Claudia Ross Wins Best Feature Film at NightMoves Awards

James Williams · 2026-10-16

Claudia Ross just added another major trophy to her shelf. Her atmospheric thriller, Through Her Lens, took home Best Feature Film at the 34th annual NightMoves Awards, held at The Stockyard in Holiday, Florida. If you've been following Ross's career, you know this isn't just another win. It's the kind of recognition that signals a filmmaker hitting her stride. ### The Film That's Turning Heads Through Her Lens, produced by Elegant Angel and starring Octavia Red, has been collecting praise all year. XBIZ gave it a rave review in January. AVN followed with an Editor's Choice nod in April. And in May, Ross won three trophies at Italy's DSN Awards for the same film. That's not luck. That's a director who knows exactly what she's doing. "I'm incredibly proud and grateful that Through Her Lens has been recognized with Best Feature at the NightMoves Awards," Ross said. "This project means so much to me, and seeing it receive this honor is truly special." She went on to thank Art Koch and the NightMoves team, Chura for believing in her vision, Elegant Angel for making it happen, and Octavia Red for her talent and trust. But she saved her biggest thanks for her crew. "Their creativity, dedication, and hard work brought this film to life. I couldn't have done it without them!" ### A Career Built from the Ground Up Ross isn't an overnight success. She's the daughter of the late renowned director Ugo Ross, and she grew up with adult cinema in her DNA. She shares a rare distinction with industry legend Axel Braun: both are Italian-born, second-generation adult directors who learned the craft from the inside. For 25 years, Ross worked as Braun's closest collaborator. She contributed to some of his most acclaimed and commercially successful productions through editing, art direction, production design, and creative development. That experience gave her a deep understanding of the moviemaking process, from concept and visual style to pacing, performance, and final execution. Two years ago, Braun penned the script for Ross's debut feature, The Hunger. That gave her the chance to step fully into her own role as a filmmaker. The result introduced her as a director with a refined visual sensibility, a command of mood and atmosphere, and an instinctive understanding of sensual storytelling. ### What's Next for Ross Through Her Lens is currently nominated for Best Feature Film, and Ross herself is nominated for Best Feature Director at the 2026 NightMoves Awards. But she's not slowing down. She recently wrapped the feature Cherry On Top, also written by Braun and starring Cherry Kiss and Octavia Red, for Elegant Angel. Her follow-up feature, Octavia Loves Girls, is slated for release in September. Ross resides in Los Angeles. You can connect with her on X at @TheClaudiaRoss. ### About the NightMoves Awards Founded in 1988 and distributed throughout Central Florida, NightMoves Magazine is the longest-running regional adult publication in the U.S. It has hosted its annual adult entertainment awards since 1993. It's the original fan-based show and the first to employ internet voting. For more information, follow @NightMovesShow on X. ### The Bottom Line Claudia Ross is a filmmaker who has paid her dues and is now reaping the rewards. With multiple awards, critical acclaim, and a busy production schedule, she's proving that great storytelling always finds an audience. If you're a fan of character-driven adult cinema, keep an eye on what she does next. Based on her track record, it's going to be worth watching.