Youth Filmmakers Showcase
What You Need to Know

Are you a young or aspiring BC filmmaker? This is your chance to show us what you can do with a camera, your imagination, and maybe a little help from your friends.
The Youth Filmmakers Showcase will be available as part of R2R festival April 7-16, 2024 for a public in-person screening and awards ceremony at the VIFF Centre Theatre!
Submissions for YFS 2024 are now open!
- Upload your film to your YouTube or Vimeo account
- Read and comply with the Entry Information sheet
- Fill out the Entry Form below
If selected as a finalist, your film will be showcased on the big screen during the festival, you and a guest will be invited; and will be eligible to win great prizes!
Submissions Deadline: February 18, 2024

What You Could Win from our Sponsors
Some of the incredible prizes you could win that will assist you in your journey of filmmaking include:
*Camera and gear rental package
*RØDE Microphone
*Film workshops
*Art supplies
*Cinema tickets
*Festival passes
*And many more!
There’s also an audience award for the most popular film, and only those in attendance get to vote.
Past Winners
2023 Awards
Best Film Award
Prize: One production membership with equipment credit of $1000 from Cineworks
Winner: BEAUTY
Directing Award
Prize: A Vancouver Film School Summer Intensives course of your choice, suggested: Introduction to Directing / 10 tickets to VIFF
Winner: A CONVERSATION WITH E
Runner-up: SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR
Prize: The Cinematheque’s Summer youth filmmaking program, Cinelab
Documentary Award
Prize: One Year professional development pass from DOC BC / One Online Pass for DOXA
Winner: THROUGH A HUMAN LENS
Animation Award
Prize: 1 year full subscription to Toon Boom Storyboard Pro + Harmony Essentials
Winner: THE ROOMBA GOES WILD!
Runner-up: BOTTLED UP
Prize: 6 Tickets to RIO Theatre
Screenwriting Award
Prize: A Vancouver Film School Summer Intensives course of your choice, suggested: Introduction to Screenwriting / 1 pass for VLAFF
Winner: MATCH
Music and/or Sound Award
Prize: One VideoMic NTG from Røde
Winner: SLOW DOWN
Runner-up: BOTTLED UP
Prize: Røde NTH-100 Headphones
Acting Award
Prize: A Vancouver Film School Summer Intensives course of your choice, suggested: Introduction to Acting
Winner: WINNER
Runner-up: BARELY SQUEAKING BY
Prize: 2 Books from Massy Books – Sanford Meisner on Acting and An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavsky / 1 pass for VLAFF
Camera and/or Lighting Award
Prize: $250 gift certificate from Annex Pro
Winner: SOMETHING STUPID
Runner-up: BEAUTY
Prize: One production membership with equipment credit of $500 from Cineworks
Editing Award
Prize: One producer membership with equipment credit of $500 from VIVO Media Arts
Winner: WINNER
Audience Award
Prize: One production membership with equipment credit of $500 from Cineworks
Winner: MATCH
2022 Awards
Best Film Award
Prize: One production membership with equipment credit of $1000 from Cineworks / 10 tickets for The Cinematheque
Winner: CITRUS
Directing Award
Prize: A Vancouver Film School CONNECT course of your choice (online/in-person options available), suggested: Introduction to Directing
Winner: ORBIT
Runner-up: EPOCH
Prize: One runner-up production membership with equipment credit of $500 from Cineworks / 4 tickets to the Rio Theatre
Documentary Award
Prize: One Year professional development pass from DOC BC / One runner-up production membership with equipment credit of $500 from Cineworks
Winner: THERE AND BACK: A WHALE’S TALE
Runner-up: MYSTERIES OF WATER
Prize: One Online Pass for DOXA
Animation Award
Prize: 1 year full subscription to Toon Boom Storyboard Pro + Harmony Essentials
Winner: RUBBER CHICKENS AND THE END OF THE WORLD
Screenwriting Award
Prize: A Vancouver Film School CONNECT course of your choice (online/in-person options available), suggested: Screenwriting Fundamentals
Winner: THE INTERVIEW
Runner-up: BRAIN FILES
Prize: 2 Final Draft 12 Licenses / 10 tickets for The Cinematheque
Sound Award
Prize: One VideoMic NTG from Røde / 10 tickets to VIFF
Winner: CROW CALL AND RESPONSE
