2026 Awards

The awards are presented as part of the 2026 Calgary Underground Film Festival (April 16-26).

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Audience Award Best Narrative Feature – TRACY AND MARTINA: GOIN’ OUT WEST, Director Brendan Lyle
Audience Award Best Documentary Feature – KINGS OF VENICE, Director Sveinn Ingimundarson, S.D. Saltarelli
Audience Award Best Canadian Short – FINGER GUNS, Director David Feehan
Audience Award Best International Short – PIMPLE, Director Fernando Alle

JURY AWARDS & STATEMENTS

Jury Award Best Narrative Feature – THE FOX, Director Dario Russo
Directed by Dario Russo, THE FOX is a work of remarkable tonal confidence, committing fully to its offbeat, absurd, and deadpan world without ever losing control. Russo’s distinct voice is evident in every frame, resulting in a film that is both stylistically bold and precisely executed. Anchored by strong, committed performances that bring its unusual premise to life, the film transforms a seemingly simple conceit into something mythic, funny, charming and unexpectedly relevant. At a time when so much filmmaking plays it safe, The Fox stands out for its clarity of vision and fearless commitment to its own rules. Beneath its absurd and offbeat surface, the film explores themes of desire, identity, and the complexities of commitment in relationships. Both inventive and highly engaging, it leaves a lasting impression well beyond the screening.

Honourable Mention – BAGWORM, Director Oliver Bernsen
The jury wishes to recognize BAGWORM for its bold conceptual approach and its embrace of ambiguity over resolution. Directed by Oliver Bernsen, the film leans into psychological tension through its radical aesthetic and darkly uncomfortable humour, creating an experience that is both provocative and open to interpretation. Through its carefully crafted atmosphere, Bagworm creates a fully realized world in an unsettling and immersive work that lingers in the mind. The story follows a man retreating into an increasingly self-contained and self-destructive world, unable to form meaningful connection. Peter Falls anchors the film with a compelling performance, bringing depth and intensity to the role.

Jury Award Best Documentary Feature - THE HISTORY OF CONCRETE, Director John Wilson
In what begins as a tongue in cheek exploration of the ubiquity of a characterless substance, director John Wilson finds a deeply humanist perspective on gentrification and industry, following a labyrinthine web of tangents that interconnect with a moving serendipity... And you learn so much about concrete.

Honourable Mention – MOCKBUSTER, Director Anthony Frith
For anyone who’s ever wanted a ‘big break’ MOCKBUSTER provides a front row seat to the thrill, heartbreak, and unbelievable frustration of trying to make an ambitious project on a modest (or perhaps insane) budget/timeline. But if you can survive until the end, you may just find this film reminding you of why you wanted to make a movie in the first place.

Jury Award Best Canadian Short - HALFWAY HAUNTED, Director Sam Rudykoff
Sam Rudykoff's HALFWAY HAUNTED is a fun, polished horror-comedy with strong performances, a playful tone, and confident filmmaking from start to finish.

Honourable Mention – ITTY BITTY BETTY, Director Laura Buchanan
Laura Buchanan's ITTY BITTY BETTY is a creative and confident short with a unique tonal blend, capturing the isolation of modern life through a deeply relatable central character. Strong writing, performance, and score create an emotionally resonant piece.

48 HOUR MOVIE MAKING CHALLENGE AWARDS

Jury Award - 1st Place: ALL DOWN BUT ONE by GOODBYE NEIGHBOURS
Jury Award - Runner-Up: WELCOME HOME by BOLD PRODUCTIONS
Audience Award - ALL DOWN BUT ONE by GOODBYE NEIGHBOURS

JURORS

NARRATIVE JURY

Jim Brunzell
Jim Brunzell III was born in the '70s, played sports in the '80s, went to school in the '90s and started working on film festivals in the 2000s. He joined the Twin Cities based music + film festival, Sound Unseen in 2008 as a programmer and became the festival director in 2012. During his tenure the festival has been named "One of the 25 Coolest Film Festivals in the World" (2016 & 2019) by Moviemaker Magazine and "One of the 20 Great First Time Moviemakers Festival" in 2022. In 2023, he joined the L.A. based film distributor, Dark Star Pictures as Director of Festivals and Theatrical. He has served on numerous film festival juries and is a big sports nerd, especially a die-hard Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Dodgers fan. He is also the father to a eight-year old tabby cat named Bruce.

