Festival Awards

Now in its 27th year, the 10-day Calgary International Film Festival (CIFF) has grown to be the biggest film festival in Alberta. CIFF showcases 200+ short and feature-length multi-genre films from Canada and around the world.

Click here to see the 2025 Calgary International Film Festival award winners.

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2026 AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS

Juried Feature Film Awards

Canadian Narrative Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize - $2,500 CAD funded by the Rocks
WINNER: NINA ROZA (dir. Geneviève Dulude-De Celles)

Jury Statement: The jury awards First Place to NINA ROZA for its compelling and beautifully nuanced exploration of identity, belonging, and the responsibility that comes with recognizing extraordinary talent. Through its exploration of what it means to leave your homeland and return with a new perspective, the film thoughtfully examines the complexities of art, cultural identity, and the ties that bind us to our roots. A distinctly Canadian story in its celebration of multiculturalism and shared histories, NINA ROZA reminds us that our experiences of home, belonging, and opportunity are both deeply personal and universally understood.

HONOURABLE MENTION: PHREAKER (dir. Adam Yorke)

Jury Statement: The jury awards Second Place to PHREAKER for its enjoyable storytelling, strong performances, and confident execution. Blending suspense with an intriguing narrative, the film draws audiences into its unique world while demonstrating a distinctive creative vision. We particularly commend the performance of first time actor Cole Asher Phillips, whose captivating portrayal brings authenticity, depth, and emotional resonance to the film. As a blind actor, his performance is a testament to the importance of authentic representation and the power of inclusive storytelling.

SPECIAL MENTION FOR PERFORMANCE: IN ALASKA (Leo Matthew Temela)

Jury Statement: The jury recognizes Leo Matthew Temela with an Honourable Mention for his lead performance in IN ALASKA. Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Canadian wilderness, Temela delivers a compelling and deeply affecting performance that anchors the film. His natural screen presence and emotional authenticity mark him as an exciting emerging talent and make this an impressive breakout performance.

Canadian Documentary Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize - $2,500 CAD funded by the Rocks
WINNER: LOUF (dir. Aziz Zoromba)

Jury Statement: We loved how LOUF takes the seemingly simple story of opening a restaurant in Toronto and quietly opens it up into something much bigger, touching on identity, diaspora and the realities of Palestine without ever feeling didactic. Its patient, intimate vérité filmmaking makes you feel like you’re right there in the kitchen, and turns what could have been a straightforward food documentary into something deeply human, moving, and unexpectedly emotional.

HONOURABLE MENTION: THE FINAL ACT (dir. Sophie Deraspe)

SPECIAL MENTION FOR CREATIVE STORYTELLING: BA'S BOOK (dir. Ashley Duong)

International Narrative Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize - $2,500 CAD funded by the Rocks
WINNER: YESTERDAY THE EYE DIDN'T SLEEP (dir. Rakan Mayasi)

Jury Statement: With its haunting themes and harrowing circumstance, this film pulls you in from its first frame and keeps its grip on you until its last. Beautiful imagery and framing abound and the film is very much alive - despite the souls whose autonomy has been stripped away lurking within. This struggle between familial loyalty and one’s own self-determination, this film wraps you in a crushing tragedy and gives you a final image you will likely not soon forget. The Jury Prize for Best International Feature goes to YESTERDAY THE EYE DIDN’T SLEEP.

HONOURABLE MENTION: MARIE MADELEINE (dir. Gessica Généus)

Jury Statement: In a heartbreaking examination of faith and love, this film challenges what we believe and who we believe in: ourselves, others, gods. An unlikely blossoming love amidst clashing neighbours, the outcome is sure to have tragic consequences. The jury has chosen MARIE MADELEINE as this year’s Runner Up/Second Place Film.

SPECIAL MENTION FOR PERFORMANCE: FUNK (Duda Santos)

Jury Statement: For her searing fearless, empowering performance of a woman on the rise and on the cusp of greatness, a woman who has to choose a path that is true to herself - even if it isn’t the popular choice - we present a Special Jury Mention for Best Actress to Duda Santos for her dynamic portrayal of MC Sabrina in FUNK.

SPECIAL MENTION FOR SUPPORTING CAST: UNION COUNTY (The Supporting Cast)

Jury Statement: For their honest and compelling portrayal of adults in recovery - and for sharing and reliving their challenging, ongoing, journey’s with the Calgary audience, we present a Special Jury Mention for Supporting Cast to the real, recovering non-actors of UNION COUNTY. We see you.