Acting Award
Prize: A Vancouver Film School CONNECT course of your choice (online/in-person options available), suggested: Introduction to Acting: Connecting to Craft
Winner: CITRUS
Runner-up: MERRY CHAOS
Prize: 2 Books from Massy Books – Sanford Meisner on Acting and An Actor Prepares by Constantin Stanislavsky / 10 tickets for The Cinematheque
Camera and/or Lighting Award
Prize: $250 gift certificate from Annex Pro / 2 passes for VLAFF
Winner: SOMETHING STUPID
Editing Award
Prize: One producer membership with equipment credit of $500 from VIVO Media Arts / 10 tickets for The Cinematheque
Winner: BEST FRIENDS
2021 Awards
Best Film Award
Prize: $250 Gift Certificate at Annex Pro / One production membership with equipment credit of $100 / tickets from The Cinematheque
Winner: THE DREAMER
Directing Award
Prize: One production membership with equipment credit of $250 at Cineworks / tickets for VIFF
Winner: DOMENICA
Runner-up: And I Yearn
Documentary Award
Prize: A Zoom H1N Recroder / A pass for DOXA Online
Winner: ASIAN BUT NOT REALLY
Runner-up: All Roads Lead to Romi
Animation Award
Prize: $50 Gift card + animation art kit for each winner from OPUS Art Supplies
Winners (tie): FLUFFIE and SNOW DAY
Runner-up: Timeportation
Screenwriting Award
Prize: A copy of “The Writer’s Journey”, courtesy of Massy Books / One Final Draft (student edition)
Winner: STEPPING OUT
Runner-up: Problems
Sound Award
Prize: A RØDE VideoMic GO from RØDE Microphones / tickets from The Cinematheque
Winner: BRAIN ON FIRE
Runner-up: kʷənáŋət néʔ
Acting Award
Prize: A copy of “Sanford Meisner on Acting” & “An Actor Prepares”
Winner: DOMENICA
Runner-up: Twilight
Camera and/or Lighting Award
Prize: One production membership with equipment credit of $100 at Cineworks / tickets from The Cinematheque
Winner: JOURNEY OF DANCE
Runner-up: In Search of the Self (Sa Pagpangita Sa Kaugalingon)
Editing Award
Prize: 6TB Hard Drive
Winner: ENTROPY
Runner-up: My Family
Most Inspirational Film Award
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
2019 Awards
Music and/or Sound Award
Prize: A RØDE VideoMic GO, a Lightweight On-Camera Microphone from ADI
Winner: INFLUENZA
Camera and/or Lighting Award
Prize: One production membership with equipment credit of $350 at Cineworks
Winner: RESEMBLANCE
Editing Award
Prize: $250 Gift Card from Annex Pro
Winner: WHAT CELEBRITY?
Acting Award
Prize: Gift Certificate for one sessional class at Arts Umbrella
Winner: DO YOU WANT TO GO TO THE BEACH?
Screenwriting Award
Prize: A copy of “The Writer’s Journey” & “Save the Cats”, courtesy of the Massy Books
Winner: CHANGING GEARS
Directing Award
Prize: 2 day Motion Picture Industry Orientation Class at In Focus + 4 tickets to VIFF / 4 tickets to Rio Theatre / 2 VLAFF passes
Winner: TRACKS
Animation Award
Prize: $100 Gift card at OPUS Art Supplies
Winner: THERMIDOR
Documentary Award
Prize: One year of BC Prof Dev Workshops (10 workshops) at BC DOC
Winner: LILY SCHINDE
SPFX Award
Prize: 6 tickets to VIFF
Winner: MILLENNIAL PINK
Audience Award
Prize: $100 Gift Card at Gear Base Camera Rentals
Winners (tied):SYRIAN BOYS&TRACKS
Best Picture Award
Prize: One Pass to seasonal SFU teen camp from Young Moviemakers
Winner: LILY SCHINDE
2019 Youth Filmmakers Showcase Jury:
Tawny Darbyshire – Prop Designer
Joella Cabalu – Documentary filmmaker and producer
Jason Pope – Independent filmmaker and instructor
2018 Awards
Music and/or Sound Award
Prize: A RØDE VideoMic GO, a Lightweight On-Camera Microphone from ADI
Winner: UNTITLED
Camera and/or Lighting Award
Prize: One producer membership + $100 equipment credit at VIVO Media Arts Centre
Winner: A LITTLE TO THE LEFT
Editing Award
Prize: 2.5 TB Hard Drive from London Drugs
Winner: TO YOU
Acting Award
Prize: One complimentary set of 25x Headshot Repros at Rocket Reprographics
Winner: MIDNIGHT MAN
Screenwriting Award
Prize: A copy of “The Writer’s Journey”, courtesy of the Directors Guild of Canada + 10 tickets to the Vancouver International Film Festival
Winner:CLICHÉ
Directing Award
Prize: Bursary to The Indie Filmmakers Lab summer program at The Cinémathèque
Winner: LIFE GOES ON: JOHN DUB
