Grindavík, Last Shot, The Kid from Boston and Unraveling George headline a winners’ slate spanning documentaries, narrative shorts, and stories from across the world of sports
LAS VEGAS — The Summer League Film Festival (SLFF) has announced the winners of its third annual festival, held July 16-18 inside the Thomas & Mack Center during NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Presented by VSL Properties (Founder of NBA Summer League), Kevin Garnett’s Content King Studios, and Deon and Roxanne Taylor’s Hidden Empire Film Group, this year’s festival brought together athletes, filmmakers, distributors, and fans to celebrate stories that capture the passion, perseverance, and personal journeys inherent in sports.
2026 SLFF Award Winners
Best Documentary Feature Grindavík — A six-episode documentary following the Icelandic fishing town of Grindavík as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions force a full-scale evacuation, and how the local basketball team becomes a lifeline for a displaced community.
Best Documentary Short The Kid from Boston — The story of Terrence Clarke, a Boston basketball prodigy whose path to the NBA was cut short by a car accident weeks before the 2021 Draft, tracing his journey through Brewster Academy and the University of Kentucky. Honoring the lasting impact he continues to have on the next generation of players including Jaylen Brown and AJ Dybantsa.
Best Narrative Feature Last Shot — Twelve-year-old basketball prodigy Caden Isaacs navigates grief and identity, high expectations, and a complex relationship with his estranged mother after his father’s death. Former NBA player Baron Davis, actress Jaime Pressly, and actor Michael Rapaport star in the film.
Best Narrative Short Ballelujah — To win rare shoes for his daughter, an elite blacktop hooper must play the hardest basketball game of his life — against a trio of Bible salesmen.
Prestige Audience Award Unraveling George — Narrated by Marlon Wayans and executive produced by Charles Barkley, directed by Mike Tollin, the film traces the journey of Hall of Fame coach George Raveling, whom Doc Rivers called “the most interesting man in the world.” The film features appearances by Michael Jordan, Ben Affleck, Marlon Wayans, Jerry West, Charles Barkley, Phil Knight and many more.
Honorable Mention: Soul Power: The Legend of the American Basketball Association — The first docuseries to chronicle the ABA’s 1967 launch and its lasting impact on the sport. After the screening, stars Rick Barry and George Karl held a post-screening discussion.
Social Impact Award All the Empty Rooms — Veteran CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman and photographer Lou Bopp spend seven years documenting the empty bedrooms of children killed in school shootings, exploring absence, memory, and loss. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr served as an executive producer. After the screening, Hartman and Kerr held a post-screening discussion.
Honorable Mention: Little Giant — The story of Costa Rican surfer Jairo Perez and his dream of competing in the World Surf League.
Game Changer Award Full Court Shadow — A six-part docuseries exploring the pressures facing the sons of former NBA players; the episode screening at SLFF spotlighted Gary Payton II, who endures the expectations of growing up under his legendary father. Guest appearances in the docuseries include Grant Hill, Elton Brand, and numerous other notable figures.
Honorable Mention: The Lost Dream Team — The story of the multiethnic Yugoslav national team that won gold in 1991 and watched their flag rise for a country that had ceased to exist three days earlier.