Susan Curran
Susan Curran’s career moves effortlessly from children’s television to cult horror. With over 30 years in film, television distribution, she has helped launch projects ranging from Sesame Street to The Walking Dead. As Executive Director of Marketing & Acquisitions at Anchor Bay Entertainment Canada, Susan oversaw the release of more than 1,000 titles nationwide, elevating global franchises and fiercely independent films alike. She later held senior leadership roles at Vortex Media and served as COO of A71 Entertainment, where she drove acquisitions and theatrical strategy for Canadian and international cinema while championing emerging filmmakers and strong female directors. Through her company Lockhart Productions, Susan produced the award-winning supernatural horror web series Ominous and is currently developing a feature documentary on the legacy of Cinépix, the pioneering Canadian studio behind some of the country’s most influential genre films. Susan brings sharp instincts, market savvy, and an unapologetic love of genre cinema to the CUFF jury.

Mitch Davis
Mitch Davis has been a Director of International Programming at the Fantasia Film Festival in Montreal since 1997 and Co-Festival-Director since 2003. As a filmmaker, he directed the shorts DIVIDED INTO ZERO (1999 - winner, Jury Award for Best Narrative Short at the Chicago Underground Film Festival) and GOD’S LITTLE GIRL (2006). Davis produced Karim Hussain’s transgressive feature debut SUBCONSCIOUS CRUELTY (2000) as well as Rick Trembles’ GOOPY SPASMS (2004) and was an associate producer on the anthology feature ABC’S OF DEATH 2 (2014). Most recently, Davis was an associate producer on Pablo Absento’s BLOAT (2025), produced by Timur Bekmambetov and distributed by Lionsgate.

DOCUMENTARY JURY

Daniel Braun
Daniel Braun has been a part of the Calgary film scene for 16 years. Working on set in various roles, and now with Sunbelt: Film & TV, Daniel is in the business of giving filmmakers the tools they need to tell their stories. He has always had a passion for storytelling, and loves to leave a film with something to ponder. In todays evolving film market he is drawn to films that feature new voices and feel authentic. Which is something CUFF always does so well - showcasing fresh voices and emerging talent.

Cam Maitland
Cam Maitland is the Film and Content Specialist for the Canadian movie channels Hollywood Suite. Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, with a degree in filmmaking from Simon Fraser University, he works throughout the Toronto film industry as a producer, writer, and host. Through the years, his work has developed from digging through Canadian film history for projects like The Royal Canadian Movie Podcast to writing and producing original documentary programs about film history like 'A Year In Film' and 'Cinema: A-Z', as well as consulting on Hollywood Suite’s acquisitions and original programming. Cam believes documentary is one of the most flexible cinematic styles, offering unique formal and storytelling opportunities that always leave the door open for new revelations.

Kier-La Janisse
Kier-La Janisse is a film writer, producer, acquisitions executive for Severin Films, creative director of Spectacular Optical Media, founder of the Miskatonic institute of Horror Studies and Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Communication and Creative Arts at Deakin University. She is the author of Cockfight: A Fable of Failure (2024), House of Psychotic Women: An Autobiographical Topography of Female Neurosis in Horror and Exploitation Films (2012/2022) and A Violent Professional: The Films of Luciano Rossi (2007) and has been an editor on numerous books including Truth & Soul: A Robert Downey Sr. Reader (2025), Warped & Faded: Weird Wednesday and the Birth of the American Genre Film Archive (2021) and Satanic Panic: Pop-Cultural Paranoia in the 1980s (2015). She wrote, directed and produced the award-winning documentary Woodlands Dark and Days Bewitched: A History of Folk Horror (2021), produced the acclaimed blu-ray box sets All the Haunts Be Ours: A Compendium of Folk Horror (2021) and The Sensual World of Black Emanuelle (2023), and is the creator/showrunner of The Haunted Season on Shudder for which she made her first narrative film, The Occupant of the Room (2025). She is currently in development on several book and film projects. For more see kierlajanisse.com | spectacularoptical.com