Animation Award
Prize: One year full subscription to Toon Boom Harmony Essentials and Story Board Pro
Winner: TIME HAUNTERS
Documentary Award
Prize: Two-Day Documentary Workshop at In Focus Film School
Winner: GROWING UP WITHOUT A FATHER
Audience Award
Prize: A workshop at Arts Umbrella
Winner: MIDNIGHT MAN
Best Picture Award
Prize: One-Year FREE Access to DOC BC Professional Development Workshops
Winner: TO YOU
2018 Youth Filmmakers Showcase Jury:
Kryshan Randel – Independent filmmaker and educator
Milena Salazar – Independent filmmaker and documentarian
Anaisa Visser – Award winning independent filmmaker
2017 Awards
Music and/or Sound Award
Prize: A RØDE VideoMic GO, a Lightweight On-Camera Microphone from ADI
Winner: SAFE AND SOUND
Camera and/or Lighting Award
Prize: A $250 Gift Certificate toward any equipment purchase at Annex Pro
Winner: NACHT
Editing Award
Prize: 2.5 TB Hard Drive from London Drugs
Winner: EMPOWER AFRICA
Acting Award
Prize: One complimentary set of 25x Headshot Repros at Rocket Reprographics
Winner: LIMBO
Screenwriting Award
Prize: A copy of “Screenwriting for Teens”, courtesy of the Directors Guild of Canada + 10 tickets to the Vancouver International Film Festival
Winner: THE GIRL HE WANTS
Directing Award
Prize: Bursary to The Indie Filmmakers Lab summer program at The Cinémathèque
Winner: THE OTHER SIDE
Animation Award
Prize: One year full subscription to Toon Boom Harmony Essentials and Story Board Pro
Winner: CMND-Z
Documentary Award
Prize: One-Day Documentary Workshop at In Focus Film School
Winner: KIMBERLY NIXON: JOURNEY TO ACCEPTANCE
Audience Award
Prize: A workshop at Arts Umbrella
Winner: LIMBO
Best Picture Award
Prize: One-Year FREE Access to DOC BC Professional Development Workshops
Winner: HERO
2017 Youth Filmmakers Showcase Jury:
Tania Alekson
Elisa Chee
Brandon Yan
2016 Awards
Best Use of Music and/or Sound Award
Prize: A RØDE VideoMic GO, a lightweight on-camera microphone from Trew Audio ($99)
Winner: SNOWFLAKES
Best Use of Camera and/or Lighting Award
Prize: A one week rental of the Black Magic Camera from Annex Pro ($1,000)
Winner: EIDOLON
Best Editing Award
Prize: A 2TB Seagate Backup Plus Slim Hard Drive + Seagate Backup Plus Slim Case from Best Buy($200)
Winner: IN TIME
Best Acting Award
Prize: One complimentary set of 25x Headshot Repros at Rocket Reprographics ($60)
Winner: CARCINOS
Best Screenwriting Award
Prize: Blank Movie Storyboards, Comic Blanks, 12x HB Pencils and an Essential Paperback Lined Book from OPUS Art Supplies ($70) + Two Festival Passes to the 2016 Vancouver Latin American Film Festival ($250)
Winners: aPENCIL, PIRATES and THE SENTINEL
Best Direction Award
Prize: A Bursary to the Indie Filmmakers Lab summer program ($650) at The Cinematheque
Winner: NIRVANA
Animation Award
Prize: One year full subscription to Toon Boom Storyboard Pro + Toon Boom Harmony Essentials from Toon Boom Animation ($1,500 USD)
Winner: MANGO
Best Documentary Award
Prize: One-Day Documentary Workshop at InFocus Film School ($119)
Winner: THE ELLINGSEN BROTHERS
Audience Award
Prize: A filmmaking Workshop at Arts Umbrella ($215)
Winner: aPENCIL
Best Picture Award
Prize: One-Year FREE Access to DOC BC Professional Development Workshops ($250)
Winner: LOSING LINKS
2016 Youth Filmmakers Showcase Jury:
Cari Green – award winning documentary producer
Carlito Ghioni – multifaceted media artist
Jay White – artist and short film animator
2015 Awards
Best Use of Music and/or Sound Award
Prize: VideoMic GO, a Lightweight On-Camera Microphone from RØDE Microphones ($100)
Winner: ESCAPE SONATA
Finalé Best Use of Camera and/or Lighting Award
Prize: Up to 4 hours of online finishing & color correction at Finalé Editworks ($1,800)
Winner: TAG
Editing Award
Prize: One-Year Free Access to DOC BC Professional Development Workshops ($960)
Winner: RELOCATION
Acting Award
Prize: One complimentary set of 25x Headshot Repros at Rocket Reprographics ($60)
Winner: Stephanie Chow for OTHERSIDE (as the drug addicted girl)
Screenwriting Award
Prize: A writer’s mentor session with writing mentor George Johnson ($200)
Winner: CATFISHING OR CATFISHED?
