We’re thrilled to announce that MENTAL has won Best Mockumentary at the 2026 Tarzana International Film Festival.

After kicking off the festival at the opening party last month, the MENTAL team returned for the TZIFF Awards to celebrate with filmmakers, actors and creatives from across the independent film community. Laura Gross, Dan Gross and Suzanna M. Turner walked the red carpet and celebrated alongside Lori Morrissey, founder of the Tarzana International Film Festival. Taking home Best Mockumentary made it an especially memorable night for everyone who worked on the film.

Laura Gross, Dan Gross, Suzanna M. Turner and TZIFF founder Lori Morrissey with friends on the red carpet at the 2026 TZIFF Awards

The Tarzana International Film Festival celebrates independent storytelling and gives filmmakers a place to share their work with audiences and connect with one another. It’s an honor for MENTAL to be recognized alongside so many talented filmmakers.

The MENTAL team at the 2026 Tarzana International Film Festival

This win caps a big festival season for MENTAL, which also won Best Mockumentary Short at the 2026 Indiewood Film Festival and was named an Official Selection at the International Film Festival Manhattan. For the cast and production team, every honor is a recognition of the creativity, humor and heart that went into telling one woman’s story of her journey through mental illness and life inside a mental hospital.

Laura Gross, Dan Gross and Suzanna M. Turner with TZIFF founder Lori Morrissey, celebrating MENTAL’s Best Mockumentary win

A big thank you to Lori Morrissey and the entire Tarzana International Film Festival team for a fantastic festival, and congratulations to all of this year’s winners.

More festival news coming soon!