Ava Della Pietra, star of SCHOOL OF ROCK, wins at New Media Film Festival

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Ava Della Pietra, known for her role in SCHOOL OF ROCK, won the Music/Song Award at the 17th Annual New Media Film Festival in Los Angeles for her musical short 2 Can Pla

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The 17th Annual New Media Film Festival has announced its 2026 award winners, spotlighting a dynamic slate of creators whose work bridges performance, storytelling, and cutting‑edge media. This year's festival placed a special spotlight on artists with theatrical roots — including Broadway alumna Ava Della Pietra, whose musical short 2 Can Play earned the Music/Song Award.

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Founded and directed by Susan Johnston, the festival has championed “stories worth telling” since 2009, celebrating creators across all cultures, all ages, and all forms of media. The 2026 edition continued that mission with a lineup featuring Broadway talent, Emmy winners, music legends, and emerging voices redefining how stories are told on screen and beyond.

Ava Della Pietra,known for her breakout performance in School of Rock, was honored for 2 Can Play, directed by Azzie Scott. The musical short blends pop, theatricality, and narrative performance, showcasing Della Pietra's evolution from Broadway performer to multifaceted recording artist and screen storyteller.

Her win underscores the festival's growing reputation as a launchpad for stage‑trained artists expanding into new media.

Several additional theater and performance community wins included:

Music icon David Byrne — creator of Broadway's American Utopia — earned the Music Video Award for What Is The Reason For It?, co‑directed with Dustin Yellin and Ricardo Villavicencio. The piece merges performance art, sculpture, and conceptual storytelling.

Emmy‑nominated performers Mary Lou Belli and Lee Garlington starred in Happy Birthday, Dorif, winner of the Short Award, bringing veteran acting craft to the screen.

KC Wayland's acclaimed audio drama universe expanded with We're Alive: Descendants S2, winner of the Podcast Award, celebrated for its ensemble‑driven, cinematic sound design.

Emmy winner Matthew Avant took home the Pilot Award for Roots & Relics, a character‑driven adventure series blending performance, mystery, and world‑building.

The festival's top honor, the Grand Prize Award, was presented to Ish Meets A Mermaid (USA), directed by Jonathan Thunder. A multidisciplinary Ojibwe artist, Thunder was recognized for his visionary blend of Indigenous storytelling and magical realism.

Ish Meets A Mermaid — Dir. Jonathan Thunder (USA)

Sunflowers — Dir. YongJik Lee (South Korea)

The Adventures of The Sensokids — Dir. Kris Wimberly (USA)

One Day the Sun Will Shine Only for You — Dir. Gjert Rognli (Norway)

Kishta, the Black Cat — Dir. Matan Yedidia (Israel)

Halloween Girl – Gods and Monsters — Richard T. Wilson (USA)

Is AI Gonna Get Better or Nah? — Dir. Nick Roth (USA)

The Chapel Door — Dir. Aleksa Ristovic (Malta)

Turiya – The Life and Teachings of Ramana Maharshi — Dir. Leif Heimbold (USA)

Pieces of Pittsburgh — Christopher Ruane (USA)

Signals of Light — Dir. Milena Todor Pantelic (Serbia)

My Husband's Nephew Is My Guilty Pleasure — Dir. Ivy Yu (USA)

2 Can Play — Artist Ava Della Pietra (USA)

What Is The Reason For It? — Artist David Byrne (USA)

A Day (HARU) — Dir. Da Eun Kim (South Korea)

Roots & Relics — Dir. Matthew Avant (USA)

We're Alive: Descendants S2 — Dir. KC Wayland (USA)

Daisy & Jordan — Johanna Beale Keller Thanksgiving – An Extended Family in 3 Acts — Brian Seth Hurst The Legend of Iron Dog — Andrea Park Duper — Jay Rath

Happy Birthday, Dorif — Dir. T.J. Williams (USA)

Who's the Host? — Dir. Everett Kelsey & Eric Block (USA)

Emergence in Marfa — Dir. Logan Woodyard (USA)

Mother of Exiles — Dir. Owen Patrick Logan (USA)

GhostedMD — Dir. Jarett Bellucci & Nafsika Antypas (Canada)

Dolphins of the Reef — USA

Neighborhood Watch — Dir. Christin Jezak & Jonathan Stromberg (USA)

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/SCHOOL-OF-ROCKs-Ava-Della-Pietra-and-More-Among-Nominees-at-17th-Annual-New-Media-Film-Festival-20260616)._