The Calgary Underground Film Festival
Awards
CUFF.Docs 2024 (coming soon)
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Documentary Feature –
Runner-Up –
Best Documentary Short –
JURY AWARDS
Best Documentary Feature –
Honourable Mention –
2024 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Audience Award Best Narrative Feature – THELMA (Director Josh Margolin)
Audience Award Best Documentary Feature – SCREAM OF MY BLOOD: A GOGOL BORDELLO STORY (Directors Nate Pommer & Eric Weinrib)
Audience Award Best Canadian Short – THE YEAR OF STARING AT NOSES (Director Knox)
Audience Award Best International Short – FAVOURITES (Director Nick Russell)
JURY AWARDS
Jury Award Best Narrative Feature – THE LAST STOP IN YUMA COUNTY (Director Francis Galluppi)
Special Jury Prize, Filmmakers To Watch Award – FALLING STARS (Directors Gabriel Bienczycki & Richard Karpala)
Jury Award Best Documentary Feature – NEVER LOOK AWAY (Director Lucy Lawless)
Honourable Mention – FLIPSIDE (Director Chris Wilcha)
Jury Award Best Canadian Short – BIRD HOSTAGE (Director Lauren Andrews)
Honourable Mention – THE YEAR OF STARING AT NOSES (Director Knox)
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Documentary Feature – IT'S ONLY LIFE AFTER ALL (Director Alexandria Bombach)
Runner-Up – BOIL ALERT (Directors Stevie Salas & James Burns)
Best Documentary Short – RUNNING RABBIT (Director Bret Robert Franics Kenworthy)
JURY AWARDS
Best Documentary Feature – QUEENDOM (Director Agniia Galdanova)
Honourable Mention – THE DISAPPEARANCE OF SHERE HITE (Director Nicole Newnham)
2023 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Audience Award Best Narrative Feature – BLACKBERRY (Director Matt Johnson)
Audience Award Best Documentary Feature – LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING (Director Lisa Cortés)
Audience Award Best Canadian Short – THRIVING: A DISSOCIATED REVERIE (Director Nicole Bazuin)
Audience Award Best International Short – A WEDDING DAY (Director Brendan Beachman)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Jury Award Best Narrative Feature - THE ANGRY BLACK GIRL AND HER MONSTER (Director Bomani J. Story)
Jury Award Best Documentary Feature - ONE ROAD TO QUARTZSITE (Director Ryan Maxey)
Honourable Mention – CASH COW (Director Matt Barats)
Jury Award Best Canadian Short - THRIVING: A DISSOCIATED REVERIE (Director Nicole Bazuin)
Honourable Mention – DIASPORA, (Director Tyler Mckenzie Evans) & IN THE DARK (Director Bronson Allen)
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature – JACK HAS A PLAN (Director Bradley Berman)
Runner-Up: DROP THE NEEDLE (Director Rob Freeman)
Best Documentary Short – RESIDUAL SPLENDOUR (Director C. Hudson Hwang)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature – THE COLOUR OF INK (Director Brian D. Johnson)
Honourable Mention – DROP THE NEEDLE (Director Rob Freeman)
2022 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature – WILD MEN (Director Thomas Daneskov)
Best Documentary Feature – GETTING IT BACK: THE STORY OF CYMANDE (Director Tim Mackenzie-Smith)
Best Canadian Short – PIITA AAPASSKAAN (Director Brock Mitchell)
Best International Short – INAPPROPRIATE JOKES WELL TOLD (Director Mario Garza)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature – STRAIGHTEN UP AND FLY RIGHT (Directors Kristen Abate and Steven Tanenbaum)
Honourable Mention – DUAL (Director Riley Stearns)
Best Documentary Feature – GETTING IT BACK: THE STORY OF CYMANDE (Director Tim Mackenzie-Smith)
Special Jury Mention for Most Innovative Documentary – WE MET IN VIRTUAL REALITY (Director Joe Hunting)
Jury Award Best Canadian Short Sponsored by the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) and William F. White: CRUISE (Director Sam Rudykoff)
Honourable Mention – IN THE SHADOWS (Director David Émond-Ferrat)
