A Catasauqua native won a top award at the 2024 Allentown Film Festival.

Victoria Bugbee, of Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y., and formerly of Catasauqua, received Best Narrative Feature, for “Out of State - A Gothic Romance,” a dramatic comedy set in 1992 “somewhere in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.”

Victoria Bugbee, an award-winning playwright, directed the film from a screenplay she cowrote with her cousin, the late Charles Bugbee. Victoria Bugbee is a daughter of the late Monica and Newt Bugbee.

The film stars Sarah Moliski (TV’s “Totally Studios,” 2021-2024; “Ms. Swan, Teach Me Love,” 2024; “Supermission,” 2023-2024), Caroline Winterson, James Nester (who was in Victoria Bugbee’s nephew Eric Bugbee’s film, “Heroes of Dirt - The BMX Movie”), Lynne Goldberg, Tess Warren, Matthew Brueckner, Dave Scheffler, Paola Tawa and Victoria Bugbee’s brother, Peter H. Bugbee.

“Out of State - A Gothic Romance” has received awards at film festivals in Sofia, Paris, Ibiza, Hong Kong, Vancouver, Italy and India.

The 2024 Allentown Film Festival was April 6, 10-13, at Civic Theatre of Allentown’s Nineteenth Street Theatre and Theatre514; Allentown Art Museum, and Miller Symphony Hall.

The 171-film lineup was presented in 24 screening blocks. There were world premieres, including “Carson Kressley: Born in Allentown.”

The Allentown Film Festival award recipients include:

Grand Prize Winner, Short Film Competition: “Beauty World,” Fiona Buffington, Kutztown University

Music Video: Chris Cummings and the Way, “Dreams,” Chris Cummings

Narrative Feature: “Out of State - A Gothic Romance,” Victoria Bugbee

Narrative Short: “Enter the Room,” Harry Waldman

Documentary Feature: “Organic Rising,” Anthony Suau

Documentary Short: “Nothing Left Undone: The Art of G,” Matthew Ober

Comedy Feature: “WordLotto,” Tom Lopilato

Spanish Short: “Selfi,” Jose Diaz

Nature Documentary: “The Rock Pool Waltz,” Marlon Denning

Actor, “The Softening,” Simon Stockdale

Actress, “Sex Tape,” Elizabeth Curtis

Director, Feature Film: “The Karamazovs,” Anna Brenner

Short Film Directors: “Local Runner,” Tom and Alexander Wardach

Most Innovative Film: “Digital Automatic Writing!,” Jeffrey Delano Davis

Youth Culture Award: “Bicharavana,” Esteban Augusto Cepeda, Jusus Antonio Cepeda, Malaleel Lamech Yustapounty

Founders Award: “Pavarotti & Me,” Linda LaDue

Social Justice Film: “Ending Gun Violence with Promise Neighborhoods,” Brian Rashid

Key Cast Icon Award: “Backgrounded,” Yusuf Dahl

Thriller: “Shiver,” Andrew Stirling MacDonald

Surreal Short: “This Way to the Egress,” Rich Drees

Quirky Relationship Short: “Marriage Counseling for Friends,” Nicholas Luciano

Family Drama: “Precious,” Colin Llewellyn

Family Drama Director: “ABCs Always Be Smiling,” Brandon C. Lay

Inspirational Short: “Carving a New Future,” Vernard James

New Beginnings Film: “Change of Scenery,” Lisa Thomas

Empowerment Film: “Millie’s Care Free Day,” Michael Licisyn

Dark Comedy: “Grampy,” Graham Burrell

Horror Film: “stalking the stalker,” Hunter Thomas Candelaria

Most Innovative Technology: Aug X Labs, Augie Smart Video Editor

2024 Lehigh Valley 1 to 5-Minute Short Film Competition:

Grand Prize Winner of Short Film Competition, “Beauty World,” Fiona Buffington, Kutztown University

Surreal Horror Film, “The Pineapple Plague,” Justin Porcino

Youth Sports Film: “City Serpent,” Eric Cochrane

Documentary Short Director: “Sleeping,” Jacob Welsko

Visual Effects: “Purple,” Graeson McNamara

Western: “Hand-to-Hand Combat,” Andrew Darlak

Safety Message: “A Fast Stop,” Hunter Arnold

Experimental Film: “LiR,” Jon-David Carollo

Animal Dramedy: “Conquest of the Magic Squirrel,” Matthew Blum

Family Drama: “Inherently Special,” Peter Fenton

Drama: “Beyond the Dark Glass,” E. A. Hilaire

Animated Film: “The Bus Trip,” Spencer Snygg

Family Relationship Film: “Eva and Fern,” Daniel Paashaus

Local Documentary: “Getter’s Island,” Jeremy Brandt

Revenge Film: “Dismissive,” Ryan and Lauren Tocci

Slapstick Comedy: “Nibbles Meets Wacky Mole,” Evan Stitt

Love Story: “Parallel: A Parking Love Story,” Ethan Silver

Relationship Film: “Between the Shelves,” Lorelei Kilka

Biopic: “Fly Fishing,” Luke Song

Human Connection Film: “Reggie: Protector of the Universe,” Reggie Grisby, Molly Pacheco

Information: https://www.allentownfilmfestival.org/