VIFF announces BC and Canadian award winners for the 36th festival
The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is almost over.
While films will be screening throughout the city until Friday, October 13 and you can get your tickets via VIFF, the film festival has released its full list of awards that recognize the outstanding films and filmmakers featured in the 36th annual event.
This coming Saturday, more than $80,000 will be awarded in prizes to help further the creative careers of filmmakers in BC and Canada. And both the ‘Impact Award’ and the ‘Super Channel People’s Choice Award’ will be announced at The Centre for the Performing Arts this Friday.
Juried awards for Canadian features and shorts were announced at an awards ceremony prior to the BC Spotlight Gala Screening of director Melanie Wood’s Shut Up and Say Something at The Vancouver Playhouse.
Here is a full list of awards, jurors, and winners:
BC Spotlight Awards
- Sea to Sky Award
Presented by TELUS, this award recognizes the exceptional work of a female key creative on a BC-produced feature or short film. The winner will receive $20,000 that can be used towards future productions or further training.
Winner: Kathleen Hepburn, Never Steady, Never Still
Special Mentions: Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers, c̓əsnaʔəm: the city before the city and Yassmina Karajah, Rupture
- Best BC Film Award
Awarded to a narrative feature, this prize includes a $10,000 development bursary from the Harold Greenberg Fund and a $15,000 post-production services credit supplied by Encore (Deluxe Ent Services Group).
Winner: Luk’Luk’I (dir. Wayne Wapeemukwa)
- BC Emerging Filmmaker Award
A $7,500 cash prize sponsored by the Union of BC Performers/ACTRA and Actra Fraternal Benefits Society, along with a $10,000 equipment credit from William F. White. First or second narrative features that are signatory to a UBCP/ACTRA agreement are eligible for this award.
Winner: Kathleen Hepburn, Never Steady, Never Still
Jury members: Kevan Funk, Taylor Hill, Harry Killas
Canadian Film Awards
Narrative Features:
- Best Canadian Film
A $10,000 award sponsored by the Directors Guild of Canada will be presented to one of the seventeen nominated Canadian narrative features.
Winner: Black Cop (dir. Cory Bowles)
- Emerging Canadian Director
The Directors’ Guild of Canada will also present a $2,000 award to one of the nominated films that mark the director’s first or second narrative feature.
Winner: Kathleen Hepburn, Never Steady, Never Still
Special Mention: Seth A. Smith, The Crescent
Jury members: Bracken Hanuse Corlett, Tracey Friesen, Ravi Srinivasan
Documentary Features:
- Best Canadian Documentary
Presented by the Rogers Group of Funds, $15,000 will be award to a Canadian documentary feature film.
Winner: Unarmed Verses (dir. Charles Officer)
Special Mention: Shut Up and Say Something (dir. Melanie Wood)
Jury members: Ann Marie Fleming, Janice Morris, Jeff Chiba Stearns
Short Film Awards:
- Best Canadian Short Film
Presented by Lexus, one Canadian short film will receive $2,500.
Winner: Shadow Nettes (dir. Phillip Barker)
Special Mention: Scaffold (dir. Kazik Radwanski)
- Best BC Short Film
Presented by Creative BC, one BC short film will be awarded $5,000.
Winner: Rupture (dir. Yassmina Karajah)
Special Mention: Memory of the Peace (dirs. Jennifer Chiu, Jean Parsons)
- Most Promising Director of a Canadian Short Film
Presented by Delta Air Lines and an anonymous donor, $2,000 cash, and a round-trip flight anywhere that Delta Air Lines flies, will be awarded to a director of a Canadian made short film.
Winner: Vincent Toi, The Crying Conch
Special Mention: Adib Alkhalidey, Go Play Outside
Jury members: Nick Citton, Alicia Eisen, Darcy Van Poelgeest
STORYHIVE offers production grants and distribution opportunities for filmmakers, musicians, storytellers and creators in BC and Alberta. They tell stories, create art, and make careers happen. Learn more at storyhive.com.
To get the latest updates and to stay in the know visit STORYHIVE on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Vancouver International Film Festival 2017
When: September 28 to October 13
Where: Various Venues – see online
Price: Single tickets and packs available, buy online
Follow Channels and Categories