Recognizing artistic vision, directing, and creative leadership across independent film and community arts.

2021 Best Director, An American Posada

2022 Best Writing Feature

Vesuvius International Film Festival

Merced Queer Film Festival

2022 Queer Activist of the Year

2022 Best Northern California Feature, Last Gasp: Chapter 2

Merced Pride Center / Merced Queer Film Festival

Poppy Jasper International Film Festival

Best Filmmaker Overall

Best Cinematography in a Webseries

Best Actor in a Web Series

Recognized for overall directorial vision and exceptional storytelling at the After Life Film Festival.

Honored for visual design on An Oscar Winning Movie. Shared with cinematographer Joseph Ayala.

Awarded for lead acting performance in Last Gasp: Sins and Murder at the Morgana Film Festival.

2024

MORGANA FILM FESTIVAL

2023

MORGANA FILM FESTIVAL

2023

AFTER LIFE FILM FESTIVAL

Best Director

Visionary Directing

Artistic Stewardship

Awarded Best Director for An Oscar Winning Movie at the Sittannavasal International Film Festival, celebrating cinematic vision and narrative execution.

Recognized for distinctive visual narrative techniques and compelling actor-driven storytelling across independent feature films and original media productions.

Honored for dedicated creative leadership, artistic direction, and pioneering storytelling that connects independent cinema with broad digital and theatrical audiences.

Robert Jerome Pagan's independent screen franchise has received recognition for feature filmmaking, serialized storytelling, ensemble performances, LGBTQ+ representation, and regional cinema.

Brokeback Fields

Truth About Love and Games

Best Feature Film - Regional Cinema Award

Best Serialized Storytelling - Critics' Choice

Outstanding Ensemble Performance

Innovative Directing - Independent Spirit Award

Excellence in LGBTQ+ Representation

Regional Cinema Achievement

Sins and Murder

The Long Goodbye

Feature Filmmaking - Screenplay Award

Serialized Storytelling - Audience Award

Outstanding Cinematography

LGBTQ+ Representation - Visionary Award

Ensemble Performance - Jury Prize

Regional Cinema - Best Original Score

Best Feature

Best TV Pilot

Selected for top honors as Best Feature at the 2021 Medusa Film Festival, celebrating exceptional independent vision and cinematic narrative storytelling in serialized production.

Honored with Best TV Pilot recognition at the 2021 World Indie Film Awards, celebrating bold independent screenwriting and compelling character-driven dramatic execution.

Gold Award, Best TV Pilot/Series

Special Jury Award, Best Web/TV Series

Awarded the Gold Award for Best TV Pilot/Series at the 2021 Virgin Spring Cinefest, recognizing excellence in indie filmmaking and serialized concept design.

Earned the Special Jury Award for Best Web/TV Series at the Golden Leaf International Film Festival 2021, celebrating artistic leadership and standout digital series craft.

Best Web/TV Series

Best Web/TV Series

Best LGBTQ Film

AIYAN Film Awards

International Film Festival of Andaman and Nicobar

Direct Monthly Online Film Festival

Best Web Series

Best LGBT Short

Direct Monthly Online Film Festival

New Jersey Film Awards

2022 Best Northern California Feature

2022 Best Local Night Film

Last Gasp: Chapter 2 — Honored at the Poppy Jasper International Film Festival for excellence in regional feature storytelling and direction.

Truth About Love and Games — Poppy Jasper Film Festival. Recognizing key collaborators Robert Jerome Pagan, Geovani Sandoval, Craig Mitchell Vincent and Frida Gonzalez for outstanding cinematic contribution.

Honoring artistic vision, directing, and queer narrative excellence across serialized digital cinema and independent film festivals.

2023 Best Webseries

2023 LGBTQ+ Representation Award of Merit

Awarded to Last Gasp for outstanding serialized digital storytelling, ensemble direction, and cinematic production excellence.

Honored for impactful queer storytelling, authentic character portrayal, and community leadership through the Last Gasp series.

Last Gasp — Brokeback Fields

Critical Acclaim & Official Selection

Recognized for feature filmmaking and powerful dramatic performance within Robert Jerome Pagan's independent screen franchise.

Celebrated across regional and international festival circuits for groundbreaking independent arts leadership and storytelling.

Celebrating four major honors at the 2024 Morgana Film Festival, continuing the celebrated acclaim and artistic legacy of the Last Gasp independent series.

Best LGBTQ Film

Best Cast Ensemble Webseries

Best Web Series

Best Actor in a Web Series — Robert Jerome Pagan

Recognized for outstanding representation, queer narrative depth, and bold directorial vision.

Honoring the exceptional synergy, dynamic performance, and collective strength of the full cast ensemble.

Awarded top festival honors for overall excellence in serialized independent storytelling and production.

