The Underwater Forest documentary has won two awards in the last two weeks, including Best Ecological Short from the American Filmatic Awards and the Alabama Filmmaker Award from the Fairhope Film Festival.

The film was co-produced by AL.com's This is Alabama brand, and the Alabama Coastal Foundation.

The American Filmatic Awards includes international competition and is based in New York.

The Fairhope Film Festival also includes international selections. AL.com's Ben Raines, who wrote, directed, filmed and edited the Underwater Forest, won the Alabama Filmmaker Award for 2017, competing against an eclectic selection of films made by Alabamians, from fairy tales to documentaries detailing the trials of Central American immigrants facing deportation.

The full slate of winners is below.

Grand Jury Winner: ALABAMA BOUND - Directed by Michele Forman and Carolyn Sherer

Alabama Filmmaker Award: THE UNDERWATER FOREST - Directed by Ben Raines

Animation Short: TRIAL AND ERROR - Directed by Antje Heyn

Best USA Short: The Runner - Directed by Clare Cooney

International Short: A WHOLE WORLD FOR A LITTLE WORLD - Directed by Fabrice Bracq

Audience choice award feature: ALABAMA BOUND - Directed by Michele Forman and Carolyn Sherer

Audience Choice Short: RUBY GLASSES - Directed by Stephen Savage and Ron Meszaros

John Tardieu Award: Jo Owen