2026 Awards and Competitions

SUMMIT Award

Presented to the director of an outstanding narrative feature by an established Canadian or Indigenous filmmaker.

$15,000 award presented by

Jury: Rhia Aden, Nach Dudsdeemaytha & Caitlyn Sponheimer

HORIZON Award

Presented to the director of an outstanding first or second narrative feature by a Canadian or Indigenous filmmaker.

$3,000 award presented by

Jury: Arjun Ayillath, Madeleine Davis & Michael Mann

TIDES Award

Presented to the director of an outstanding documentary feature by a Canadian or Indigenous filmmaker.

$15,000 award presented by

Jury: Selwyn Jacob, Lyana Patrick & Jeff Petry

ARBUTUS Award

Presented to the director of an outstanding feature film production in British Columbia.

$10,000 award presented by

$15,000 in post-production services credit provided by

Jury: Josephine Anderson, Brenda Lieberman & David Taylor

SHORT FORUM Award

All official selections in the Short Forum are eligible for this award.

$5,000 award presented by

Jury: Thanh Lieu, Ariel Bond & Tanvi Bhatia

VANGUARD Award

All feature films in our competitive Vanguard section are eligible for this award.

$5,000 award presented by

Jury: Caroline Monnet, Joaquin Cardoner & Sarah Shamash