The seasonal international competition at the Montreal Independent Film Festival has become increasingly popular among independent filmmakers and artists globally. Participants compete for promotion and screenings in different sections of the festival, striving to become annual finalists with chances for online or theatrical showcases. Every six months, live screenings and red-carpet events are hosted at Cinema du Parc for the public and artists, celebrating indie cinema and linking Montreal's film lovers with international and Canadian independent filmmakers from diverse genres.

Each season, the programming committee carefully selects films and script projects from numerous submissions, nominating artists and film projects for various competition categories.

These categories provide recognition in areas like acting, directing, cinematography, screenwriting, editing, music video, experimental cinema, animation, student film, and beyond. The festival also honors films that tackle human rights, environmental, and social issues worldwide. We are delighted to announce the latest seasonal winners of the festival.

Best Narrative Feature

The Waves

Director: Stanley Woodward

Best Narrative Short

Finders Keepers

Director: Rebecca Dearden

Best Feature Documentary

A Simple Soldier

Directors: Artem Ryzhykov, Juan Camilo Cruz

Best Short Documentary

Between Sky and Sea

Director: Ismail Abu Hatab

Best Independent Film of the season

The Watchmaker

Director: Jonas Lawes

Best Horror

The Coohatch

Director: David Sondrini

Best Animation

Foujan : The Sound Of Silence

Director: Eliott Mogenet

Best Web Series/TV Pilot

The Rejects

Director: Andrew C. Nagy

Best Short Experimental

St. Tula's Blessings

Director: Sarah Soucek

Best Environmental

Lost Snows of the Alps

Director: Kevin McCarey

Best Female Director

Ewa Galica

Bloody trophy

Best Human Rights

Stolen Children

Directors: Martyna Wojciechowska, Jowita Baraniecka

Best First Time Filmmaker

Terra

Director: Rory Wilson

Best Student Film

Hammer On

Director: Lea Joy Sabbaghian

Best LGBTQ

STRAWBERRY LIPS

Directors: CLARA MARTINEZ-LÁZARO ALAMEDA

Best Music Video

A cure for loneliness

Director: Nadzeya Mikhalchenkava

Best Short Canadian Indie

The Debt That All Men Pay

Director: Christopher Godfrey Ronak

Best Director of the season & Best Cinematography

At the heart of the jungle

Director: Hugo Hebbe

Cinematography: Hugo Hebbe, Matthias Abrantes

Best Actor of the season

Sanat Chattopadhyay

Maya Satya Bhram

Best Actress of the season

Erin Morgan

SUBTEXT

Best Composer of the season

Pavel Mirga

WHISPERS OF THE UNSEEN

Best Youth Artist of the season

Lucy Turnbull

GONE

Best Unproduced Feature Script

Heroes of the Republik

Paul Michna

Best Unproduced Short Script

The Rurals (ALDEÁNS)

Judson Vaughan