VIFF 2026 Awards: 'Nina Roza,' 'How We Stand' Win Top Prizes — SkimNews
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- Geneviève Dulude-De Celles’ 'Nina Roza' won the Summit Award, praised for its compassionate exploration of identity and belonging through the story of a protagonist returning home after 28 years.
- Nyla Innuksuk’s 'In the Heart of the South' received the Horizon Award, with the jury highlighting its polished cinematic approach and strong performances by Anna Lambe and Zorga Qaunaq.
- Marie Clements’ 'How We Stand' took the Arbutus Award for British Columbia filmmaking, commended for confronting traumatic history through surrealist storytelling and powerful female leads.
- Banchi Hanuse’s 'Ceremony' won the Tides Award, documenting the disappearance of ooligan fish and the Nuxalk Nation’s environmental stewardship through inventive narrative and cinematography.
- Yu Yu’s animated short 'Pre-Parenting' won the Short Forum Award, marking recognition for the Taiwan-based filmmaker in VIFF’s competitive program.
Why it matters: These awards spotlight emerging and established Canadian filmmakers who center Indigenous perspectives, immigrant experiences, and regional stories—gaining visibility and career momentum through institutional validation at one of Canada’s major film festivals. The recognition directly supports creators working outside mainstream cinema with limited funding and distribution pathways.
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