“Really Happy Someday” Wins Top Prize at Whistler Film Festival in Canada
The Whistler Film Festival (WFF), held in Whistler, BC, celebrated its 24th edition with an awards ceremony on December 8. A total of $188,500 in cash and production prizes were distributed across 15 awards spanning seven juried film competitions, including the prestigious Borsos Competition for Best Canadian Feature.
The top honor, the Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature, was awarded to Really Happy Someday by J Steven. The jury, comprising Tatiana Maslany, Tantoo Cardinal, and Cory Bowes, praised the film for its “intimate journey through a loving family community” and its exploration of “aligning body and soul.” The award came with a $35,000 cash and in-kind prize.
Other winners in the Borsos Competition included Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr’s Phoenixes for Best Direction and Ariane Falardeau St-Amour for Best Cinematography. Who Do I Belong To received Best Performance for Salha Nasraoui and Best Editing for Maryam Goober and Maxime Mathis.
The festival featured 118 films, including 47 features and 71 shorts, with 27 world premieres and numerous regional debuts. Angela Heck, executive director of WFF, emphasized the significance of supporting Canadian filmmakers, stating, “The diversity and innovation showcased in this year’s competition speaks to the strength and artistry of Canadian filmmakers.”
Highlights included Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson, and David McMurry’s Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted, which won the World Documentary Award, and Maya and the Wave by Stephanie Johnes, which secured the Best Mountain Culture Feature Film award. The Screen BC Short Film Award was presented to Norman Yi Li’s Adverse Possession, praised for its unique approach to storytelling.
The festival also launched the Northern Star Award, an evolution of the Stars To Watch program. This year’s inaugural award recognized Morgan Taylor Campbell for her performance in Queen Of The Underworld.
Two Audience Awards, covering features and shorts, will be announced on December 12, rounding off a festival that celebrated emerging talent and diverse perspectives in Canadian and international cinema.
FILM AWARDS
- Borsos Award for Best Canadian Feature Film: Really Happy Someday, directed by J Steven
- Best Direction of a Borsos Competition Film (sponsored by Directors Guild of Canada, BC): Phoenixes, directed by Jonathan Beaulieu-Cyr
- Best Screenplay of a Borsos Competition Film: Really Happy Someday, J Stevens and Breton Lalama
- Best Performance in a Borsos Competition Film: Who Do I Belong To, Salha Nasraoui
- *Honourable Mention for Performance in a Borsos Competition Film: Aberdeen, Gail Maurice
- Best Cinematography in a Borsos Competition Film (presented by ICG 669): Phoenixes, Ariane Falardeau St-Amour
- Best Editing in a Borsos Competition Film: Who Do I Belong To, Maryam Goober and Maxime Mathis
- World Documentary Award: Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted, directed by Isaac Gale, Ryan Olson, and David McMurry
- Best Mountain Culture Short Film (sponsored by Whistler Blackcomb): Barefoot Pilot directed by Leo Hoorn and Steve Henderson
- Best Mountain Culture Feature Film (sponsored by Whistler Blackcomb): Maya And The Wave, directed by Stephanie Johnes
- Best BC Director Award (sponsored by DGC-BC): Resident Orca, directed by Simon Schneider and Sarah Sharkey Pearce
- Canadian ShortWork Award: Hello Stranger by Amélie Hardy
- International ShortWork Award: For Sale by Stephen George
- BC Student ShortWork Award (presented by Capilano University): Body Varial by Audrey Kerridge
- EDA Award for Best Female Directed Short: Have I Swallowed Your Dreams by Clara Chan
- EDA Award for Best Female Directed Feature (presented by the Alliance of Women Film Journalists): Bob Trevino Likes It, directed by Tracie Laymon
TALENT PROGRAM AWARDS
- Northern Star Award (presented by UBCP/ACTRA): Morgan Taylor Campbell
- Power Pitch Competition: Milton Ng, New Diamond Restaurant
- Screen BC Short Film Pitch: Adverse Possession by Norman Yi Li