Arts & Entertainment Community
‘Man or Mountain,’ ‘Radioheart’ each win two Gig Harbor Film Festival awards
“Man or Mountain” and “Radioheart: The Drive and Times of DJ Kevin Cole” won two awards each at the 2026 Gig Harbor Film Festival.
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The festival wrapped up its four-day run at the Galaxy Theatres Gig Harbor on Sunday, Sept. 27. Festival executive director Pamela Holt called it a “very fulfilling weekend.”
Film fans enter the Galaxy Theatres Uptown for the 2026 Gig Harbor Film Festival. Photo courtesy Angie Mitchell Photography
“Man or Mountain,” a short film imagining the final hours of Harry R. Truman on the day Mount St. Helens erupted, won awards for Best Washington Made Film and the Audience Choice award for Best Short Film.
“Radioheart” explores the life and career of Kevin Cole, a DJ at Seattle radio station KEXP. It won the Audience Choice Award for Best Feature Film and the Best Director trophy for Peter Hilgendorf and Andrew Franks.
Other award winners at the 2026 Gig Harbor Film Festival include:
Best Documentary Short Film: “The Mochi Movie,” directed by Sky Bergman
Best Narrative Short Film: “The Birthday Gift,” directed by Arianna Ortiz
Best Washington Made: “Man or Mountain,” directed by Collin Monda
Best Documentary Feature Film: “Our Mr. Matsura,” directed by Beth Harrington
Best Narrative Feature Film: “Dead Deer High,” directed by Jo Rochelle
Best Actor: Deborah Lee Smith, for “glitterbomb”
Best Director: “Radioheart: The Drive and Times of DJ Kevin Cole,” directed by Peter Hilgendorf and Andrew Franks
Audience Choice — Best Short Film: “Man or Mountain”
Audience Choice — Best Feature Film: “Radioheart: The Drive and Times of DJ Kevin Cole”
The Inspirational Award: “Precious Little Theater,” directed by Charles Atkinson
The Board Award: “The Best Summer,” directed by Tamra Davis
The Founders Award: “25 Cats From Qatar,” directed by Mye Hoang. Founder Award nominees inspire hope and action and remind us of the persistent good of humankind.
GHFF Partner of the Year Award: Uptown Gig Harbor.
The marquee at the Galaxy for the 2026 Gig Harbor Film Festival. Photo courtesy of Angie Mitchell Photography