Complete List of Award categories

ACTING AWARDS

Lead Actress in a Drama kindly sponsored by Leah Batelli @leahlittleboat
Your favourite performance by a female lead in a vertical drama. Drama = anything that isn’t primarily a comedy.

Lead Actor in a Drama kindly sponsored by a member of #TeamEric
Your favourite performance by a male lead in a vertical drama. Drama = anything that isn’t primarily a comedy.

Lead Actress in a Comedy kindly sponsored by Conny Achauer
Your favourite performance by a female lead in a vertical comedy. Comedy = light-hearted, silly, and funny for most of the series.

Lead Actor in a Comedy kindly sponsored by Stacia Lyons @Stosh44
Your favourite performance by a male lead in a vertical comedy. Comedy = light-hearted, silly, and funny for most of the series.

Best Performance by a Child Actress kindly sponsored by Tova Martin
Your favourite performance by a child actress in a vertical series. The performer must have been under 15 when the series was released.

Best Performance by a Child Actor
Your favourite performance by a child actor in a vertical series. The performer must have been under 15 when the series was released.

Villainess of the Year kindly sponsored by @mbloislane
Your favourite performance by an actress as a villainess. Who was the villainess that completely stole the show?

Villain of the Year kindly sponsored by Ilaria Bertolini Belloni, @ivl_italian.vertical.lover
Your favourite performance by an actor as a villain. Who was the villain that made you love to hate them?

Matriarch of the Year kindly sponsored by Claire
Your favourite performance by an actress as a matriach. Celebrating women aged 40+ – think mums, grandmothers, and powerful matriarchs who dominated the screen.

Patriarch of the Year kindly sponsored by Donna Fry @didigreyhound
Your favourite performance by an actor as a patriach. Celebrating men aged 40+ – think dads, grandads, and unforgettable patriarchs.

Supporting Actress kindly sponsored by Sandra Nascimento
Your favourite performance by a supporting actress in a vertical series. For standout side characters – best friends, assistants, colleagues etc.

Supporting Actor kindly sponsored by Trish Bell @trishyb44
Your favourite performance by a supporting actor in a vertical series. For standout side characters – best friends, assistants, colleagues etc.

FAN FAVOURITE AWARDS

On-Screen Couple kindly sponsored by Benie Doctolero @benied & by Vertically Yours, B @verticallyyours
For the characters you shipped the hardest this year. Awarded to the two characters, with trophies going to the actors who played them.

Ensemble Cast kindly sponsored by Karen Riccio
For the series with the strongest overall cast. Where every performance – leads, supporting roles, villains, and side characters – just worked.

Comedy Gold Scene kindly sponsored by Conny Achauer
That one scene that made you laugh out loud

Most Swoonworthy Scene kindly sponsored by Vertically Yours, B @verticallyyours & Benie Doctolero @benied
The most romantic moment of the year. The scene you replayed, and swooned over.

Kick Ass Heroine Of The Year kindly sponsored by Kassie Keegan of Love Planet Publishing

Your favorite female character who fought back, took control, and proved she was absolutely not to be messed with.

Growl Of The Year kindly sponsored by Kassie Keegan of Love Planet Publishing

That one werewolf growl that lived rent-free in your head. Chills, power, menace, and full supernatural energy.

Most Memorable On-Screen Appearance by a Piece of Food or Drink
Pure chaos. Pure Jen nonsense. The food or drink that somehow became iconic.

Fan Creator of the Year kindly sponsored by an anonymous donor
Your favourite fan creator in the vertical drama space. Think fan art, edits, podcasts, YouTubers, reviewers, and fandom accounts.
(Vertical Drama Love is not eligible.)

PRODUCTION AWARDS

Best Script kindly sponsored by Alexandra Spiteri, @alexandra_ivy_spiteri
The vertical with the strongest writing overall. Great dialogue, strong pacing, and a story that kept you hooked.

Best Costumes, Hair & Makeup kindly sponsored by Mary Sunkes
The series that looked incredible. From outfits to glam – which vertical nailed the visuals?

Best Stunt Sequence
Your favourite action or fight scene of the year. High impact, beautifully executed, and unforgettable.

Best Original Song / Score kindly sponsored by @andrea_smile206
The music that elevated the story. A song or score that stuck with you long after watching.

Best Cinematography
The vertical that looked stunning on screen. Beautiful shots, lighting, framing, and camera work.

Best Production Design
The most immersive visual world. Sets, locations, props, and overall aesthetic that brought the story to life.

Best Director
For the director whose vision, storytelling and creative choices made a vertical series truly stand out.

GENRE AWARDS

Action Thriller of the Year kindly sponsored by Ilaria Bertolini Belloni, @ivl_italian.vertical.lover
High-intensity stories full of danger, suspense, survival, and dark twists. Includes horror.

Dramatic Vertical of the Year
Emotional, character-driven stories. Think revenge arcs, comeback stories, and big feelings.

Romantic Comedy of the Year kindly sponsored by Conny Achauer
Light, fun romances with humour and feel-good energy.

Romantic Drama of the Year kindly sponsored by Mary Sunkes
Deep, emotional love stories with heavier themes and strong character arcs.

LGBTQIA+ Vertical of the Year kindly sponsored by The No Bullsh*t Coach @happierlifecoach
Stories centred on LGBTQIA+ characters and relationships.

Mafia Vertical of the Year kindly sponsored by Trish Bell @trishyb44
Stories set within the mafia world.

Supernatural Vertical of the Year kindly sponsored by Alexandra Spiteri, @alexandra_ivy_spiteri
Werewolves, vampires, magic, mythology, special powers, time travel, or parallel worlds.

Sports Vertical of the Year
Stories set in the world of sport – e.g. swimming, ice hockey, football, basketball, tennis, or racing.

Young Adult Vertical of the Year
Teen and college settings with coming-of-age themes.

Seasonal Vertical of the Year kindly sponsored by Mary Sunkes
Stories centred around a specific season or holiday – Christmas, Thanksgiving, summer vacations, and more.

International Vertical of the Year kindly sponsored by UK Production Company Onset Octopus @onsetoctopus
Verticals produced outside North America, celebrating global creators.

Independent Vertical of the Year
Verticals made independently, outside the app system.
The full series must have been released in 2025. Instagram and TikTok releases are eligible.

THE BIG ONES

Vertical Series of the Year
The ultimate award. The winners of the 12 genre categories will go head-to-head, with fans voting for one final winner. Category winners will be announced 1st March, and voting reopened to decide the overall winner.

App of the Year
Your most-used and most-loved vertical drama app.

Rising Star – Female
A breakout talent who quickly became a fan favourite. Eligible performers must be new to verticals in 2025.
Lead or supporting roles are both eligible. Final shortlist: 10 nominees.

Rising Star – Male
A breakout talent who quickly became a fan favourite. Eligible performers must be new to verticals in 2025.
Lead or supporting roles are both eligible. Final shortlist: 10 nominees.

Vertical Legend – Female
An actor who defines vertical drama. Must have appeared in 15 or more verticals released between 2023–2025.
Lead or supporting roles eligible. Final shortlist: 10 nominees.

Vertical Legend – Male
An actor who defines vertical drama. Must have appeared in 15 or more verticals released between 2023–2025.
Lead or supporting roles eligible. Final shortlist: 10 nominees.

There is a physical award for every category