Best of Rochester 2025: Arts & Entertainment

And the winners are…

Best Movie Theater: The Little Theatre

Vintage Drive-in Theatre | Roc Cinema | Dryden Theater | The Strand

Best Film Festival: Rochester International Film Fest

ImageOUT | Witness Palestine Film Festival | Anomaly

Best Podcast: The InnerLoop

The Crime Dawg Podcast | Your Authentic Life | Getting Real with BOSSY

Best Arts + Culture Community Leader: Shawn Dunwoody

Thomas Warfield | Bleu Cease | John Magnus Champlin

Best Community Theater Company: Blackfriars Theatre

OFC Creations | Rochester Community Players | The Company Theatre

Best Professional Theater Company: Geva Theatre

Rochester Broadway Theatre League | Blackfriars Theatre | OFC Creations

Best Published Literary Work of 2025: “Day Trips Around Rochester” by Debi Bower

In This Moment by Various

Best Festival: Rochester International Jazz Festival

Lilac Festival | ESL Rochester Fringe Festival | Corn Hill Arts Festival

Best Museum: The Strong National Museum of Play

The Memorial Art Gallery | Rochester Museum and Science Center | The George Eastman Museum

Best Mural or Public Art Exhibit (2025): Mini Mystery Art Machine

The Power of Reading at Avenue D R-Center by Tenderchomps | Seabreeze Bowl by Kaitlin Roney | Ghost of Roseland by Benji Carr

Best Live Music Venue (500 & under): Bug Jar

Abilene | Three Heads Brewing | Photo City Music Hall

Best Live Music Venue (500+ Capacity): CMAC

Anthology | Kodak Center | Water Street Music Hall

Best Drag Performer: Mrs. Kasha Davis

Aggie Dune | Aphrodite | Fawna

Best Arts Event: ESL Rochester Fringe Festival

Corn Hill Arts Festival | M&T Bank Clothesline Arts Festival | RoCo 6×6

Best Dance Company: Garth Fagan Dance

Push Physical Theatre | CAT + THE COYOTE | BIODANCE

Best Comedian/Comedy Troupe: Kai Von Doom

Chris Thompson | Dario Joseph | Cindy Arena

Best Filmmaker: Jackie McGriff

Martin Hawk | Roy Hogan

Best Photographer: Jim Montanus

Aaron Winters | Gerry Szymanski | Quajay Donnell | Richard B. Colon

Best DJ: DJ Darkwave

Brian Buttlett | Chreath | Ben Frazier

Best Vocalist: Danielle Ponder

Teagan Ward | Cammy Enaharo | Alyssa Coco

Best Cover or Tribute Band: Cut Me Up Genny

Cruel Summer | BB Dang | The Jackson Cavalier Tribute Band

Best Original Band: Joywave

Some Ska Band | Side Eye | CATATAC

Best Artist: Shawn Dunwoody

Sarah Rutherford | John Magnus Champlin | Danielle Del Plato

Best Art Gallery: Memorial Art Gallery (MAG)

ARTISANworks | Rochester Contemporary Art Center | Behind the Glass

Best Actor: Madisen Zabawa

Daniel Mejak | Kiyomi Oliver | Carl Del Buono

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