2009

This is the year we dropped the “S”. No longer exclusively a “Student” film festival, we expanded the focus inviting all emerging Canadian short filmmakers to submit. The results were very well received and we showcased a broader range of films inflight. Once again a top notch celebrity jury lead by Remy Girard, Judy Gladstone, Deepa Metha, Lisa Ray, and Michael McGowan reviewed the 20 films selected for inflight broadcast. Cineplex hosted the screenings at the Scotiabank Theatre, and the Drake Hotel returned as the host of the awards celebration. The grand prize winner was awarded a two-year lease on a brand new Ford Fusion Hybrid vehicle courtesy of Ford of Canada.  All winners were sent on an all-inclusive trip for two to the Palm Springs International Film Festival courtesy of Air Canada.

2009 Award Winners:

• Best Short Film
  SARAH FORTIN for Synthétiseur (Montreal)
• Achievement in Direction
  SARAH FORTIN for Synthétiseur (Montreal)
• Achievement in Cinematography
  LEIGH ANN MAYNARD for A Season to Wither (Edmonton)
• Achievement in Animation
  LEIGH ANN MAYNARD for A Season to Wither (Edmonton)
• Best Documentary *New
  JAKE CHIRICO for The Freshwater Plague (Toronto)
  
  

2008

Building on the success of the first year, 2008 was huge for us. Once again, stars came out in full force to support our growing festival. Our jury included Canadian actors Dan Aykroyd, Wendy Crewson, Colm Feore, Arsinée Khanjian and Andrea Martin, film directors Patricia Rozema, Rob Stewart and Yves Simoneau and Toronto International Film Festival Co-Director Noah Cowan. Cineplex hosted the free public film screenings November 5, 2008, at Toronto's Scotiabank Theatre, and the exclusive Spoke Club hosted the Awards Gala later the same night. Entertainment Tonight Canada was there to cover the event. Guests stayed at the Metropolitan Hotel on Chestnut Street in downtown Toronto. We gave away a Ford Focus in 2008 to the Best Student Film winner, and we featured new awards, including a People's Choice Award - with a $5,000 cash prize decided by online voting - sponsored by Cineplex Entertainment. All award winners were sent to the Palm Springs International Film Festival courtesy of Air Canada.

2008 Award Winners:

• Best Student Film
  FOR WENDY
  Jacquelyn Mills
• Achievement in Animation
  PLAY
  Eva Cvijanovic
• Achievement in Direction
  BROKEN TULIPS
  Brandon Cronenberg and Jonathan Hodgson
• Achievement in Cinematography
  DAMIAN AND ENDE
  Benjamin Schuetze
• Cineplex People's Choice Award
  THIS LITTLE PIGGY
  Sébastien Rist and Sarah Quinn

2007

Building Our inaugural year was a huge success. We invited some of Canada’s biggest names in filmmaking to participate, and to our surprise they all said YES! Our star-studded jury – including big names like Atom Egoyan, Piers Handling, Robert Lantos, Donald Sutherland, Denise Robert, Patrick Huard, David La Haye, Torill Kove, Paul Gratton, Geoff Pevere and Hussain Amarshi – gave us some serious street cred.

The short films were screened at the Scotiabank Theatre on October 25, 2007. The Awards Gala was held the following night at the Drake Hotel, and guests stayed at the Metropolitan Hotel on Chestnut Street in Toronto. Grand prizes included a brand-new Ford Escape Hybrid vehicle and four Air Canada trips for two to the Whistler Film Festival

2007 Award Winners:

• Best Student Film
  UPSIDE-DOWN GIRL
  James Vandewater
• Achievement in Animation
  FOREST FRENETIC
  David Seitz
• Achievement in Direction
  WHO WANTS TO BE AN AMERIKAN
  Aaron Beckum
• Destination Inspiration Award
  Q’OYLLUR RITTI
  Carmen Forsberg
• Canadian Reflections Award
  PARALLELS
  Paul St. Amand