Each year, short film submissions are judged by a panel of local people of all ages and descriptions. Depending on each year’s crop of entries, the award categories can change. Only for the 2025 FilmFest, a special History Prize has been created with a $1,000 award! In addition to cash prizes, awards include trophies hand-crafted by local artists and craftspeople. Below is a selected list of awards.

Grand prize -audience choice award

A prize of $500 will be awarded to the entry judged best by the FilmFest audience. This award goes to the short film that receives the most votes from the attendees at our Gala Screening. In addition to the cash prize, a plaque with the winner’s name will be added to the famed Baby Cecil trophy!

A newly created category to encourage filmmakers to explore historical themes, events and ideas. This $1,000 award is inspired by the idea that "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. This is a one-time award — only for the 2025 FilmFest.

History Prize

The following prizes may not be awarded every year if there are insufficient numbers in each category to create a meaningful competition:

Technical achievement

A prize of $250 will be given to an entry judged to show outstanding work in one or more of the following categories; cinematography, sound design, musical score or animation and not already a winner of any other prize.

A $250 prize will go to the documentary entry judged the best.

Best Documentary

A prize of $250 is awarded to the entry judged best that was submitted by someone 18 years old or younger and not already a winner of any other prize.  The entry must be entirely the work of the young person(s) submitting the entry.

Youth Prize

 

Best Narrative

A prize of $250 will be awarded to an entry judged best in narrative story-telling.

Best Actor - Narrative

A $250 prize for the performance by an actor judged best in a narrative entry.

Music Video Prize

A prize of $250 will be awarded to the entry judged to be the best use of imagination and editing of video, photography, animation, special effects or any combination to a song or musical piece.

Animation Prize

A $250 prize for the animated film judged best.