing, acting, writing, producing, cinematography and editing.

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Laurel Gallery

21 honors

Year
Category
Result
Official Selection

Best Feature Film

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Actor

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Mack White III · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Actress

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Mila McCoy · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Director

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Desmond Donahue · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Screenwriter

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Desmond Donahue · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Producer

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Desmond Donahue · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Editor

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Desmond Donahue · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Supporting Actor

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Hawthorne James · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Supporting Actor

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Avante Perkins · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Cinematography

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Les Gaddis · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Editor

Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards

Jeff Hamm · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026 · 2026

Official Selection

Best Film Trailer

Cannes Film Awards

Cannes, France · 2026

Winner

Best Child Actress

Cannes Film Awards

Cannes, France · 2026

Official Selection

First Time Director — Feature Film

Cannes Film Awards

Desmond "Dehz" Donahue · Cannes, France · 2026

Winner

Best Producer

The International Black & Diversity Film Festival

Dehz Donahue · Canada · 2025

Winner

Best Drama

Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival

Toronto, Canada · 2025

Winner

Best Actor

San Antonio Black International Film Festival

Mack White III · San Antonio, TX · 2025

Winner

Best Feature Film

Killeen Black Film Festival

Killeen, TX · 2024

Official Selection

Best Narrative Feature

Denton Black Film Festival

Denton, TX · 2024

Official Selection

Greenwood Award — Best Feature

Greenwood Film Festival

Dehz Donahue · Tulsa, OK · 2024

Official Selection

Jury Award — Best Picture Feature

JXN Film Festival

Jackson, MS · 2024

Festival Timeline

2026

  • Official Selection

    Best Feature Film

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Actor

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Actress

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Director

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Screenwriter

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Producer

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Editor

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Supporting Actor

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Supporting Actor

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Cinematography

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Editor

    Texas Indie Filmmaker Awards · Texas · Ceremony September 26, 2026

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Film Trailer

    Cannes Film Awards · Cannes, France

    Mister Gates

  • Winner

    Best Child Actress

    Cannes Film Awards · Cannes, France

    Dondaga Film Studios

  • Official Selection

    First Time Director — Feature Film

    Cannes Film Awards · Cannes, France

    Mister Gates

2025

  • Winner

    Best Producer

    The International Black & Diversity Film Festival · Canada

    Mister Gates

  • Winner

    Best Drama

    Toronto International Nollywood Film Festival · Toronto, Canada

    Mister Gates

  • Winner

    Best Actor

    San Antonio Black International Film Festival · San Antonio, TX

    Mister Gates

2024

  • Winner

    Best Feature Film

    Killeen Black Film Festival · Killeen, TX

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Best Narrative Feature

    Denton Black Film Festival · Denton, TX

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Greenwood Award — Best Feature

    Greenwood Film Festival · Tulsa, OK

    Mister Gates

  • Official Selection

    Jury Award — Best Picture Feature

    JXN Film Festival · Jackson, MS

    Mister Gates

Honors by year

Wins vs nominations

Win rate

All festival honors

Category strength

Where the work is recognized

Full festival record

YearFestivalCategoryResult
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best Feature FilmNominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best ActorMack White IIINominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best ActressMila McCoyNominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best DirectorDesmond DonahueNominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best ScreenwriterDesmond DonahueNominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best ProducerDesmond DonahueNominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best EditorDesmond DonahueNominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best Supporting ActorHawthorne JamesNominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best Supporting ActorAvante PerkinsNominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best CinematographyLes GaddisNominated
2026Texas Indie Filmmaker AwardsTexas · Ceremony September 26, 2026Best EditorJeff HammNominated
2026Cannes Film AwardsCannes, FranceBest Film TrailerNominated
2026Cannes Film AwardsCannes, FranceBest Child ActressWon
2026Cannes Film AwardsCannes, FranceFirst Time Director — Feature FilmDesmond "Dehz" DonahueNominated
2025The International Black & Diversity Film FestivalCanadaBest ProducerDehz DonahueWon
2025Toronto International Nollywood Film FestivalToronto, CanadaBest DramaWon
2025San Antonio Black International Film FestivalSan Antonio, TXBest ActorMack White IIIWon
2024Killeen Black Film FestivalKilleen, TXBest Feature FilmWon
2024Denton Black Film FestivalDenton, TXBest Narrative FeatureNominated
2024Greenwood Film FestivalTulsa, OKGreenwood Award — Best FeatureDehz DonahueNominated
2024JXN Film FestivalJackson, MSJury Award — Best Picture FeatureNominated