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature: LOVE: THE LAST CHAPTER (Director Dominique Keller)
Runner-Up – ONCE UPON A TIME IN UGANDA (Directors Cathryne Czubek and Hugo Perez)
Best Documentary Short: KOTO: THE LAST SERVICE (Director Joella Cabalu)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature: CANNON ARM AND THE ARCADE QUEST (Directed by Mads Hedegaard)
Special Jury Prize: WE WERE ONCE KIDS (Directed by Eddie Martin)
2021 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: RIDERS OF JUSTICE (Directed by Anders Thomas Jensen)
Best Documentary Feature: KEYBOARD FANTASIES: THE BEVERLY GLENN-COPELAND STORY (Directed by Posy Dixon)
Best Canadian Short: JOE BUFFALO (Directed by Amar Chebib)
Best International Short: STUCK (Directed by David Mikalson)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: PLAYDURIZM (Directed by Gem Deger)
Honourable Mention: FRANK & ZED (Directed by Jesse Blanchard)
Special Jury Prize for Acting: Zachary Schultz, ITCHY FINGERS (Directed by Anna Nilles and Marco Jake)
Best Documentary Feature: ALIEN ON STAGE (Directed by Lucy Harvey and Danielle Kummer)
Honourable Mention: KID CANDIDATE (Directed by Jasmine Stodel)
Special Jury Prize for Documentary Filmmaking: SO LATE SO SOON (Directed by Daniel Hymanson)
Jury Award Best Canadian Short Sponsored by the Directors Guild of Canada (DGC) and William F. White: JOE BUFFALO (Directed by Amar Chebib)
Honourable Mention: RKLSS (Directed by Tank Standing Buffalo)
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature: NO VISIBLE TRAUMA (Directed by Robinder Uppal and Marc Serpa Francoeur)
Best Documentary Short: THAT JOKE ISN'T FUNNY ANYMORE (Directed by Hannah Currie)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature: PRAYER FOR A LOST MITTEN (Directed by Jean-François Lesage)
Special Jury Mention: TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES (Directed by Hannah Jayanti)
2020 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: NOBADI (Directed by Karl Markovics)
Best Documentary Feature: MY NAME IS CLITORIS (Directed by Lisa Billuart Monet and Daphné Leblond)
Best Canadian Short: ROMI (Directed by Robert Cuffley)
Best International Short: HOW TO RE-CAULK YOUR TUB (Directed by Sean Pierce)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: A DOG'S DEATH (Directed by Matías Ganz)
Special Jury Mention: UNCLE PECKERHEAD (Directed by Matthew John Lawrence)
Best Documentary Feature: NARROWSBURG (Directed by Martha Shane)
Special Jury Mention: HOUSE OF CARDIN (Directed by P. David Ebersole and Todd Hughes)
Best Canadian Short: JESSE JAMS (Directed by Trevor Anderson)
Special Jury Mention: THE MOTHER (Directed by Kaytlyn Turner)
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature: SKI BUM: THE WARREN MILLER STORY (Directed by Patrick Creadon)
Best Documentary Short: ROSEBUD, ALBERTA (Directed by Eric Pauls)
JURY AWARD WINNER
Best Documentary Feature: LOS REYES (Directed by Bettina Perut & Iván Osnovikoff)
2019 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: HARPOON (Directed by Rob Grant)
Best Documentary Feature: ASK DR. RUTH (Directed by Ryan White)
Best Canadian Short (Sponsored by William F. Whites): MEMENTO MORI (Directed by Anna Barker & Ryan Irving)
Best International Short: SQUIRREL (Directed by Alex Kavutskiy)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: IN FABRIC (Directed by Peter Strickland)
Special Mention: THE MOUNTAIN (Directed by Rick Alverson)
Best Documentary Feature: HAIL SATAN? (Directed by Penny Lane)
Special Mention – Best in Breed Award: WHO LET THE DOGS OUT (Directed by Brent Hodge)
Special Jury Mention – Illumination and Vision Award: MIDNIGHT FAMILY (Directed by Luke Lorentzen)
Best Short (Sponsored by William F. Whites): CATERPILLARPLASTY (Directed by David Barlow-Krelina)
Special Jury Mention: NO ONE WILL EVER BELIEVE YOU (Directed by Frédéric Chalté)
