The 44th edition of the Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) is pleased to announce its 2024 award winners.

AWARDS

Best Atlantic Short Documentary
Presented by 902 Post the winner of this award will receive $1,500 in-kind support from 902 Post, $1000 in-kind from Sunbelt, $500 cash prize and membership from DOC Atlantic. 
Winner: welima’q
Directed by shalan joudry

Best Atlantic Short Animation
Presented by the Atlantic International Film Festival, the winner of this award will receive a $500 cash prize from the Atlantic International Film Festival and a complimentary 2025 AIFF Festival Pass. 
Winner: BLOODY MESS
Directed by Megan Wennberg
 

Best Atlantic Short
Presented by 902 Post and Sunbelt Rentals, the winner of this award will receive $1,500 in-kind from 902 Post and $10,000 in-kind from Sunbelt Rentals.
Winner: PEARLS
Directed by Mike Simms

Joan Orenstein Award for Outstanding Performance
Presented by Sky Talent Group, the winner of this award will receive a $1,000 cash price. 
Winner: Mary-Colin Chisholm, THE KITCHEN SINK
David Renton Award for Outstanding Performance
Presented by Sky Talent Group, the winner of this award will receive a $1,000 cash prize.
Winner: Sean Dalton, SKEET

Honourable Mention for Outstanding Performance
Winner: Polly Gallant-Mclean, MONICA’S NEWS

Best Atlantic Editor
Presented by Canadian Cinema Editors Association, the winner of this award will receive a $500 cash prize and a one-year membership to the Canadian Editors Association
Winner: Kim McTaggart, MONICA’S NEWS

Best Atlantic Original Score 
Winner: LAKEVIEW

Best Atlantic Cinematographer
Winner: Nigel Markham, SKEET

DGC Award for Best Atlantic Documentary 
Presented by the Directors Guild of Canada, the winner of this award will receive a $2,000 cash prize
Winner: SEGURIDAD
Directed by Tamara Segura

The Michael Weir Award for Best Atlantic Screenwriter
Winner: Melanie Oates, SWEET ANGEL BABY
DGC Award for Best Atlantic Director 
Presented by the Director’s Guild of Canada, the winner of this award will receive a $2,000 cash prize.
Winner: Jason Buxton, SHARP CORNER

The Gordon Parsons Award for Best Atlantic Feature
Presented by the Atlantic International Film Festival, the winner of this award will receive a $2,000 cash prize. 
Winner: SHARP CORNER
Directed by Jason Buxton

The winners were selected by Atlantic Short Film jury members Claire Peace-McConnell, Stewart Young, and Desmond Simon, and Atlantic Feature Film jury members Deanne Foley, Noah Pink, and Victoria Dabbs.

Claire Peace-McConnell is Head of Public Relations and Canadian Content Development at VVS where she is responsible for identifying and acquiring Canadian projects for distribution and development, and for overseeing the strategy for all VVS releases in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Recent Canadian releases include Christian Sparkes’ AIFF 2023 award-winning The King Tide.

Desmond Simon, hailing from Elsipogtog First Nation, living in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Simon’s Indigenous production company brings captivating visual narratives to life, while championing cultural representation on screen. His recent documentary Mitata – Grandfather screened at AIFF 2023, where it won the award for Best Atlantic Cinematographer.

Stewart Young is an independent producer/creative consultant based in Halifax. He worked for 37 years with CBC in daily journalism, music programming, and documentaries for all platforms. He held many leadership roles within CBC, including Executive Producer of numerous regional and national programs. He continues to focus on program development, creative collaboration and mentorship.

Deanne Foley is an award-winning Canadian feature film & TV director/writer, best known for the critically acclaimed feature film AN AUDIENCE OF CHAIRS and as a director on SON OF A CRITCH and HUDSON & REX. Deanne was awarded BMO Artist of the Year by Arts NL in 2015 and the 2020 WAVE award for Vision & Leadership by Women in Film Television-Atlantic.

Noah Pink is a writer and director born and raised in Halifax. Pink got his start directing music videos for East Coast musicians Rich Aucoin, Hey Rosetta! and Old Man Luedecke. His most recent film EDEN, directed by Ron Howard and starring Jude Law, Ana De Armas, Sydney Sweeney, Vanessa Kirby and Daniel Brühl, premiered at TIFF in 2024. TETRIS, which Pink wrote on spec, premiered at SXSW in 2023 and was released by Apple, and GENIUS, a series starring Geoffrey Rush, was Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Limited Series. Pink is currently developing KOJAK with Vin Diesel and Universal Studios. 

Victoria Dabbs is a lead producer at one of New Zealand’s top production companies, Firefly Films. Victoria co-produced Ant Timpson’s award-winning BOOKWORM (2024), starring Elijah Wood and Michael Smiley, and is in pre-production on Nathalie Boltt’s debut feature HOLY DAYS. Previously, Victoria line produced films and TV series across Europe, Asia, and Australasia. She is currently in development on the NZ/Scottish co-production television series, Nocturnal.

The Atlantic International Film Festival (AIFF) is an eight-day celebration of cinema from all over the world featuring screenings of 100 films, Q&As, receptions, panels and industry events. The festival celebrates new and established filmmaking voices from Atlantic Canada and around the globe, helping audiences discover new artists, uncover new perspectives and better understand the world through the medium of cinema. Founded as a small grassroots organization in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, AIFF moved to Halifax the following year. For over four decades, AIFF has grown into one of Canada’s premier film festivals and continues to be a strong advocate for Atlantic Canadian filmmakers. AIFF is a registered charity and offers year-round programming including AIFF Kids and other partnered screenings and events. The 44th annual Atlantic International Film Festival will take place from September 11 to 18, 2024, inviting film enthusiasts, industry professionals, and curious onlookers to connect and engage through a shared love of cinema.