Festival
Awards

RBC Narrative Change Award:

Jules Rosskam

Desire Lines (USA)

Director Jules Rosskam cracks open a portal with his liberating exploration of transmasculine sexuality that blends narrative and documentary forms. Within the halls of a vast queer archive, trans Iranian-American scholar Ahmad mines for a historical answer to his question: Is his gender identity at odds with his sexual desire for other men? Guided by a charismatic research assistant played by Theo Germaine (The Politician), Ahmad’s journey takes a turn when the archive transforms into a time-traveling gay bathhouse of erotic discovery. From here, Rosskam weaves together illuminating archival treasures and thrillingly candid interviews featuring trans men sharing their intimate odysseys of hooking up with cis gay men. Rosskam’s dynamic approach flips the script to create a sexier, more authentic, and bountifully gay film.

ABOUT THIS AWARD

This $5,000 cash prize will be determined by an international jury and honours a Canadian or International feature film that uses the power of cultural strategy to overturn outdated narratives, inspire change, and expand the audience’s perception of 2SLGBTQIA+ identities. The award winner will be announced at the Opening Presentation on September 11, 2024.

Gerry Brunet Memorial Award:

Best British Columbia Short

David Ng, Jen Sungshine

Drag is for Everyone

In 2023, Carousel Theatre's drag camp faced extreme homophobic and transphobic backlash. Performers, educators, and youth reflect on the many joys of drag in this short documentary.

ABOUT THIS AWARD

Our annual prize for the Festival’s best BC short film was established in 1997 in recognition of Gerry Brunet, a lifelong contributor to the arts and an early board member of Out On Screen. This prize will be determined by audience vote. The winner will receive a $2,500 cash prize, generously supported by the Directors Guild of Canada-BC, as well as a $20,000 camera package prize from Keslow Camera and a $5,000 gear package from Cinelease. The award winner will be announced after the Festival.

People's Choice Award:

Canadian Feature

Laurie Townshend

A Mother Apart

Powerhouse Jamaican-American poet and LGBTQ+ activist Staceyann Chin embarks on a deeply personal journey to uncover the mysterious past of her elusive mother, Hazel--a woman whose absence has shaped Staceyann's poetry, politics, and bond with her daughter, Zuri. Traveling from Brooklyn to Montreal, Cologne to Jamaica, Staceyann navigates a complex emotional landscape as she grapples with Hazel's choices. She must also balance her enduring childhood pain with the profound joy of motherhood. In her feature debut, Laurie Townshend's lens infuses the film with warmth and profound understanding. Townshend, who shares multiple identities and lived experiences with Chin, creates a beautiful synergy with her subject where honesty and love are embraced fully.

ABOUT THIS AWARD

Sponsored by the Canada Media Fund (CMF), this $2,500 cash prize will be presented to the audience’s favourite Canadian Feature. Winners are determined by the highest proportion of votes to ensure all films have the opportunity to be recognized regardless of the size of the theatre they are screened in. In-person audiences may vote by scanning a QR code at the theatre following the screening. Online audiences may vote on our digital watch platform. The award winners will be announced after the Festival.

People's Choice Award:

Canadian Short

Cass Gardiner, Kelly Zemnickis

Janelle Niles: Inconvenient

Despite a tumultuous upbringing, Janelle Niles, a Black, Mi'kmaw, Two Spirit woman from Sipekne'katik First Nation in Nova Scotia, has emerged as a stand-up comedian who embraces her biracial experience and queer identity to usher in a new era of inclusive comedy.

ABOUT THIS AWARD

This prize will be presented to the audience’s favourite Canadian Short. The winner will receive a $20,000 in-kind prize from Panavision and $2,500 in-kind post-production services from Elemental. Winners are determined by the highest proportion of votes to ensure all films have the opportunity to be recognized regardless of the size of the theatre they are screened in. In-person audiences may vote by scanning a QR code at the theatre following the screening. Online audiences may vote on our digital watch platform. The award winners will be announced after the Festival.

People's Choice Award:

International Feature

Romina Tamburello, Federico Actis

Vera and the Pleasure of Others (Argentina)

In this erotic coming-of-age comedy 17-year old Vera steals keys from her real estate agent mother to run a secret business renting out an apartment to her classmates who need a place to get intimate. Bored by the banal routine of high school and volleyball practice, she discovers a thrilling outlet in her side hustle as she covertly eaves drops on her clients' most private moments. Listening to other people's pleasure unexpectedly allows Vera to gain an understanding of her own desires. However, just as she begins to develop a sexual appetite of her own, Vera's pleasure gets interrupted. This uplifting and steamy tale of sexual awakening and teenage voyeurism is the impressive feature debut of Argentinian writer-directors Romina Tamburello and Federico Actis. It features a pulsating pop soundtrack and an unforgettable performance by Luciana Grasso.

ABOUT THIS AWARD

This prize will be presented to the audience’s favourite International Feature. Winners are determined by the highest proportion of votes to ensure all films have the opportunity to be recognized regardless of the size of the theatre they are screened in. In-person audiences may vote by scanning a QR code at the theatre following the screening. Online audiences may vote on our digital watch platform. The award winners will be announced after the Festival.

People's Choice Award:

International Short

Kimberly Reed

Seat 31: Zooey Zephyr (USA)

After being expelled from the Montana House of Representatives for defending transgender medical care, Zooey Zephyr turns a nearby bench into her office. Director Kimberly Reed's intimate lens transforms an explosive political moment into a moving portrait of trans and queer joy.

ABOUT THIS AWARD

This prize will be presented to the audience’s favourite International Short. Winners are determined by the highest proportion of votes to ensure all films have the opportunity to be recognized regardless of the size of the theatre they are screened in. In-person audiences may vote by scanning a QR code at the theatre following the screening. Online audiences may vote on our digital watch platform. The award winners will be announced after the Festival.