Following each round of programming, an independent jury meets to judge the selected films.

A&E Short Filmmakers Award* ($1,250)

Presented to the best film

All films* programmed in the NSI Online Short Film Festival are eligible for this award recognizing outstanding works in the festival. Presented four times a year. Read more.

Recipients

Directors Guild of Canada Award* ($500)

Presented to the best director

All films* programmed in the NSI Online Short Film Festival are eligible for this award recognizing outstanding direction. Presented twice a year.

Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television membership

All NSI Online Short Film Festival winners receive a complimentary Friend membership for the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Academy) – this membership can be upgraded to voting for $50 (if eligible).

Canadian Screen Award eligibility

The National Screen Institute and the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television (Academy) have a partnership for our NSI Online Short Film Festival winners.

NSI Online Short Film Festival award winners* selected from the first call for submissions each year (usually February with winners announced in summer) will be eligible to submit to the following year’s Canadian Screen Awards in the live action short drama, short documentary or animated shorts categories, if they meet the CSA criteria.**

All NSI Online Short Film Festival winners throughout the year will receive a complimentary Friend membership for the Academy – this membership can be upgraded to voting for $50 (if eligible).

Winning any non-acting awards does not guarantee a nomination for the Canadian Screen Awards. It is a qualifier only.

Submitting a Canadian Screen Award nomination is the sole responsibility of the winning filmmaker and/or their supporters. NSI is not responsible for making the nomination. Please check the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television website for official nomination info and deadline dates.

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*Films from Quebec are not eligible for these awards.

**If your film is programmed in the NSI Online Short Film Festival and (1) wins any non-acting award and (2) was produced between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019, then it will be eligible to be nominated for a 2020 Canadian Screen Award in the live action short drama, short documentary or animated shorts categories.

Past awards and recipients

Brian Linehan Actors Award

Lead actors starring in films programmed in the NSI Online Short Film Festival were eligible for this award.

Past recipients

Blue Ant Media Documentary Award

Documentary films, programmed in the NSI Online Short Film Festival, were eligible for this award.

Past recipients

Corus Fearless Female Director Award

Films by a female director (male/female co-directors are not eligible), programmed in the NSI Online Short Film Festival, were eligible for this award.

Past recipients

Bite Comedy Award

Comedy films, programmed in the NSI Online Short Film Festival, were eligible for this award.

Past recipients