The ShortWork Awards are annual film awards, presented by the Whistler Film Festival to honour the best short films screened at the festival.
Prior to 2012, a single award was presented inclusive of both Canadian and international short films; in that year, separate awards were created for Canadian and international films. In 2010, a category was also introduced for the best short film by British Columbia film students.
On two occasions in 2015 and 2016, an award was also presented for best screenplay in a Canadian short film, but this has not been presented since 2016.
Best ShortWork
Year Film Filmmaker(s) Ref 2002 Death's Dream David Massar Dana Michell, "Film fest favourites announced". Pique Newsmagazine, December 19, 2002. 2003 The Watchers Kevin Shortt David Spaner, "On the Corner wins prize: Vancouver film tops in Canada at Whistler fest". The Province, December 10, 2003. 2004 A Russian Wave Becky Bristow Ian Edwards, "Crazy Canucks wins at Whistler". Playback, January 3, 2005. Man. Feel. Pain. Dylan Akio Smith 2005 Noise Greg Spottiswood "I'd like to thank the lifties..." Vancouver Courier, December 7, 2005. 2006 Love Seat Kris Elgstrand Glen Schaefer, "Happy People wins prize". The Province, December 4, 2006. 2007 The Colony Jeff Barnaby Marsha Lederman, "Whistler festival ends with awards ceremony". The Globe and Mail, December 4, 2007. 2008 Next Floor Denis Villeneuve Michael Kissinger, "Snowless Whistler Film Festival wraps up; Too many oysters, Tom Green haunt eighth annual schmooze-fest". Vancouver Courier, December 10, 2008. 2009 Life Begins (La Vie commence) Émile Proulx-Cloutier Fred Lee, "B.C. lights up both stage and screen". National Post, December 12, 2009. 2010 Via Gori George Barbakadze Graeme McRanor, "It's a wrap for 10th anniversary of Whistler Film Festival; Highlights included a chat with filmmakers Monte Hellman, Bruce McDonald and Atom Egoyan and a new home for the film fest". Vancouver Sun, December 6, 2010. 2011 The Paris Quintet in Practice Makes Perfect Benny Schuetze Maggie Langrick, "Winnipeg filmmaker's Keyhole named best Canadian feature". Winnipeg Free Press, December 5, 2011.
Best Canadian ShortWork
Year Film Filmmaker(s) Ref 2012 Requiem for Romance Jonathan Ng Mark Leiren-Young, "A magical end to 2012 film festival". Vancouver Sun, December 3, 2012. 2013 Anxious Oswald Greene Marshall Axani Fred Lee, "Snow business". The Province, December 15, 2013. 2014 Running Season Grayson Moore Cathryn Atkinson, "Quebec drama Félix et Meira sweeps Borsos Awards at WFF 2014". Pique Newsmagazine, December 10, 2014. 2015 Withheld Jonathan Sousa Craig Takeuchi, "WFF 2015: River and Last Harvest lead award winners". The Georgia Straight, December 6, 2015. 2016 Mutants Alexandre Dostie Cathryn Atkinson, "Quebec's Before the Streets wins Borsos Best Film Award at Whistler Film Festival". Pique Newsmagazine, December 7, 2016. 2017 We Forgot to Break Up Chandler Levack Craig Takeuchi, "It's a tie for best Canadian feature at the 2017 Whistler Film Festival". The Georgia Straight, December 4, 2017. 2018 Brotherhood (Ikhwène) Meryam Joobeur Adrian Mack, "Québécois film A Colony sweeps Whistler Film Fest awards". The Georgia Straight, December 3, 2018. 2019 My Favourite Food Is Indian Tacos, My Favourite Drink Is Iced Tea and My Favourite Thing Is Drumming Derius Matchewan Alyssa Noel, "Whistler Film Festival hands out awards". Pique Newsmagazine, December 14, 2019. 2020 Shooting Star (Comme une comète) Ariane Louis-Seize Cédric Bélanger, "Festival de film: plusieurs Québécois primés à Whistler". Le Journal de Québec, December 21, 2020. 2021 Angakusajaujuq: The Shaman's Apprentice Zacharias Kunuk Charlie Smith, "Cinema of Sleep wins Borsos award for best Canadian feature at Whistler Film Festival". The Georgia Straight, December 20, 2021. Fufu Omolola Ajao 2022 Tongue Kaho Yoshida Pat Mullen, "River, Coyote Top Whistler Film Festival Awards Winners". Point of View, December 4, 2022. 2023 Atlantis Zoé Pelchat, Jean-François Sauvé Taimur Sikander Mirza, "Atikamekw Suns wins best Canadian feature at WFF". Playback, December 5, 2023. Motherland Jasmin Mozaffari Soap Lulu Wei Zip Ava Maria Safai 2024 Hello Stranger Amélie Hardy Gail Johnson, "Whistler Film Festival announces 2024 award winners". Stir, December 10, 2024. 2025 Ramón Who Speaks to Ghosts Shervin Kermani Dana Gee, "Vancouver film Akashi wins top prize at Whistler Film Festival". Vancouver Sun, December 8, 2025.
Best Screenplay Year Film Filmmaker(s) Ref 2015 The Wolf Who Came to Dinner Jem Garrard 2016 The Head Vanishes Franck Dion
Best International ShortWork
Year Film Filmmaker(s) Ref 2012 Drawn from Memory Marcin Bortkiewicz 2013 A Grand Canal Johnny Ma 2014 The Tide Keeper Alyx Duncan 2015 Dissonance Till Nowak 2016 Timecode Juanjo Giménez 2017 Fear Us Women David Darg 2018 Miss World Georgia Fu 2019 Daughter Daria Kashcheeva 2020 Ashmina Dekel Berenson Craig Takeuchi, "Whistler Film Festival 2020 award winners: From B.C.'s Indian Road Trip to Newfoundland's Little Orphans". The Georgia Straight, December 21, 2020. 2021 Isole Ciclope Ryan De Franco, Matthew Mendelson 2022 Warsha Dania Bdeir Ice Merchants João Gonzalez 2023 I Promise You Paradise Morad Mostafa Fish Bowl Rachel Sweeney 2024 For Sale Stephen George 2025 Beyond Silence Marnie Blok
Best British Columbia Student ShortWork
Year Film Filmmaker(s) Ref 2010 Irradiate Julia Hutchings 2011 No Words Came Down Ryan Flowers, Lisa Pham 2012 Plating Jon Thomas 2013 Backward Fall Andrew Pollins 2014 Godhead Connor Gaston 2015 The Blue Jet Lawrence Lam 2016 Bombing Gloria Mercer 2017 Floating Light Natalie Murao 2018 The Bus Stop Kama Sood 2019 New Washing Machine Mitch Huttema 2020 Rollerbladies Rowan Landaiche, Amber Nordstrand 2021 A Family Act Ashley Yeung 2022 Omukama Zane Klassen 2023 Black & Blue Emma Eng Gerald Kasha Rae Malinowski Like the Wind Hugh Saint-Jacques, Ethan Shandro 2024 Body Varial Audrey Kerridge 2025 Pumpkin Head Christopher Berry
References