KCFF26 AWARDS:

PLAYBACK PRIZE FOR BEST CANADIAN FILM

All feature films in the Festival are automatically in contention for this juried award.

Prize: $5,000 cash

KCFF26 JURY:

• Javiera Quintana, Producer – 90th Parallel Productions
• Patrick Cassavetti, Producer, Shaftesbury
• Emilie Poirier, Film Programmer & Curator, Festival du Nouveau Cinéma

VISUAL MENACE BEST FIRST FEATURE AWARD

All features directed by a first-time feature director are eligible for this juried award.

Prize: $2,500 cash

KCFF26 JURY:

• Javiera Quintana, Producer – 90th Parallel Productions
• Patrick Cassavetti, Producer, Shaftesbury
• Emilie Poirier, Film Programmer & Curator, Festival du Nouveau Cinéma

COGECO PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

Presented by our Founding Corporate sponsor, Cogeco, this award is voted on by YOU, the amazing festival-goers! All feature films are automatically in competition.

Prize: $500 cash

BEST CANADIAN SHORT

Presented by RBC Dominion Securities. This award is open to all films in the Canadian Shorts program, which showcases many of the best short films being created coast-to-coast-to-coast.

Prize: $500 cash

KCFF26 JURY:

• Eric Tisch, Programming Manager, REEL Canada
• Eva Thomas, Filmmaker
• Nicola Luksic, Producer, CBC
• Vincent Georgie, Executive Director, Windsor International Film Festival

BEST LOCAL SHORT

Presented by Confederation Place Hotel. Open to all films in the Local Shorts program, which represents many of the best new short films being produced in the Kingston region.

Prize: $500 cash

KCFF26 JURY:

• Richard Goddard, Senior Producer, CBC
• Jessica Edwards, Filmmaker
• Meaghan Brander, Film Industry Growth Specialist, Innovation PEI

FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO

Presented by Team Ambrose – Royal LePage ProAlliance Realty. Open to all videos in the Slaight Music Video Showcase and voted on by all KCFF patrons attending the showcase during the Fest.

Prizes: $500 cash, $500 in gift cards to Whit Kingston / Agent 99, and $100 gift card to Long & McQuade.

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

Presented by Rogers Radio, this is a juried award open to all videos in the Slaight Music Video Showcase.

Prizes: $500 cash, $500 in gift cards to Whit Kingston / Agent 99, and $100 gift card to Long & McQuade.

KCFF26 JURY:

• Julianna Riolino, Musician
• Noah Fralick, Huxley Management
• Rich Brisson, Cadence Music Group
• Amanda MacInnis, Executive Producer, Fuse Productions

BEST YOUTH SHORT

Open to all films in the Youth Shorts program, which showcases the work being created by local youth in the Kingston area.

Prize: $250 in-kind prizes

KCFF26 JURY:

• Steve Jordan, Founder & Executive Director, Polaris Music Prize
• Naseem Loloie, Assistant Picture Editor, DGC Ontario
• Eva Colmers, Filmmaker
• Jordan Hayes, Filmmaker and Actor

TD READY COMMITMENT KCFF DOC FACTORY AWARD

A juried award presented to an outstanding film from the KCFF Doc Factory.

Prize: $500 cash

KCFF26 JURY:

• Laura Rietveld, Filmmaker
• Victoria Pike, Business & Legal Affairs, Blue Ant Media
• Stephen Chung, Filmmaker

KCFF 18 MM AWARD

A juried award presented to an outstanding film from the annual 18 MM Program Showcase. This award is presented with the support of Lead 18 MM Program Sponsors Diane Blake and Stephen Smith.

Prize: $500 cash

KCFF26 JURY:

• Jeremy Larter, Filmmaker
• Naomi Okabe, Filmmaker
• Eric Tremblay, Station Manager, Amherst Island Radio

DOUGLAS J. FALCONER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

An annual award in memory of prolific producer Douglas Falconer (1952 – 2021), this goes to a local film industry professional who has made outstanding contributions to film in Kingston. The award is supported by the Doug Falconer Benefit Fund and the winner is chosen by the Douglas J. Falconer charitable committee.

Prize: $1,000 cash

SVITLANA CHUCHKOVA AWARD

Awarded to an 18 MM Program filmmaker who brings energy, charm, and charisma to their work, and who demonstrates a distinctive creative voice and approach to storytelling.

Prize: $500 cash

KINGSTON SCRIPT TO SCREEN PITCH COMPETITION

Five nominees. One winner. Presented by Kingston Film and Media in collaboration with KCFF, Kingston Script to Screen showcases five original scripted and unscripted projects pitched live on stage, with industry experts offering real-time, constructive feedback. One winning creator will receive an all-access paid pass to key industry market events later in 2026, along with mentorship from a creative producer at Shaftesbury, one of Canada’s top production companies.

KCFF26 JURY:

• Travis Williams, Former Production Executive, Teletoon
• Jenn Kuzmyk, Publisher, Playback Magazine / Executive Director, Banff World Media Festival
• Susan Alexander, Senior Creative Director, Shaftesbury
• Jamaal Azeez, Non-Theatrical Programme Manager, TIFF
• Sarah Fowlie, Head of Original Programming Production, Bell Media