Makers of 11 movies went home with handcrafted bamboo trophies, $50,000 in total cash prizes and in-kind support following Sundar Prize Film Festival, held in Surrey from April 9-13.
Twelve category winners were selected from nearly 200 films across 22 countries at Sher Vancouver's second annual festival, which aims to spotlight "courageous storytelling, elevate marginalized voices and drive social change through the power of cinema."
A 2025 fest highlight was Tea Creek, which won both Best Canadian Documentary and Best Environmental Film awards for its portrait of Indigenous entrepreneur Jacob Beaton and his mission to reclaim food sovereignty and healing on his ancestral land. The 2024 film was directed by Ryan David Lee Dickie, based in Fort Nelson.
More than four dozen films were showcased at the five-day festival, capped by an April 13 awards ceremony at Landmark Cinemas Guildford on Sunday, April 13.
Winners were given a Sundar Prize trophy, made by Watson Design in Squamish and designed by Surrey-based filmmaker and festival co-founder Vinay Giridhar. They also receive "industry access, mentorship, equipment and distribution opportunities" from various sponsors.
“These winning films don’t just move audiences, they mobilize them,” said Sidartha Murjani, the festival's executive director and senior programmer.
“Our jury, comprised of diverse artists and advocates, recognized stories that challenge systems, stir empathy and ignite global conversations.”
2025 SUNDAR PRIZE FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS:
Best Feature Film ($2,500 prize): Firma Aqui (Mexico, 2024, Dir. Enrique Vázquez)
Best Short Film ($500): The Poem We Sang (Canada, Jordan, Palestine, 2024, Dir. Annie Sakab)
Rogers Group of Funds Best Canadian Documentary ($2,500): Tea Creek (British Columbia, 2024, Dir. Ryan David Lee Dickie)
Knowledge Network Best International Documentary ($1,000): This is Who We Are (UK, 2024, Dir. Peter Lilly)
Best Animation ($1,000): Have I Swallowed Your Dream (British Columbia, 2024, Dir. Clara Chan)
Best Environmental Film ($1,000): Tea Creek (British Columbia, 2024, Dir. Ryan David Lee Dickie)
Best 2SLGBTQ+ Film ($1,000): Leilani’s Fortune (Canada, 2024, Dir. Loveleen Kaur)
Best Youth Film, 19 and under ($500): Look (British Columbia, 2024, Dir. Georgia Tindle Acken)
Best Student Film ($500): Desync (Canada, 2023, Dir. Minerva Marie Navasca)
Best British Columbia Feature Film ($1,000): Mareya Shot Keetha Goal: Make the Shot (British Columbia, 2024, Dir. Baljit Sangra, Nilesh Patel)
Best British Columbia Short Film ($500 + $10,000 gift certificate from Sparky's Film Rentals): Stand In (British Columbia, 2024, Dir. Hiromu Yamawaki)
KDocsFF Best Emerging Filmmaker Residency Award ($1,000 + $10,000 gift certificate from Keslow Camera): Velvet Secrets (British Columbia, 2024, Dir. Shanthini Balasubramanian)
