Kitchener-Waterloo International Film Festival (KWIFF)
2026 WINNERS
BEST SHORT FILM
If Dogs Run Free — Canada
BEST CANADIAN SHORT FILM
Keeping Christmas Together — Canada
BEST INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM
Beg Yuh A Call — Jamaica
BEST CANADIAN SHORT DRAMA
Story Narrated By Anuhya - Canada
BEST FILM (THRILLER HORROR)
WATTLESEED - Canada
BEST STUDENT FILM
PATIENT — Canada
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
Hive Mindset — Canada
BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM
John Erb in Upper Canada — Canada
BEST PICTURE FILM
This Bloody Country — United States
BEST COMEDY FILM
Marta Vs. The Bugs – Canada
BEST EXPERIEMENTAL FILM
The Housemaid – Canada
BEST ANIMATED / SCI-FI FILM
They Are Killing Us... — Canada
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Bottled Love — U.S. Virgin Island
BEST EDITING
The Border at Tolstoi — Canada
BEST SCREENPLAY
Cedar Pines Episode 2: The Body
BEST SCREENPLAY INTERNATIONAL
Borealis — Brazil
BEST TRAILERS
NIAGARA'S 13 GHOSTS — Canada
BEST CHILD ACTOR
NORAH EAGEN
If Dogs Run Free — Canada
BEST ACTRESS - SHORT FILM
SAMANTHA COLWELL-CASTLES
If Dogs Run Free - Canada
BEST ACTOR
Brent Baird - A Night with Nathan — Canada
BEST ACTRESS
Gillian Zhao - The Housemaid – Canada
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Michael Lake - Keeping Christmas Together — Canada
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Jessica Chin King - Keeping Christmas Together — Canada
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS INTERNATIONAL
Sanskriti Raiker – Sophie - India
BEST DIRECTOR
Christopher Andrew McGruer - If Dogs Run Free — Canada
BEST DIRECTOR SHORT FILM
Srinivas Kasturi - Story Narrated by Anuhya - Canada
BEST PRODUCER
Christopher Andrew McGruer, Samantha Colwell-Castles, Sarah Goldman - If Dogs Run Free — Canada