Special Jury Mention – Emerging Filmmaker: MEMENTO MORI (Directed by Anna Barker & Ryan Irving)
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature: WOLVES UNLEASHED AGAINST ALL ODDS (Directed by Andrew Simpson)
Runner-up: MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. (Directed by Steve Loveridge)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature (TIE): MINDING THE GAP (Directed by Bing Liu) and PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE (Directed by Hao Wu)
2018 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID (Directed by Issa López)
Best Documentary Feature: FREAKS AND GEEKS: A DOCUMENTARY (Directed by Brent Hodge)
Best Short (Sponsored by William F. Whites): PAINTING WITH JOAN (Directed by Jack Henry Robbins)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: REVENGE (Directed by Coralie Fargeat)
Runner-up: TIGERS ARE NOT AFRAID (Directed by Issa López)
Best Documentary Feature: ROLLER DREAMS (Directed by Kate Hickey)
Best Canadian Short (Sponsored by William F. Whites): NIGHT CROSSER (Directed by Kevin T. Landry)
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature: THE JUDGE (Directed by Erika Cohn)
2017 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: DAVE MADE A MAZE (Directed by Bill Watterson)
Runner-up: BAND AID (Directed by Zoe Lister-Jones)
Best Documentary Feature: G FUNK (Directed by Karam Gill)
Best Narrative Short: NO OTHER WAY TO SAY IT (Directed by Timothy Mason)
Best Documentary Short: BAYARD & ME (Directed by Matt Wolf)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT ME (Directed by Hadas Ben Aroya)
Best Documentary Feature: 78/52 (Directed by Alexandre O. Philippe)
Best Canadian Short (Sponsored by William F. Whites): APE SODOM (Directed by Maxwell McCabe-Lokos)
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Documentary Feature: ACCIDENTAL COURTESY: DARYL DAVIS, RACE & AMERICA (Directed by Matt Ornstein)
Best Documentary Short: TIE – JOHNNY PHYSICAL LIVES (Directed by Joshua Neuman) & STAMPEDE CITY (Directed by Keifer Dallison)
2016 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE (Directed by Taika Waititi)
Best Documentary Feature: JANIS: LITTLE GIRL BLUE (Directed by Amy Berg)
Best Narrative Short: BABYSITTER MURDERS (Directed by Ryan Spindell)
Best Documentary Short: GRANDMA LEARNS TO DRIVE (Directed by Dominique Keller)
JURY AWARD WINNERS
Best Narrative Feature: THE LURE (Directed by Agnieszka Smoczynska )
Best Documentary Feature: MAN VS SNAKE (Directed by Tim Kinzy & Andrew Seklir)
Best Canadian Short: BACON & GOD'S WRATH (Directed by Sol Friedman)
AUDIENCE AWARD
Best Documentary Feature: THE SANDWICH NAZI (Directed by Lewis Bennett)
2015 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature: EX MACHINA (Directed by Alex Garland)
Best Documentary Feature: THE RESURRECTION OF JAKE THE SNAKE (Directed by Steve Yu)
JURY AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature: A HARD DAY (Directed by Kim Seong-Hun)
Best Documentary Feature: THE LOOK OF SILENCE (Directed by Joshua Oppenheimer)
Best Animated Short: TEETH (Directed by Tom Brown and Daniel Gray)
Best International Short: THE STOMACH (Directed by Ben Steiner)
Best Canadian Short: DEAD HEARTS (Directed by Stephen Martin)
48-HOUR MOVIE MAKING CHALLENGE AWARDS
1st Place Jury Award: BAD LANDS by Amateur Overlord (Team Leader Spencer Estabrooks) (Watch Film)
2nd Place Jury Award: FLETCHER'S QUEST by Vega (Team Leader Laurie Hart) (Watch Film)
Audience Choice Award: LEGEND OF QUEST: THE WURST KNIGHT by Sneed’s Seed & Feed (Team Leader Chris Spanswick) (Watch Film)
Special Jury Mention for Best Use of Line "Long live the new flesh": "THE FLESH" EXPOSED by Shut the F Up, Donny (Team Leader Elizabeth Shaw) (Watch Film)
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Documentary Feature: AN HONEST LIAR (Directed by Justin Weinstein & Tyler Measom)
