Film Awards 2026

Brian Hockenstein is an adventure-focused, socially conscious documentary filmmaker and photographer with over two decades of experience in storytelling and cinematography from some of the world’s most remote regions. His work blends outdoor adventure with themes of climate action and social justice, driven by a commitment to telling meaningful, positive, and impactful stories in visually engaging and creative ways. Inspired by fearless storytelling across moving and still imagery, words, and emerging forms of media and technology, Brian approaches each project as an opportunity to push both narrative and visual boundaries. He has directed two highly acclaimed and widely received feature documentary films, numerous short works, and is an internationally published photographer and writer. In addition to his independent projects, Brian regularly contributes to television and film productions in a range of production and post-production roles that reflect a broad and adaptable skill set. Through his work, Brian seeks to create positive change and amplify important voices, collaborating with local and international organizations to extend the impact of his stories. He is a Creative Alliance Ambassador for Protect Our Winters Canada.

Gaëtan Lamarre is the filmmaker at the heart of Silent Rapids Productions. His film In The Shadows of Everest screened at VIMFF in 2018, which was filmed with the Sherpas living in the mountain-side village of Phortse, in Nepal. His films tell stories of resilience, profound human connection, and celebrating culture rooted in the natural world. Gaëtan now calls Haida Gwaii home, and is filled with gratitude to be helping to tell the rich stories of the Haida, who have stewarded and inhabited their lands and waters since time immemorial. His work is multifaceted and includes sharing stories of Haida artists, Haida language preservation, and documentation of Potlatches, Pole Raisings and other cultural celebrations. He was also part of the team behind Saints and Warriors, a feature-length documentary that captures a story of resilience, brotherhood, and the unbreakable spirit of Haida Gwaii. These themes continue on a film he is currently working on, about Haida weavers reviving their ancient tradition of making cedar sails for their legendary ocean-going canoes.

Heather Mosher is an internationally recognized, multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker and mountain athlete based in Squamish, BC. As a director, producer, cinematographer, and editor, she digs deep to uncover new perspectives in the world of mountain sports while exploring powerful universal themes that anyone can relate to. Her most recent film, ‘Not Alone,’ screened at over 30 international film festivals, garnering 8 major awards. She has produced and sold independent films for national and international broadcast and distribution, from the CBC to Red Bull TV to Air Canada, and her films have screened on every continent - yes, even Antarctica! As a rock climber, backcountry skier, and mountain runner, Heather possesses the hard skills needed to access and thrive in challenging locations, with or without a camera. She can regularly be found climbing finger cracks or seeing how many mountains she can run up in a day. Even though this might sound intense, rest assured that she mostly does it for the snacks.

Zac Hoffman is a producer, director, and editor based in North Vancouver. After wrapping up a career on the Canadian National Ski Team, Zac shifted his focus to filmmaking. As a co-founder of The Grove Films, he developed a body of documentary work including projects for TELUS Originals, Arc’teryx, and others, known for their thoughtful portrayal of the human experience through the lens of sport. Among these projects, he has directed numerous episodes of the outdoor sport travel series Ascend TV. Zac is currently working as an editor for the Vancouver Canucks.