SHORT JURY

Kelly Stewart
Kelly Michael Stewart is the Founder and Festival Director of the Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS) in Toronto, Canada. For more than 15 years, Stewart has championed independent Canadian genre cinema (particularly horror, sci-fi, thriller, and action) by building sustainable platforms that support creators and projects. Stewart began his career as a genre-focused film writer, contributing to outlets including Fangoria, Toronto Film Scene, Planet Fury, and KISS Monster Magazine. In 2012, he launched Fright Nights at the Projection Booth, a monthly screening series dedicated to genre cinema. That curatorial experience led to the founding of Blood in the Snow Film Festival later that year, with a mandate to showcase Canadian genre filmmakers. Under Stewart’s leadership, BITS has expanded from a small weekend event into a six-day festival featuring 13 screening programs annually, alongside the Deadly Exposure Industry Conference and the BITS Horror Development Lab, which supports early-stage genre projects from underrepresented creators.

James Brylowski
James Brylowski is a Canadian writer, director, and producer whose absurd, deadpan films blend dry humour with realism in a DIY style. His award-winning short films, including Bidet, Corners, and A Mile in These Hooves, have screened at major festivals including Sitges, HollyShorts, Cleveland, FilmQuest, and Newport Beach. He also produced the TV series ZAPX for YTV in Canada. With a background in music, he began by making EPKs and music documentaries for some of Canada’s most respected bands, and recently directed a film for the iconic band The Breeders. He is currently working on his first feature film.

Sarah Ashley-Hewitson
Sarah Ashley-Hewitson is Manager, FAST Channel Operations & Strategy at A Parent Media Co., where she leads global FAST platform partnerships and oversees strategy and operations for the Victory+, Kidoodle.TV, Dude Perfect, and Glitch+ channels. She began her career in theatrical film distribution, spending over a decade in film sales and market-facing roles before expanding into broadcast, streaming, FAST, and digital media. Her work today sits at the intersection of content, distribution, and audience strategy, with a focus on building sustainable, collaborative models that support creators, platforms, and viewers alike. Film remains at the heart of her career, shaping her passion for discovery-driven programming and her ongoing involvement in the festival community.

48-HOUR JURY

Ted Stenson
Ted Stenson is a filmmaker based in Calgary, Alberta. His first feature film EVENTS TRANSPIRING BEFORE, DURING, AND AFTER A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAME was produced through the Telefilm Talent-to-Watch, and was also showcased at CUFF’s 2019 Live Script Reading event. Premiering at Vancouver International Film Festival in 2020 and screening at over 15 festivals in North America, the film won several awards, including the Reel Canadian Indie award at the Canadian Film Festival and Best Long Form Narrative at the 2023 Stinger Awards. In 2022, Ted wrote and directed LIVING WITHOUT MENACE (CUFF.Docs 2022), a documentary about the Alberta Rat Patrol that is currently available on CBC Gem. His most recent film, INSTANT ANIMATION, about internationally-renowned 'cameraless' animator Richard Reeves, premiered at the GIRAF Animation Festival in 2024 and is currently touring the festival circuit.

Nicole McControversy
Nicole has proudly served Los Angeles cinephiles as Beyond Fest’s shorts programmer since 2019, championing the wild, the weird, and the wonderful in short form cinema. She also serves as market coordinator for the Frontières international co-production market, in association with the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montréal and the Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes, where she loves connecting genre visionaries with the collaborators and resources to bring their projects to life. Most recently, she joined the Section X programming team at MOTELX in Lisbon, bringing underground and experimental cinema into the Portuguese sunshine. Previously, Nicole spent over a decade as Director of Programming for the Boston Underground Film Festival, building one of the most vibrant and beloved genre film communities in the country. Earlier in her career, she covered arts and entertainment for The Hollywood Reporter and Boston.com.

Kyle Misak
Kyle has always been a dreamer, but it was in high school that he became a filmmaker. Inspired by many of his favorite movies of the ‘80s and ‘90s, Kyle began to tell his own stories his sophomore year of high school using the family video camera. With his naivety, youthfulness, and pure optimism, Kyle wrote and directed his first feature film when he was just 19 years old. Hungry for more, Kyle continued to self-fund, write, produce, edit, and direct over a dozen short films and four feature films to date. Kyle’s dream is to continue telling stories that promote adventure, laughter, and thrills for mainstream audiences all around the world. BAD HAIRCUT, which is part of this year's festival, is Kyle's third feature film.