Posted on October 4, 2018

CALGARY, AB - Today the Calgary International Film Festival announced the winners of this year’s Audience Favourite Awards and Fan Favourite Award, both of which were determined by audience ballot.

The 19th annual festival wrapped up this past Sunday, with an attendance tally of just over 38,000 people, the second highest in the festival’s history.

“It was a very special year in terms of the quality of films submitted,” said Steve Schroeder, Executive Director, Calgary International Film Festival. “Not only were 2,700 films from all over the world submitted to us for consideration, but that number represents the highest number of paid submissions in the festival’s history. We are thrilled and humbled to hear from so many audience members who loved the film selections, and from filmmakers who enjoyed their time with us here in Calgary.”

Audience Favourite Awards, presented by CTV, lets the festival audience decide the best of the festival. At each feature and shorts package screening, audience members cast their vote and the collective scores were tallied. The highest rated film by the festival audience was THE GRIZZLIES, directed by Miranda De Pencier, which won in the Canadian Narrative Feature category.

As for the Fan Favourite Award, presented by Evans Hunt & Stone-Olafson, audience members who saw ten or more films were sent a special ballot to choose their favourite festival feature. This year’s Fan Favourite Award went to CAPERNAUM, directed by Nadine Labaki.

See below for a complete listing of the 2018 festival’s award-winning films, including the balloted awards announced today, our juried awards and the Fan of the Year award, which were previously announced September 30 at the festival’s 2nd annual Awards Party.

AUDIENCE FAVOURITE AWARD WINNERS (announced today)

Audience Favourite, Alberta Feature- CIRCLE OF STEEL, directed by Gillian McKercher

Audience Favourite, Canadian Narrative Feature (new) - THE GRIZZLIES, directed by Miranda De Pencier

Audience Favourite, US/International Narrative Feature (new) - CAPERNAUM, directed by Nadine Labaki

Audience Favourite, Canadian Documentary Feature (new) - LETTER FROM MASANJIA, directed by Leon Lee

Audience Favourite, US/International Documentary Feature (new) - SCIENCE FAIR, directed by Cristina Costantini and Darren Foster

Audience Favourite, Alberta Short - INDIAN RIGHTS FOR INDIAN WOMEN, directed by Alex Lazarowich

Audience Favourite, Narrative Short (Live Action or Animated) - PEGGY, directed by Justin O'Neal Miller

Audience Favourite, Documentary Short - INDIAN RIGHTS FOR INDIAN WOMEN, directed by Alex Lazarowich

FAN FAVOURITE AWARD (announced today)

Fan Favourite Award presented by Evans Hunt & Stone-Olafson: CAPERNAUM, directed by Nadine Labaki

JURIED AWARD WINNERS (announced September 30, 2018)

Best Canadian Narrative Feature and $10,000 cash prize winner, presented by RBC Emerging Artists Project: THE GREAT DARKENED DAYS, directed by Maxime Giroux

BEST OF SHORTS AWARDS presented by Partner Distribution, Copyseis and Jerilyn Wright

Best Overall Short - $2,500 and Academy Award qualification: FAUVE, directed by Jérémy Comte (Honorable Mention: THREE PAGES, directed by Roger Gariépy)

Best Documentary Short and recipient of $2,500: PRINCE'S TALE, directed by Jamie Miller (Honorable Mention: 5 YEARS AFTER THE WAR, directed by Samuel Albaric, Ulysse Lefort, and Martin Wiklund)

Best Alberta Short and recipient of $2,500: GROSS INDECENCY: THE EVERETT KLIPPERT STORY, directed by Laura O'Grady

FAN OF THE YEAR AWARD (announced September 30, 2018)

The Fan of the Year Award recognizes one audience member who saw the most films. This year’s winner, Cliff Lawley, watched 37 films over the 12 days.

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For more information or to book interviews contact:
Nadine bibi, Marketing Director, The Calgary International Film Festival
nadine.bibi@calgaryfilm.com
403.452.4845

About the Calgary International Film Festival

The Calgary International Film Festival (Calgary Film) is a 12-day showcase of up to 200 multi-genre feature and short films from Canada and over 40 other countries. The festival hosts gala events, screenings, special presentations, and a Behind the Screen series that emphasizes unique and exciting ways for filmmakers and fans to interact.

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