Awards Ceremony

Alda Award

Alda, which is Icelandic for “wave”, honours the cinematic and creative achievements of a filmmaker from Canada and the circumpolar nations.

ACTRA Awards for Best Performance

Join ACTRA Manitoba in celebrating our best local actors with these live award announcements, honouring two of the year’s best performances.

Best Manitoba Director Award

This annual award goes to the most deserving Manitoba director screening work at our 2026 festival. Presented by the Directors Guild of Canada.

Best Manitoba Film

This award is presented to the best Manitoba film, with special thanks to Manitoba Film and Music.

Indigenous Spirit Award

This award is for outstanding achievements by an Indigenous filmmaker screening at GIFF in 2026.

The Betty Schwartz Memorial Volunteer Achievement Award

This five-year award is graciously sponsored by David & Diane Johnston. It is given to a GIFF volunteer that demonstrates outstanding work and recognizes their contributions to the festival, in the name of our dedicated friend and long-time volunteer, Betty Schwartz.

Best Canadian Short

Celebrate the best Canadian short from across our various shorts programs!

New Voices Award

The New Voices Award will go to a breakthrough filmmaker from an under-represented community presenting at this year’s festival.

Audience Choice Award

Cast your vote for the best feature film of the festival! Audiences will have the opportunity to vote on each film they see at GIFF 2026. The winning film will be announced Saturday night at the Awards Ceremony. An encore screening of the winning film will happen at 8:30pm on Sunday, July 26th at the Gimli Theatre!

Grand Jury Prize

Our top juried film prize! As chosen by our Programming Committee from this year’s feature films.