HALIFAX: The 45th edition of the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) boasts a growth in audience attendance and community engagement as they announce the 2025 award winners on Sunday, September 14.
Coming together to celebrate the best in Atlantic film, award winners were selected by a jury; winners include feature film, and short film categories.
The juries include industry veterans, producers, and programmers. The feature film jurors are Atlantic-based filmmaker and award-winning producer Ann Bernier; former TIFF programmer and film journalist, Steve Gravestock; and, Indigenous-Sami filmmaker Siljá Somby.
The short film jurors are Inga Diev of Toronto-based sales and distribution company Ouat Media; Canadian producer Lindsay Blair Goeldner; and, Atlantic-based actor and public speaker Martina Kelades.
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The full list of winners is as follows:
The Gordon Parsons Award for Best Atlantic Feature
The winner of this award will receive a 20k credit from Equifilm.
Winner: Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts)
Directed by bretten hannam
Produced by Marc Tetreault, Jason Levangie, bretten hannam, Martin Katz, Diana Elbaum
Of the film, the jury states, “for its powerful and hypnotic tale of two estranged brothers rediscovering their people’s history and confronting the demons of their past together, the jury gives the Best Atlantic Feature prize to bretten hannam’s Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts).”
Best Atlantic Director
Winner: Sherry White, Blueberry Grunt
Of the film, the jury states, “for her confident, layered work on a portrait of a marriage facing a crisis, the jury gives the Best Atlantic Director prize to Sherry White for Blueberry Grunt.”
The Michael Weir Award for Best Atlantic Screenwriter
Winner: Andy Hines, Adam Baldwin, Little Lorraine
Of the film, the jury states, “for its imaginative, captivating and complex portrait of a community in crisis, adapted from an unconventional source, the jury awards the Best Atlantic Screenwriter prize to Andy Hines and Adam Baldwin for Little Lorraine.”
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Joan Orenstein Award for Outstanding Performance in Acting
Presented by Sky Talent Group, the winner of this award will receive a $1,000 cash prize.
Winner: Mary Walsh, Dancing on the Elephant
Of the winning performance, the jury states, “for her poignant, vital and raucously funny portrayal of a senior citizen struggling with dementia and memory loss, the jury awards the Outstanding Performance in Acting prize to the legendary Mary Walsh in Dancing on the Elephant.”
David Renton Award for Outstanding Performance in Acting
Presented by Sky Talent Group, the winner of this award will receive a $1,000 cash prize.
Winner: Stephen McHattie, Little Lorraine
Best Atlantic Original Score or Song
Winner: Jeremy Dutcher, Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts)
Best Atlantic Cinematographer
The winner of this award will receive a 10k credit from Equifilm.
Winner: Guy Godfree, Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts)
Of the film, the jury states, “Even in a film notable for its technical audacity and breathtaking craft, this cinematographer’s stellar work stands out. The jury awards the Best Atlantic Cinematographer prize to Guy Godfree for Sk+te’kmujue’katik (At the Place of Ghosts).
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Best Atlantic Editor
Presented by Canadian Cinema Editors, the winner of this award will receive a $500 cash prize and a one-year membership to Canadian Cinema Editors.
Winner: Angela Baker,
Dancing on the Elephant
Best Atlantic Short Film
Presented by Sunbelt Rentals and Doug Woods. The winner of this award will receive $10,000 credit at Sunbelt Rentals, $1,500 of in-kind services from 902 Post.
Winner: FEED
Directed by Nancy Urich
Honourable Mention: Mourning Rituals
Directed by Annaka Gale
Best Atlantic Short Documentary
Presented by 902 Post and Doug Woods. The winner of this award will receive $1,500 in-kind support from 902 Post, and a $500 cash award plus membership to DOC.
Winner: The Muse
Directed by Wanda Nolan
Honourable Mention: Imprint
Directed by Duncan Major
For more information about the AIFF jurors and prizes winners, please visit www.atlanticfilmfestival.ca/awards.
