#FIRSTLOOK: WINDSOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) is proud to announce the 10 films nominated for the prestigious WIFF Prize in Canadian Film. This distinguished accolade celebrates outstanding achievement in Canadian cinema and the director of the chosen film will receive a cash prize of $25,000. WIFF takes place October 23 to November 2, 2025.

All 10 nominees will screen at the Festival this fall and the winner, selected by an independent jury of industry professionals, will be announced on October 26.

The nominees for the 2025 WIFF Prize in Canadian Film are:

Compulsive Liar 2 (Menteuse), directed by Émile Gaudreault

The Cost Of Heaven (Gagne ton ciel), directed by Mathieu Denis

In Cold Light, directed by Maxime Giroux

Lovely Day (Mille secrets mille dangers), directed by Philippe Falardeau

Montreal, My Beautiful (Montréal, ma belle), directed by Xiaodan He

Peak Everything (Amour apocalypse), directed by Anne Émond

The Pitch, directed by Michèle Hozer

Shamed, directed by Matt Gallagher

Two Women (Deux femmes en or) directed by Chloé Robichaud

Where Souls Go (Où vont les âmes?), directed by Brigitte Poupart

“This year’s nominated films showcase the remarkable breadth of Canadian talent, from powerful storytelling to striking visual artistry,” said Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer, WIFF. “We’re honoured to showcase these compelling works and look forward to presenting these films to our audience as part of the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film.”

Past recipients of the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film include Who Do I Belong To directed by Meryam Joobeur, 2024; Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person directed by Ariane Louis-Seize, 2023; Riceboy Sleeps directed by Anthony Shim, 2022; and Kuessipan directed by Myriam Verreault, 2019.

WIFF is a cultural, charitable organization that celebrates the art of cinema by showcasing Canadian and international film and filmmakers. Delivering exceptional experiences through film, WIFF strengthens and enriches the community while promoting the creative economy.windsorfilmfestival.com.

The 2025 festival is proudly presented by the Toldo Foundation.

#FIRSTLOOK: “IRENA’S VOW” WINS PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD at 2023 WINDSOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) is pleased to announce that the winner of the 2023 LiUNA People’s Choice Award is Irena’s Vow, directed by Louise Archambault. This is Archambault’s second People’s Choice Award — she won in 2013 for her film Gabrielle. Archambault is also the first filmmaker to have two films nominated for the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film in the same year — Irena’s Vow and One Summer.

To celebrate the audience favourite, WIFF hosted a complimentary community screening of Irena’s Vow on Sunday, November 5 at 6 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre.

The runner up and second runner up for the LiUNA People’s Choice Award are American Fiction directed by Cord Jefferson and My Mother’s Men directed by Anik Jean, respectively.

Past winners of the award include: Women Talking directed by Sarah Polley (2022); Prey directed by Matt Gallagher (2019); The Russian Five directed by Joshua Rhiel (2018); Loving Vincent directed by Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman (2017); Maudie directed by Aisling Walsh (2016); Trumbo directed by Jay Roach (2015); and more.

“Louise Archambault’s films have always been loved by WIFF audiences, and we are so pleased to see the LiUNA People’s Choice award going to her this year,” said Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer for WIFF.

WIFF took place from October 26 to November 5. The 2023 festival is proudly presented by the Toldo Foundation.

Stay in touch with WIFF via the festival’s Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, or by signing up to receive WIFF news via email by visiting windsorfilmfestival.com.

WIFF is a cultural, charitable organization that celebrates the art of cinema by showcasing Canadian and international film and filmmakers. Delivering exceptional experiences through film, WIFF strengthens and enriches the community while promoting the creative economy. windsorfilmfestival.com.

#TIFF23: WINDSOR INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR WIFF PRIZE IN CANADIAN FILM

Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer of the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF) today announced the ten films nominated for the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film. The prize carries a cash value of $25,000 and is awarded to the director of the chosen film. All ten nominees will screen at WIFF this fall, which runs from October 26 to November 5, 2023 in Windsor, Ontario.

The nominees were announced earlier today at the WIFF at TIFF Luncheon in Toronto and the prize will be awarded during the festival on Sunday, October 29. The winner will be selected by an independent jury of industry professionals.

This year’s ten nominees for the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film are:

BLACKBERRY, directed by Matt Johnson

THE DISHWASHER, directed by Francis Leclerc

FRONTIERS, directed by Guy Édoin

HUMANIST VAMPIRE SEEKING CONSENTING SUICIDAL PERSON, directed by Ariane Louis-Seize

IRENA’S VOW, directed by Louise Archambault

MY MOTHER’S MEN, directed by Anik Jean

THE NATURE OF LOVE, directed by Monia Chokri

ONE SUMMER, directed by Louise Archambault

SEVEN VEILS, directed by Atom Egoyan

SOLO, directed by Sophie Dupuis

“This year’s nominated films are the culmination of artistic visions and storytelling prowess of this country’s remarkable talent,” said Vincent Georgie, Executive Director and Chief Programmer, WIFF.​ “Each film is a unique chapter in the evolution of Canadian cinema. We look forward to celebrating their remarkable achievements with the WIFF Prize at this year’s festival.”

In 2022, the WIFF Prize in Canadian Film was awarded to RICEBOY SLEEPS directed by Anthony Shim.

WIFF is a cultural, charitable organization that celebrates the art of cinema by showcasing Canadian and international film and filmmakers. Delivering exceptional experiences through film, WIFF strengthens and enriches the community while promoting the creative economy. windsorfilmfestival.com.