#FIRSTLOOK: CANADIAN FILM FEST 2026 WINNERS

Canadian Film Fest (CFF), the indie-spirited festival dedicated to celebrating Canadian filmmakers, revealed the award winners for its 20th anniversary edition on Sunday, March 29, 2026 following a successful six-day festival at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto.

Mayumi Yoshida’s Akashi won the Best Feature Award and took home the People’s Pick for Best Flick; Justin Oakey was awarded the DCG Ontario Best Director Award for Hangashore, which also received the Special Jury Award for Best Cinematography; Max Train’s James won the Special Jury Award for Exceptional Vision; and Dale Bailey and Ryan Fyfe-Brown’s Los Ríos won the Special Jury Award for Impact.

In the short films category, Tyler McKenzie Evans’ Sea Star won Best Short; Louise Flaherty was awarded Best Producer for Gnawer of Rocks; Artemis Aria won the Special Jury Award for Best Performer in Leili’s Photo; and Black Water won the Special Jury Prize for Outstanding Screenplay.

“Congratulations to all of this year’s Canadian Film Fest award winners,” said Ashleigh Rains, Festival Director and Head Programmer, Canadian Film Fest. “We’re honoured to celebrate these films and the incredible storytellers behind them. As we mark our 20th anniversary, it’s inspiring to see the creativity, passion, and bold voices that continue to shape Canadian cinema today.”

Additionally, the winner of the second annual You-CAN-Pitch competition was Adrian Bobb for his project The Sublime. Sponsored by the OYA Black Arts Coalition and SESLER, this initiative provides filmmakers with the opportunity to pitch their projects to a panel of industry experts and receive valuable feedback to advance their careers.

See below for the complete list of winners for the 2026 Canadian Film Fest. For more information, visit canfilmfest.ca.

Feature Film Jury Awards:
The feature film jury consisted of Lauren Grant (producer, writer, director), Naomi Jaye (director, 2025 Best Picture winner for Darkest Miriam), and Jonas Chernick (filmmaker, actor).

BEST FEATURE – Akashi, directed by Mayumi Yoshida

DGC ONTARIO BEST DIRECTOR – Justin Oakey for Hangashore

SPECIAL JURY AWARD, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY – Hangashore, directed by Justin Oakey

SPECIAL JURY AWARD, EXCEPTIONAL VISION – James, directed by Max Train

SPECIAL JURY AWARD, IMPACT AWARD – Los Ríos, directed by Dale Bailey and Ryan Fyfe-Brown

PEOPLE’S PICK FOR BEST FLICK – Akashi, directed by Mayumi Yoshida

Short Film Jury Awards:
The short film jury consisted of Ethan Godel (2025 Best Short winner for Sleep Talking), Shervin Kermani (filmmaker), Vladimir Jean-Gillies (film critic, CBC), Kate Ziegler (President, ACTRA Toronto).

BEST SHORT FILM – Sea Star, directed by Tyler McKenzie Evans

BEST PRODUCER – Gnawer of Rocks, produced by Louise Flaherty

SPECIAL JURY AWARD, BEST PERFORMER – Artemis Aria, Leili’s Photo

SPECIAL JURY PRIZE, OUTSTANDING SCREENPLAY – Black Water, written by Tim Bouvette, Jeanne Gourd and Camille L Saint-Michelle

Industry Awards:

YOU-CAN-PITCH WINNER – Adrian Bobb, The Sublime
Runner up – Sossina Shenkute and Ambika Vas, Past Curfew

You-CAN-Pitch showcase judges included R.T. Thorne (filmmaker, 40 Acres, The Porter), Floyd Kane (producer, Village Keeper, Across the Line, Diggstown, Freddie Films Inc.), Carolyn Mauricette (Section Director, Fantasia International Film Festival, Co-Founder of Access Threshold), Kadon Douglas (Executive Director, OYA Black Arts Collective), and Vanessa Magic (filmmaker, I Am Pleased, 2025 You-CAN-Pitch Winner)

The winner will receive a $50,000+ in-kind prize package.