22nd Calgary Underground Film Festival

April 17-27, 2025

13th CUFF.Docs Documentary Film Festival

November 19-23, 2025
website header

Awards

CUFF.Docs 2024

AUDIENCE AWARDS

Best Documentary Feature - DEVO (Director Chris Smith)
Runner-Up - EVERY LITTLE THING (Director Sally Aitken)
Best Documentary Short - DELTA DAWN (Director Asia Youngman)

JURY AWARDS

Best Documentary Feature - EVERY LITTLE THING (Director Sally Aitken)
Honourable Mention - MISTRESS DISPELLER (Director Elizabeth Lo)

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)

2023 CUFF.Docs

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)

2022 CUFF.Docs

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)

2021 CUFF.Docs

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)

2020 CUFF.Docs

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) 

2019 CUFF.Docs 

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)

2018 CUFF.Docs

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) 

2017 CUFF.Docs

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)

2016 CUFF.Docs

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)

2015 CUFF.Docs 

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)

2014 CUFF.Docs

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)