Best Documentary Feature (Honourable Mention): VESSEL (Directed by Diana Whitten)
2014 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature: THE RAID 2 (directed by Gareth Evans)
Best Documentary Feature: ALIVE INSIDE: A STORY OF MUSIC AND MEMORY (directed by Michael Rossato-Bennett)
JURY AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature: BLUE RUIN (directed by Jeremy Saulnier)
Best Documentary Feature: JODOROWSKY'S DUNE (directed by Frank Pavich)
Best Short: THE CHAPERONE 3D (directed by Fraser Munden & Neil Rathbone)
48-HOUR MOVIE MAKING CHALLENGE AWARDS
1st Place Jury Award: FUHLON FISTS by Thinking Street Productions - genre: Martial Arts (Watch Film)
2nd Place Jury Award: LAST MEAL by The Engineers and Friends - genre: Musical (Watch Film)
Audience Choice Award: DOG GONE IT by Curt Bennett - genre: Musical
2013 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature; CAFÉ CAFÉ (directed by Pat Downing)
Best Documentary Feature; A BAND CALLED DEATH (directed by Jeff Howlett & Mark Covino)
JURY AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature; UPSTREAM COLOR (directed by Shane Carruth)
Best Documentary Feature; THE FINAL MEMBER (directed by Zach Math & Jonah Bekhor)
Best Animated Short; TRAM (directed by Michaela Pavlátová)
Best Live Action Short; RECORD/PLAY (directed by Jesse Atlas)
48-HOUR MOVIE MAKING CHALLENGE AWARDS
1st Place Jury Award/Audience Award: POLICE COPS by Mos Eisley Cantina Band - genre: Buddy Cop
2nd Place Jury Award: FUTURE WIFE by Fresh Dog - genre: Slasher (Watch Film)
Honorable mention: SLASHERS ANONYMOUS by I4life studios - genre: Slasher (Watch Film)
Excellence in acting: ANNA'S WISH by BLB - genre: Revenge (Watch Film)
Cinematic Audacity - MANDINATOWN by Dr. Robotnik - genre: Revenge (Watch Film)
2012 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature; GOD BLESS AMERICA (directed by Bobcat Goldthwait)
Best Documentary Feature; WITH GREAT POWER: THE STAN LEE STORY (directed by Terry Dougas, Nikki Frakes & Will Hess)
JURY AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature; KLOVN (CLOWN) (directed by Mikkel Nørgaard)
Best Documentary Feature; LAST DAYS HERE (directed by Don Argott & Demian Fenton)
Best Animated Short; DR. BREAKFAST (directed by Stephen Neary)
Best Live Action Short; BEAR (directed by Nash Edgerton)
48-HOUR MOVIE MAKING CHALLENGE AWARDS
1st Place Jury Award: THE ART OF SHAVING by Curt Bennett - genre: Infomercial/ Educational Video (watch film)
2nd Place Jury Award: CHICKEN OF MEN by Rebrew - genre: End of the World (watch film)
Audience Award: A1 CORPORATE by Riders of Brohan - genre: Infomercial/ Educational Video
2011 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature Film; TUCKER & DALE VS EVIL (directed by Eli Craig)
Best Documentary Feature; SUPERHEROES (directed by Michael Barnett)
JURY AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature; BELLFLOWER (directed by Evan Glodell)
Best Documentary Feature; THE GREEN WAVE (directed by Ali Samadi Ahadi)
Best Animated Short; THE WONDER HOSPITAL (directed by Beomsik Shimbe Shim)
Best Narrative Short; ANIMAL CONTROL (directed by Kire Paputts)
48-HOUR MOVIE MAKING CHALLENGE AWARDS
1st Place Jury Award: HAPPY ALL DAY: THE STORY OF ROD DYLAN by Movie Rebrew - genre: biopic (watch film)
2nd Place Jury Award: DOPPLESAUCE by Irfan Pirbhai - genre: Post Apocalyptic
Audience Award: THE McNETWORK by Science Bear - genre: biopic (watch film)
2010 Calgary Underground Film Festival
AUDIENCE AWARDS
Best Film; SUCK (directed by Rob Stefaniuk)
JURY AWARDS
Best Narrative Feature; THE WILD HUNT (directed by Alexandre Franchi)
Best Documentary Feature; THE WILD AND WONDERFUL WHITES OF WEST VIRGINIA (directed by Julien Nitzberg)
Best Animated Short; ALMA (directed by Rodrigo Blaas)
Best Narrative Short; RENEGADES (directed by Jim Hosking)
Best Documentary Short; THE POODLE TRAINER (directed by Vance Malone)