Now in its 26th 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 2024 Calgary International Film Festival award winners. 

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2025 AWARDS AND COMPETITIONS

Feature Film Juried Awards

$1000 CAD Canadian Narrative Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize + 1 year SATURATION.IO license

WINNER: FOLLIES (dir. Eric K. Boulianne) 

Jury Statement: "We were swept away by the raw talent and diverse approach to filmmaking on display in this year's lineup of Canadian films. While this made it a real challenge to make our final selections, it is our great pleasure to present this award to a film that is distinctive and fresh, an honest examination of modern relationships that felt like an ongoing conversation full of laughs and insight. Watching the main characters navigate the complex waters of an open relationship was both surprising and relatable, heartwarming and hilarious, without ever poking fun at the characters or their situation. Director Eric K. Boulianne's debut film is unique and self-assured with an incredible ensemble cast, and for these reasons, we are happy to present the award for best Canadian Narrative Feature to Follies."

HONOURABLE MENTION: THE THINGS YOU KILL (dir. Alireza Khatami)

$1000 CAD International Narrative Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize

WINNER: THE PLAGUE (dir. Charlie Polinger)

Jury Statement: "THE PLAGUE is an accomplished directorial debut from Charles Pollinger that engrosses you in the troubling dynamics of a boy’s water polo camp. The film doesn’t shy away from the ickiness of adolescence, whether bodily or socially — it festers in those spaces, leading to a fidgety, discomfiting but utterly convincing watching experience. Stylish, vibrant 35mm cinematography from Steven Breckon elevates the film's visual language, but it is the alchemy of the young cast that creates the film’s atmospheric sincerity"

HONOURABLE MENTION: LUCKY LU (dir. Lloyd Lee ChoI) 

Jury Statement: “We would like to first give an Honourable Mention to Lucky Lu, a film that entranced us with its outstanding lead performance, innovative cinematography, and compelling, emotionally satisfying storytelling.”

SPECIAL JURY MENTION FOR BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FOWL: HEN (dir. György Pálfi. Fowl: Eszti, Szandi, Feri, Enci, Eti, Enikő, Nóra, and Anett)

$1000 CAD Canadian Documentary Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize + 1 year SATURATION.IO license 

WINNER: SAINTS AND WARRIORS (dir. Patrick Shannon) 

HONOURABLE MENTION: SIKSIKAKOWAN: THE BLACKFOOT MAN (dir. Trevor Solway)

$1000 CAD International Documentary Feature Award: Grand Jury Prize

WINNER: COMPARSA (dir. Vickie Curtis, Doug Anderson)

Jury Statement: "In a strong slate of international documentaries, Comparsa stood out by balancing an urgent call for women’s justice in Guatemala with a portrait of the unwavering power of sisterhood, community and the arts in overwhelming circumstances. Directors Doug Anderson and Vickie Curtis slowly and artfully reveal the suffocating forces women in Ciudad Peronia are up against while taking care not to re-victimize their subjects and focus instead on the exhilarating creativity sisters Lesli and Lupe are still able to summon to inspire joy and change around them."

HONOURABLE MENTION: MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN (dir. Razny Mahardhika)

Short Film Juried Awards

$2,500 CAD Short Film Grand Jury Prize

WINNER: A SPARROW'S SONG (dir. Tobias Eckerlin 

$1000 CAD Live Action Short Film Award

WINNER: COYOTES (dir. Said Zagha)

HONOURABLE MENTION: I WANT TO GO TO MOSCOW (dir. Sarah Baskin)

$1000 CAD Animated Short Film Award

WINNER: RETIREMENT PLAN (dir. John Kelly)

$1000 CAD Documentary Short Film Award

WINNER: GRANDMA'S FOUR COLOR CARDS (dir. Sally Phuong Tran)

$1000 CAD Devon Bolton Memorial Alberta Short Film Award + $10,000 Gift Card from SUNBELT RENTALS toward the winner's next project

WINNER: SEND AND RECEIVE (dir. Dominique Keller) 

$1000 CAD Ross Faulder Memorial Experimental Short Film Award

WINNER: WORLD AT STAKE (dir. Susanna Flock, Adrian Jonas Haim, Jona Kleinlein)

$1000 CAD Student Short Film Award

WINNER: DETLEV (dir. Ferdinand Ehrhardt) 

Youth By Youth Cinema International Short Film Award + 50% scholarship to VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL

WINNER: SILENCED (dir. Zeynab Mousavi, Houri Shafieioun) 

Jury Statement: "Silence impressively weaves complex subject matter and high stakes all within an unassuming and familiar setting. Carried by sharp dialogue and compelling performances, this film shows a maturity with the art form. What stands out is a storyteller’s instinct. This award celebrates not just a strong film today, but the undeniable potential of tomorrow’s filmmakers."

SPECIAL JURY MENTION: JUST ONE MORE (dir. Bingquing Liu)

Jury Statement: "Just One More puts on full display the technical prowess of the filmmaker. The precise editing, carefully constructed cinematography, and inventive sound design capture and hold the audience in a beautiful fever dream of potato chips that lingers long after its short runtime."

