Austin-based production company STLL Studios closed out its strongest awards season to date at the Telly Awards, picking up three honours: a Gold Telly for its work on the Cavender's campaign, a Gold Telly for the short film FORZA, and a Silver Telly for HOME. The recognition spans both the commercial and narrative sides of the studio's work, underscoring the range STLL has built over more than a decade in the industry.

A Big Night for a Growing Studio

The Telly Awards, founded in 1979, are among the most established honours in video and television, recognising standout work across branded content, commercials, social video, corporate video, film, and animation. Winners are selected by the Telly Awards Judging Council, a body of several hundred industry professionals from networks, agencies, and production companies around the world — which makes recognition across three separate entries a notable showing for STLL Studios.

For a studio built on cinematic brand storytelling, the wins land in exactly the categories where STLL has staked its reputation: a Gold for a client campaign (Cavender's), a Gold for original short-form filmmaking (FORZA), and a Silver for another piece of narrative work (HOME).

Cavender's: Gold-Winning Brand Storytelling

The Gold Telly for the Cavender's campaign highlights STLL's commercial work — the kind of polished, story-first brand content the studio has become known for. STLL Studios describes itself as an Austin video production agency that has spent over a decade partnering with brands to create cinematic experiences designed to inspire and engage audiences, and the Cavender's project is featured prominently in its portfolio as one of its 2026 campaigns. A Gold win in this category places the work among the top brand collaborations recognised by the Telly judges this season.

FORZA and HOME: Recognition on the Narrative Side

Alongside the commercial win, STLL picked up a Gold for the short film FORZA and a Silver for HOME — both wins on the narrative side of the business. That distinction matters: STLL has increasingly positioned itself as more than a commercial shop, and this awards season effectively validates that dual identity, with honours earned in both lanes in the same cycle.

Fueling the Next Chapter: STLL Entertainment

The timing is notable. This awards run came right before STLL Studios announced the launch of STLL Entertainment, a dedicated narrative film division, with filmmaker Nick Barr signed on as head of narrative production. According to the announcement, the division launches with two feature films already in post-production — 'Each Other's Country' and 'Odie'— along with four additional titles in active development spanning character-driven drama and genre storytelling.

STLL Studios founder Lester Platt has said filmmaking was always the ultimate goal for the company, and that the same precision, story sense, and point of view that powers its commercial work are what the studio believes are needed to make great cinema. The Telly wins for FORZA and HOME give that ambition a tangible marker of credibility just as the new division gets off the ground.

The Bigger Picture

Taken together, the three Telly Awards mark a milestone moment for STLL Studios: proof points on both sides of its business, arriving just as the studio expands from commercial production into full-scale narrative filmmaking. For a company built in Austin and now working with international brands, it's a strong signal that the leap from branded content to feature films is being built on a track record the industry is already recognising.

Winners are determined by the Telly Awards Judging Council each season; the 47th Annual Telly Awards winners were announced in May 2026, with the 48th Annual Call for entries set to open in October 2026.