Best Direction Award
Prize: A one week rental of the Black Magic Camera from Annex Pro ($1,000)
Winner: DETECTIVE SHOLMES: THE CASE OF THE STOLEN COOKIES
Animation Award
Prize: One year full subscritpion to Toon Boom Storyboard Software ($1,000)
Winner: DAYDREAM
Best Documentary Award
Prize: One-Day Documentary Workshop at Pull Focus Film School ($119)
Winner: RAYMOND ROBERTS: A FRANK ROGUE
Audience Award
Prize: Festival Pass to the 2015 Vancouver Latin American Film Festival ($125)
Winner: YOUNG AND OLD
Best Picture Award
Prize: Non-exclusive international Video Out distribution and inclusion in the new media art collection/archive + a screening at VIVO Media Arts Centre with a transcribed interview with the artist/producer, to be featured on the VIVO website ($1,000)
Winner: THREE.
Runner Up: TAG
2015 Youth Filmmakers Showcase Jury:
Shauna Jean Doherty, MFA
Ann Marie Fleming
Tony Westman, DGA, DGC, CSC
2014 Awards
Finalé Best Picture Award: Mirrors (password: kodiak)
Jury Recognition for Picture Award: Breaker
Director Award: Folds (password: kodiak)
Jury Recognition for Director Award: Facebook Terror
Editing Award: Creative Derby
Screenwriting Award: Lord of the Guys
Acting Award: Lukas Vanderlip & Marina Lee in Last Fall
Acting Award: Bailee Trytko in 1 and 5
Best use of Lighting or Camera: Mirrors (password: kodiak)
Best Use of Music or Sound: Sampled (password: kodiak)
Artistic Vision Award: Community (password: kodiak)
Special Jury Award: Roadsides and Pillowcases
Audience Award: Lord of the Guys
2014 Youth Filmmakers Showcase Jury:
Brian Casilio
Kathleen Hepburn
Haydn Wazelle
2013 Awards
Best Picture Award: Autumn Wings
Best Direction: Where We Sleep
Best Original Screenplay: Beautiful Bravery
Best Original Screenplay: While the Grown Ups Talk
Best Editing: Fresh Tracks
Best Sound: Despondancy
Best Acting: David Lees in My Name is Jeff
Jury Recognition Award: The Bucket List
Jury Recognition Award: O Sinking Ship
Audience Award: Derrick
2013 Youth Filmmakers Showcase Jury:
Annat Kennet
Liz Schulze
Avid Virani
2012 Awards
Best Acting: Sam Massooleh in BlueBerry Haiku
Best Editing: Pace
Best Directing: Air Pressure
Best Original Screenplay: Blueberry Haiku
Best Picture: Time to Remember
Best Sound: Reclaim
Audience Award: Just Sayin’
Special Mention – Original use of Mixed Media: Compromise
Special Mention – Best Documentary: Britney
The films were judged by Emily Carr University Instructor and Award Winning Director Jonathan Tammuz, Stephanie Damgaard the Associate Programmer of the Canadian Images Program at the Vancouver International Film Festival, and Filmmaker/Producer Jennifer Somerstein.
2011 Awards
Best Acting: A Teenage Romance
Best Direction: Pictures of the Past Tense
Best Sound: I Don’t Wanna Go to High School!
Best Original Screenplay: A Teenage Romance
Best Picture: Pictures of the Past Tense
Audience Award: Pictures of the Past Tense
Audience Award (runner up): In the Mind’s Eye
The films were judged by film producer Jennifer Somerstein, George Johnston, instructor at the Centre for Digital Media, and filmmaker Bruce Sweeney.
2010 Awards
Best Acting: Texture for Violincello and Pianoforte No. 2
Best Direction: Until The Sun Sets
Best Sound: Astornuts: Lunar Mission
Best Original Screenplay: My Hero
Best Picture: Until The Sun Sets
Audience Award: Astornuts: Lunar Mission

Reel 2 Real
International Film Festival for Youth
225 West 8th Ave. Vancouver, BC V5Y 1N3
Tel: 604-720-7558
Email: info[at]r2rfestival.org
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