The short documentary film Fenice has earned recognition as an Official Honoree at the 30th Annual Webby Awards, placing it among the top 25% of nearly 13,000 entries submitted from more than 70 countries worldwide. The film was honored in the Best Documentary Storytelling category under Video & Film.
Directed by Sterling Hampton IV and produced by Kelly Chen, Joey Gutterman, and subject Sabrina Lassegue, Fenice chronicles Lassegue’s grassroots campaign to pass anti-sexual assault legislation banning the destruction of rape kits in her hometown. Equal parts personal portrait and advocacy film, it captures the emotional weight and systemic obstacles that defined her fight.
The film carries a full collaborative crew: cinematography by Adam Shattuck, with additional photography by Hampton, who also handled editing, color grading, and the original score. 2D animation was contributed by Chris Mulligan and 3D animation by Aaron Weissman. Fenice is a production of Extinguished Youth and Clash of The Artistic Minds, in association with Rosso Works.
The Webby Honoree designation, selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS), recognizes exceptional work across the digital landscape and is considered one of the most respected distinctions in online media. The New York Times has called the Webbys “the Internet’s highest honor.”
“Honorees like Fenice are redefining what’s possible on the Internet, pushing creativity and innovation forward in bold and unexpected ways,” said Nick Borenstein, General Manager of The Webby Awards. “Being recognized as an Honoree from nearly 13,000 entries is an incredible achievement and a true testament to the impact of their work.”
The recognition adds to an already decorated run for the documentary. Fenice previously won two Telly Awards and a SIMA Award, and has screened at a range of prominent festivals including Urbanworld, LA Shorts, Lunenburg Doc Fest, Hot Springs Doc Fest, Doc LA, the Montreal Black Film Festival, Walla Walla Film Fest, and Micheaux Film Fest.
Lassegue, the film’s central subject and co-producer, is an actress, director, writer, and advocate who founded Extinguished Youth Productions. She is known for directing the award-winning film All the Men’s Hangers and has worked with talent including Jamie Foxx and Keke Palmer.
Hampton, a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient for 2025 and founder of Clash of the Artistic Minds, has previously had work screen at Sundance, Tribeca, and AFI. Separately, he earned a Webby Award nomination this year — distinct from the Fenice honoree recognition — for Mercedes-Benz FYI Raidio, a commercial he directed for a Mercedes x will.i.am collaboration (VOTE HERE).