HONOURABLE MENTION: DANCING IN THE STARS (dir. Lazar Jovanović) 

Jury Statement: "With a quiet confidence, Dancing in the Stars explores the intricacies of adult sibling relationships without ever overexplaining it. Subtle yet evocative performances, a consistent tone and thoughtful pacing point to a filmmaker with a strong understanding of visual storytelling and exciting potential."

Youth By Youth Cinema Canada Short Film Award + 50% scholarship to VANCOUVER FILM SCHOOL + $2,500 Gift Card from SUNBELT RENTALS toward the winner's next project

WINNER: SKYFALL (dir. Daniel Evan Ta)

Jury Statement: "Despite it's simple appearance, Skyfall is an exceptionally imaginative story that takes us on a fantastic journey and leaves an audience reflecting on its serenity and message. Its a "feeling" story, rather than plot-based, and is full of wonderful ideas and perspectives. It flows well, never overstays its welcome, and the filmmaker clearly has a bright future ahead as a visual storyteller. It'll be exciting to see what they can do with that potential, given the right level of support and professional tools to help them grow as an artist."

SPECIAL JURY MENTION: THE SECRETS (dir. Edie Sawyer, Kaliya Paul, Zoe Maier)

Jury Statement: "Clearly made on a shoestring budget, with loyal friends and a commitment to the idea, this film was a lot of fun to watch. What it may have lacked a bit in pacing and over-exposition, it made up for with a consistent tone, embracing the fun of the Noir genre, and had a clever and classic pay-off. Can't wait to see more from this group of young filmmakers."

HONOURABLE MENTION: KEEPER OF THE NIGHT SKY (dir. Karina Loerchner)

 Jury Statement: "This short is beyond exceptional in its technical and creative accomplishments. It stands head and shoulders above this jury's expectations and could compete with even the most accomplished post-secondary 3D program students. For that reason it deserves worlds of praise, but the goal of this particular award is to assist young artists with tuition support through a scholarship prize. It is clear that this particular filmmaker is already well on their way to carving a successful career path with a VFS education already under their belt. We would like to see a winner with less experience or fewer tools a their disposal be afforded the opportunity to follow a similar path. Again, this project is absolutely wonderful and we hope that it finds the praise and awards it deserves in countless other festivals. Congrats!"

Feature Film Audience Choice Awards presented by TELUS originals

Audience Choice Award Alberta Spotlight

SINGHS IN THE RING (dir. Akash Sherman)

Audience Choice Award Canadian Narrative Feature

RACEWALKERS (dir. Kevin Claydon, Phil Moniz)

Audience Choice Award Canadian Documentary Feature

THE PITCH (dir. Michèle Hozer)

Audience Choice Award New American Cinema Feature

THE BALTIMORONS (dir. Jay Duplass)

Audience Choice Award Contemporary World Cinema

GROW (dir. John McPhail)

Audience Choice Award International Documentary Feature

COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT (dir. Ryan White)

Audience Choice Award After Dark Feature

QUEENS OF THE DEAD (dir. Tina Romero)

Audience Choice Award Music on Screen Feature

BIF NAKED (dir. Pollyanna Hardwicke-Brown)

Audience Choice Award Special Presentations Feature

JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME (dir. Colin Hanks)

Short Film Audience Choice Awards presented by TELUS

Audience Choice Award Alberta Short

SEND AND RECEIVE (dir. Dominique Keller)

Audience Choice Award Narrative Short

NO SKATE! (dir. Guil Sela)

Audience Choice Award Animated Short

RETIREMENT PLAN (dir. John Kelly)

Audience Choice Award Documentary Short

REPLAY (dir. Phil Mazo)

Audience Choice Rankings:

1. JOHN CANDY: I LIKE ME
2. SINGHS IN THE RING
3. LILITH FAIR: BUILDING A MYSTERY
4. THE PITCH
5. COME SEE ME IN THE GOOD LIGHT
6. BIF NAKED
7. PULSE OF THE CONTINENT
8. SIKSIKAKOWAN: THE BLACKFOOT MAN
9. EVEREST DARK
10. MR. NOBODY AGAINST PUTIN

1. NIRVANNA: THE BAND - THE SHOW - THE MOVIE
2. RACEWALKERS
3. GROW
4. DO US PART
5. THE BALTIMORONS
6. NIGHT OF THE REAPER
7. SPACE CADET
8. PEOPLE AND MEAT
9. NUREMBERG
10. MEADOWLARKS

1. NO SKATE!
2. THIS BLOWS
3. SEND AND RECEIVE
4. TWO PEOPLE EXCHANGING SALIVA
5. AN ONGOING LIST OF THINGS FOUND IN THE LIBRARY BOOK DROP, USUALLY BEING USED AS BOOKMARKS
6. RETIREMENT PLAN
7. MA MAO
8. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS
9. SEED
10. UNFOLDING FAITH