Awarded to Robert Jerome Pagan for his commanding and unforgettable lead performance in the series.

Honored at the 2024 Morgana Film Festival for extraordinary lead performances and groundbreaking LGBTQ+ storytelling in serialized drama.

Best Acting Duo in a Web Series

Best LGBTQ+ Representation in a Webseries

Recognized for powerful lead performances and remarkable dramatic dynamic on screen.

Awarded for authentic, resonant queer narrative crafting and inclusive artistic vision.

Ben Ubiñas & Patrick Jay Smith Jr.

Credited Performers

Morgana Film Festival

Official Selection & Winner

Official festival selections, direct awards, and critical distinctions awarded to Robert Jerome Pagan's independent dramatic series.

Official Wins

Best LGBT Film

Best Webseries

Honorable Mentions

Honorable Mention — Best LGBTQ+ Representation

Official festival selections, nominations, and awards honoring Part 1 of Robert Jerome Pagan's acclaimed independent film series.

Best LGBTQ Film Nomination

Festival Winner

Vesuvius International Film Awards — Nominated for Best LGBTQ Film for powerful queer storytelling and cinematic direction.

Direct Monthly Online Film Festival — Award winner celebrating narrative depth, performance, and independent film production.

Morgana Honors — Directing

Morgana Honors — Feature Narrative

Morgana Film Festival 2025 — Official honor awarded for outstanding directorial achievement in serialized drama.

Morgana Film Festival 2025 — Recognized with official festival honors for excellence in independent dramatic feature film.

Official festival wins, nominations, and creative honors celebrating the opening chapter of the independent film saga.

Direct Monthly Online Film Festival

Vesuvius International Film Awards

Awarded Best Feature Film honor, celebrating outstanding independent narrative direction and cinematic storytelling.

Nominated for Best LGBTQ Film, recognizing bold character representation and powerful queer narrative vision.

Morgana Film Honors — Directing

Morgana Film Honors — Narrative & Cast

Recognized for directorial excellence and visionary screen authorship in independent feature filmmaking.

Honored for compelling ensemble performance, dramatic atmosphere, and excellence in creative execution.

An American Posada earned international recognition for directing, feature filmmaking, mobile cinema and ensemble performance. Robert Jerome Pagan reported 12 awards for the production in his published 2022 career interview.

12

International Film Awards

International film festival accolades celebrating mobile cinema innovation, directing, and feature storytelling.

Best Director

Best Mobile Film

Mobile Film Award

Best Mobile Film Feature

Smartphone Short Film — Vesuvius International Film Festival

World Film Carnival, Singapore

World Film Carnival, Singapore

OTB, Only The Best International Film Awards

Best Feature (Narrative)

Best Ensemble

Silver Award, Mobile Film

2022 Best Feature (Narrative) — New Jersey Film Awards

2022 Best Ensemble — New Jersey Film Awards

2021 Silver Award, Mobile Film — Virgin Spring Cinefest

An internationally recognized film and web series, celebrated for its ensemble, comedy, cinematography, directing and LGBTQ+ storytelling.

Medusa Film Festival

Last Gasp Awards

Indie Cinema Honors

Winner for Best Ensemble Cast, Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series, and Festival Choice for Cinematography.

Awarded Best Narrative Web Series, Excellence in LGBTQ+ Storytelling, and Outstanding Lead Comedy Performance.

Honored for Outstanding Screenplay, Independent Feature Innovation, and Audience Choice for Best Comedy.

Honoring artistic excellence and comedic performance in independent cinema, RJPC Studios proudly celebrates three distinct festival distinctions from the 2022 program.

Central Valley

Jake Leahy

Elijah Macias & Appolo Rodriguez

Awarded Best Film Overall for compelling narrative direction, visual artistry, and heartfelt local storytelling.

Recognized for an outstanding lead performance defined by emotional vulnerability, subtlety, and screen presence.

Celebrated for brilliant comedic timing and dynamic collaborative chemistry throughout the production.

Recognized internationally for serialized storytelling and directing excellence across four distinguished film festival circuits in 2022.

Best Web/TV Series

Best Web/TV Series

Nitiin International Film Festival

Bhutan International Short Film Festival

Best Web/TV Series

Best Web/TV Series

Golden Horse International Film Festival

Thilsri International Film Festival

Celebrating official selection victories and critical festival honors for the independent web series and cinematic project.

Best LGBTQ Film

Best Web Series

Best Webseries

Direct Monthly Online Film Festival honor recognizing excellence in queer cinema and narrative depth.

Direct Monthly Online Film Festival distinction celebrating episodic direction and storytelling production.

Morgana Film Festival official category winner honoring creative vision and independent film excellence.

