After careful consideration, our competition jury - consisting of Halifax-based filmmakers Seán Maheux Galway and Sandi Rankaduwa - have selected the 2023 FIN Kids Youth Film Competition Award Winners!👏🏆👏

Award for Best Fiction Film

Mission Spaghetti Sauce

Director: Josiah Olivier Urban (NS)

Awarded for the films impressive cinematography and intricate rhythm which deftly emulates the look and feel of blockbuster spy thrillers and for its unexpected, clever, and heartfelt conclusion, which reminds us that everything we do, at the end of the day, is all for mom.

Honorable Mention: Best Fiction Film

This Way Up

Director: Finn Jeremy Paster (NS)

Awarded for the films noteworthy and lighthearted creativity – particularly in the props and costumes department – and immersive cinematography, all elevated by a skillful lead actor.

Award for Best Documentary Film

Our Story: The Indigenous Life

Director: Julia Black (NS)

Awarded for the films intimate, moving, and urgent portrait of Mi’kmaq elder and activist Daniel M. Paul, tastefully using archival material and an interview to illustrate his life’s work and journey, and as an invaluable window into the Residential School system presented with compassion and integrity.

Honorable Mention: Best Documentary Film

Nova Scotia’s First

Directors: Sawyer Bodurtha and Gabe El Rabahi (NS)

Awarded for the films wonderfully informative portrayal of an impressive local figure, Supreme Court Justice John Bodurtha, and its deft handling of the intricacies and obstacles of systemic racism.

Award for Achievement in Acting

Familiar

Actor: Grace Qu (NS)

Awarded for their portrayable of a challenging, double-headed role, which captured the uncanny feeling of seeing your own face in the crowd with harrowing suspense and believable terror.

Award for Achievement in Animation

The Soup

Director: John Torres Calderon

Awarded for the films inspired world-building, subtle commentary on our society’s relationship to nature and technology, and its utterly breathtaking visual effects.

Award for Best Film by a Filmmaker 12 & Under

Yelsew’s Magic Safe Snatch

Directors: Travis Karr, Wesley Karr, Sam Crabtree and Charlie Crabtree

Awarded for the films rambunctious, hilarious, and magical energy, which left the jury in stitches and reminded us that the controlled chaos of childlike imagination is at the heart of making movies at any age.

People’s Choice Award

Dance Chose Me

Directors: Tristan Jenkins and Cameron Jenkins (NL)

Each award-winning film will receive a piece of film equipment that they can use to continue making movies. Past prizes have included camera stabilizers, microphones, tripods, and video lights.

Films by all 15 finalists, can be watched here.

The FIN Kids Youth Film Competition is a challenge, an opportunity to connect youth with the film industry and a showcase of Atlantic Canada's best young filmmakers. For many young Atlantic Canadians, this is the first opportunity they have to see their work on the big screen and have it be evaluated by our panel of Industry professionals. Learn more.