SPECIAL MENTION FOR AUTHENTICITY IN FILM: NOSOTROS (dir. Joaquín Ruano)

Jury Statement: For transporting us to a world we’ve never seen and introducing us to characters we wouldn’t imagine co-existing, for its honest portrayal of humans and for keeping it real, we present a Special Jury Mention for Authenticity in Film to NOSOTROS.

International Documentary Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize - $2,500 CAD funded by the Rocks
WINNER: SCHOOL FOR DEFECTORS (dir. Jeremy Workman)

Jury Statement: Jeremy’s deep curiosity about his subjects and his non-judgmental approach to storytelling moved and inspired us. The film also beautifully reflects the themes that run throughout this year’s documentary program.

HONOURABLE MENTION: TO HOLD A MOUNTAIN (dir. Biljana Tutorov & Petar Glomazić)

Jury Statement: With its deliberate pacing, stunning footage, and the gradual reveal of its universal themes, this film inspired us and left us falling in love with its characters.

SPECIAL MENTION FOR EDITING: REHEARSAL FOR A REVOLUTION (dir. Pegah Ahangarani)

Jury Statement: The way this film shapes its archival material is simply beautiful. It’s a remarkable feat of editing.

Juried Short Film Awards:

Short Film Grand Jury Prize - $2,500 CAD + Academy Awards® qualifying
WINNER: FATHERFUCKER (dir. Grégory Camoli)

Jury Statement: The film stood out for its strong pacing, authentic and compelling characters, and the believable world it created around them. We were drawn in by the story and left wanting to spend more time with these characters and see where their lives might go.

Devon Bolton Memorial Alberta Short Film Award - $1,000 CAD + $10,000 CAD Gift Certificate to SUNBELT RENTALS
WINNER: THE LEGACY OF A BUTTERFLY (dir. Monique Barrie)

Jury Statement: This beautiful film captured the creativity of a colourful soul that chooses to spread love, joy and whimsy through a lens never seen before. Living life is all about perspective and what frames you choose to put on to see what you want to see.

Live Action Short Film Award - $1,000 CAD
WINNER: FAUX BIJOUX (dir. Jessy Moussallem)

Jury Statement: The film stood out for its compelling story, strong performances, and authentic characters who brought a richly lived-in world to life. It drew us in so completely that we were left wanting to spend more time with these characters and discover where their stories might lead.

HONOURABLE MENTION: FOUND & LOST (dir. Reza Rasouli)

SPECIAL MENTION FOR PROSTHETIC DESIGN: MAN EATING PUSSY (Monica Pavez)

Documentary Short Film Award - $1,000 CAD
WINNER: SOLE (dir. Haneol Lee)

Jury Statement: The film stood out to us for being a tender portrayal of the reality that many immigrants experience when ambition is sacrificed for stability. We loved how the pacing, lighting, and sound design captured a slice of life that is quiet but deliberate.

SPECIAL MENTION FOR USE OF MULTIMEDIA: PANTHER PAT (dir. Ashley Brandon)

Animated Short Film Award - $1,000 CAD
WINNER: GOD IS SHY (dir. Jocelyn Charles)

Jury Statement: This film captured the absurdity of human beings creating their own worst fears and bringing them into reality. The rotoscope animation and rough lines created a a eerie and uncanny look but familiarity to the characters.

Student Short Film Award - $1,000 CAD
WINNER: DEAR MAE (dir. Josiah Mendoza, Mona Patterson & Zoey Franklin)

Jury Statement: The film stood out for its heartfelt and emotionally resonant portrait of family, loss, and legacy, capturing the intimate story of two sisters carrying on their mother’s restaurant and the life she built. Its authenticity and deeply personal storytelling left a lasting impression on us.

Ross Faulder Memorial Experimental Short Film Award - $1,000 CAD
WINNER: SENSUAL (dir. Tanja Nuijten)

Jury Statement: We loved how this film played in the space between discomfort and pleasure and evoked physical sensations.

Youth By Youth Cinema Canada Short Film Award - $500 CAD + 50% scholarship to VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL + $2,500 CAD Gift Certificate to SUNBELT RENTALS
WINNER: FORGOTTEN (dir. Artin Hadipour)

Jury Statement: “Forgotten” handles delicate subject matter with maturity and grace. Beautifully shot and directed, the film’s emotional core is carried by the outstanding performances. An accomplished short film.

Youth By Youth Cinema International Short Film Award - $500 CAD + 50% scholarship to VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL
WINNER: THE BUNNY (dir. Isaiah Supadi & Oscar Smith)

Jury Statement: Expertly crafted and executed, “The Bunny” exploits its titular premise to great effect—building tension towards a terrifying crescendo. Look out Blumhouse!