Recognizing celebrated performances and outstanding camera craft in serialized storytelling at the 2023 Morgana Film Festival.

Jake Leahy

Yaya Muñoz

Robert Jerome Pagan & Joseph Ayala

Honored for lead acting performance in An Oscar Winning Movie at the 2023 Morgana Film Festival.

Awarded for exceptional performance in a webseries lead role for An Oscar Winning Movie.

Jointly awarded for joint visual direction and camera work on An Oscar Winning Movie.

Official festival selections, director honors, and category wins earned across international film circuits.

Sittannavasal International Film Festival

Sittannavasal International Film Festival

New Jersey Film Festival

Fear Faire Film Festival

Awarded to Robert Jerome Pagan for direction.

LGBT Short Category Winner.

September edition winner.

Honorable Mention festival recognition.

Official festival selection and international narrative distinction for RJPC Studios' standalone feature film project.

2023

GOLDEN PEACOCK INTL NOMINEE

Golden Peacock International Film Festival

Recognized in international feature competition at the 2023 Golden Peacock International Film Festival, earning official nomination status for compelling narrative direction and cinematic artistry.

Designated explicitly as Official Nomination. Preserved as a distinct feature entry separate from international web/TV series honours and regional Merced and Morgana awards.

Best Micro-Short — USA

Awarded top honor for micro-short cinema, recognizing compact narrative pacing, directorial vision, and authentic queer characterization.

Best LGBTQIA+ Short Film

Celebrated for outstanding queer storytelling, artistic cinematic expression, and compelling performance framing in short film.

Honoring excellence across screen and audio storytelling for the Paranormal Salad universe, celebrating acclaimed original productions including The Dressing and Into the Unknown.

Best Web Series

Best Narrative Podcast

LGBTQ+ Representation

Awarded for exceptional episodic screen storytelling, bold visual direction, and compelling atmospheric drama in the screen production of The Dressing.

Recognized for immersive sound design, eerie world-building, and masterful audio performance crafted throughout Into the Unknown.

Honored for authentic queer representation, nuanced character depth, and groundbreaking inclusive narratives across the Paranormal Salad media slate.

Official festival competition recognition for Robert Jerome Pagan's independent cinema creation, showcasing distinction in art-house filmmaking and costume design.

Art-House Film

Robert Jerome Pagan

Costume Design Subcategory

Writer • Director • Cinematographer • Picture Editor • Sound Editor • Lead Executive Producer

2026 LGBTQ Unbordered International Film Festival — Spring Competition

SPINACH expands RJPC Studios' signature commitment to bold queer storytelling, meticulous visual craft, and auteur-driven film production.

Documenting official festival entries and archived screen selections, recognizing early narrative works across independent film competitions prior to expanded media adaptations.

Wonderland

Historical Screening Entry

This designation marks an Official Selection entry rather than a category win, celebrating competitive festival placement and ensemble performance in independent film curation.

Selected for official competition screening at Festival Angaelica in 2021. Presented as a historical film production entry, establishing the original visual foundation before later audio work.

2021

Festival Angaelica — Official Selection

14+

Storytelling Awards Earned

Under Robert Jerome Pagan's creative leadership, Workshop 44 and its collaborators earned more than 14 storytelling awards, an achievement also documented in 2022 California Arts Council materials.

This recognition represents the shared endeavors of Workshop 44's artistic ensemble, guest storytellers, and technical collaborators, distinguishing institutional production honors from individual directing accolades.

Documented in 2022 California Arts Council materials celebrating collective artistic impact.

Beyond accolades for screen and stage productions, Robert Jerome Pagan's vision is rooted in grassroots organizing, championing underrepresented creators, and creating vital cultural spaces across regional communities.

2022 Queer Activist of the Year

Merced Queer Film Festival

Independent Theater & Arts Advocacy

Honored for unwavering advocacy, cultural leadership, and creating empowering platforms for LGBTQ+ artists and youth throughout California's Central Valley.

As co-founder and festival director, establishing an international platform celebrating queer cinema, fostering emerging filmmakers, and bringing cinematic diversity to local audiences.

Directing transformative theatrical works, mentoring emerging talent, and building inclusive creative networks across independent filmmaking and live performing arts.

Honoring artistic advocacy, public visual showcases, and museum installations alongside festival awards and competitive accolades.

An American Posada

2022

MERCED MULTICULTURAL ARTS CENTER

Selected for inclusion in the Merced Multicultural Arts Center's Outloud exhibition. Displayed as a featured work celebrating community heritage, queer artistic expression, and regional creative storytelling.

Categorized as a curated exhibition feature, expanding RJPC Studios' archive beyond competitive festival selections into civic and gallery arts spaces.

Location: Merced Multicultural Arts Center • Presentation: Outloud Exhibition