The prize winner is determined by both festival attendees and a judges panel, who are required to view all twenty shorts, separated into two slates of ten films each, and confirmed by punch card in order to place a vote.

[6] The 2012 festival was attended by 1,700 people[7] and the prize was won by Shreveport filmmakers Noah Scruggs, Thomas Woodruff, and Chris Armand for their film "The Legend of Luther Anderson.

Returning was the large cash prize, the Founders' Circle filmmaking grants, festival placement, and distribution opportunity via Shorts HD.

[16] On October 4, it was announced that "The Bespoke Tailoring of Mister Bellamy" by director Alexander Jeffrey of El Dorado, Arkansas won the grand prize.

The Alyce Best Actress was Georgia Rose Bell of "Two Roads" and the Bradley Best Actor awards was given to Stan Brown of "The Bespoke Tailoring of Mister Bellamy", the first non-Louisiana film to win the grand prize.

[18] The Top 5 films were "The Man from Mars" by Jonnie Stapleton, "Memoir" by Alexander Jeffery who won the 2015 grand prize, "Native" by Travis Bible and Stephen Kinigopolous, "The Stand" by Eva Contis, and "Ya Albi (My Heart)" by Christine Chen.

The grand prize was awarded to "Funky Butt" by Jonnie Stapleton of Los Angeles, which marks the first time a filmmaker won the competition twice.

[24] The Top 5 films for the 2019 competition were “Anniversary” by James Harlon Palmer, “Black Pajamas” by Hattie Haggard Gobble, “Ghosted” by Blayne Weaver, “Leo & Grace,” by Gabriel Savodivker, and “Maven Voyage” Rachel Emerson.

Finally, the competition was the lowering of the prize to $25,000 cash due to challenges in fundraising caused by the pandemic and the festival would take place entirely virtually.

[26] The Top 5 films were "Away" by Anne Nichols Brown, "Double Date Night" by Alexander Jeffery and Paul Petersen, "Imminent" by Topher Simon, "Nice to Meet You" by Michael Landry, and "Untitled Post-Baby Project" by Lorna Street Dopson.

Beginning in 2016, Louisiana Film Prize includes a still frame of a beloved community member who has passed away in the welcome video that starts each festival screening.