Each year we bring together an expert jury to view films from our Fall Series in November as well the films selected for the VIMFF festival in February. The jury had their work cut out for them, with close to 100 amazing films from around the world. We want to congratulate and thank everyone for sharing their stories with us at the VIMFF!
Explore the award winning films below! Make sure to click through to the film page to see where/when the film will be playing and get your tickets before shows sell out.
Want to know more about the jury? Scroll down to view their bios!
This film was part of VIMFF 2024 and is no longer available for viewing.
Like the landscapes she travels in, Dianne Whelan’s film is vast and ever-changing, yet rooted in community and reconciliation. Despite the grand scale of the journey, Dianne’s successes and challenges are relatable, and inspire the viewer to seek out their own version of such an adventure. The tenacity to complete the full Trans-Canada Trail, and then make a full feature film about the journey, shines through in this documentary.
– Megan Cotterell, VIMFF 2024 Jury
At the root of empathy is being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, but sometimes it can be hard to imagine a lived experience that is vastly different from your own. Soundscape masterfully uses graphics, narration and sound to show the audience the reality of climbing outdoors with a visual impairment. The jury felt they were right there in the moment with Erik, finding each handhold and celebrating on the summit.
– Megan Cotterell, VIMFF 2024 Jury
Slides on the Mountain is more than just a ski film; it is a celebration of culture, community, and the deep connections rooted between land and people. This stunning film did an excellent job of capturing the brothers’ journey to gain the skills and courage to face the mountain, while also exploring the broader significance of their endeavor within their community and culture.
– Alec Suriyuth, VIMFF 2024 Jury
Keepers of the Land provides a deeply moving and thought-provoking exploration into the intersection between environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and the enduring strength of community. The film’s excellent direction, cinematography, and storytelling creates a profound experience, fostering a deep sense of empathy and understanding that impressed the entire jury.
– Alec Suriyuth, VIMFF 2024 Jury
This film was part of VIMFF 2024 and is no longer available for viewing.
Can you imagine a more hardcore adventure than exploring the deepest and longest caves of Canada? And can you think of a more demanding and unforgiving environment for a filmmaker than completely dark, often squeezy, wet or muddy underground passages? This film has it all: the real challenges, great characters, visually stunning shots, gripping story and sense of humour.
– Kasia Biernacka, VIMFF 2024 Jury
Imagine taking a dozen diverse urban youth to their first ever trail running race in the mountains of France. Trained, mentored, and championed with compassion and commitment by a former inmate, the group blossoms as a cohesive team. I was biting my nails, wiping my tears, and cheering them on!
– Tracey Friesen, VIMFF 2024 Jury
The shots and style of editing of this film keeps you hooked, it took a surprising turn for the best. Beautifully done, dialogue or no dialogue the story has a strong visual motion. A sense of gratitude arises when watching this film. Always proud to see black filmmakers create well thought out pieces.
– Margit Neto, VIMFF 2024 Jury
This film was part of VIMFF 2024 and is no longer available for viewing.
Thoughtful, well-paced and diverse in perspective, Silvicola invites the viewer to meet those for whom the forest is an integral part of their lives. The vignette style set this film apart, making space for reflection, while the sound design created an immersive experience of the forests and industries that rely on the trees.
– Megan Cotterell, VIMFF 2024 Jury
This film was part of VIMFF 2024 and is no longer available for viewing.
This film is touching and inspiring, but also FUN! It was an honour to bear witness to Indigenous children and youth in a remote northern community take to the water, surfboards in hand. The participants are authentic and compelling, the filmmakers sensitive and talented, and the resulting documentary clearly award-worthy.
– Tracey Friesen, VIMFF 2024 Jury
As CMPA-BC’s managing VP, Tracey represents and supports BC-based independent production companies, plus leads efforts to engage with government agencies and industry leaders across the province. She also provides strategic input to CMPA National on a number of key files, including sustainability and climate action. Tracey has over 30 years’ experience in Canada’s cultural sector. She spent more than a decade at the National Film Board, where she earned producer or executive credits on dozens of projects. Other contracts include major research papers for DOC and Inspirit Foundation, and 2 years as director of communications at the David Suzuki Foundation. Tracey is also an author and founder of Story Money Impact, the charitable organization advancing education and practices around media impact. She currently sits on the board of MPPIA and SCALE’s Mission Circle.
Megan is passionate about creating great experiences that inspire positive change. She has a background in environmental science, and worked in the community engagement space in Perth, Australia. In 2016, her love of the outdoors brought her to Canada, and shortly after, she joined the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival and World Tour team. Currently Megan is the Festival Manager, overseeing the logistics for the festival in Banff and the online film platform. With the strong belief that the outdoors are for everyone, she has also been involved in a variety of events and associations in Canmore including the Plaid Goat Mountain Bike Festival, Canmore and Area Mountain Bike Association and Rocky Mountain Adaptive.
Alec Suriyuth is a Thai-Canadian mountain biker and photographer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. His work has been displayed at a number of galleries in British Columbia and Ontario, showcasing his love of movement and light through outdoor lifestyle and sports photography. His passion for the outdoors led him to move to the Sea-to-Sky corridor where he volunteers as a coach and mentor, supporting new riders to the sport and focusing on DEI in the mountain bike community. Alec also brings with him a climate impact lens, drawing on his professional experience working on sustainability policy development.
Kasia is an expedition caver and cave photographer. Her favorite destinations are North, Central and South America. Kasia works as Film Programming Director for the Ladek Mountain Festival in Poland. She also translates outdoor films from English, French and Spanish into Polish, gives talks about her expeditions and does cave photography workshops.
Margit is an up and coming filmmaker, with a big passion in everything visual art. Ranging from a still image to a motion picture, she has a keen eye and creative mind. While she is completing a certificate in Video Production and Editing at BCIT; her free time is spent learning to play the drums and writing. In the last 2 years Margit has done portrait, event and concert photography, created short films, and taken film courses with much more to come. With everything she has done, she always expresses immense gratitude for the community that it has brought her and their help alongside her journey.
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