For the past 10 years, Funambules Médias' Cinéma sous les étoiles has been organizing a competition for short documentaries to celebrate the quality of works created here and elsewhere. After receiving nearly 200 short films, our programming team selected 25 films. In addition to seeking a strong authorial point of view, we paid particular attention to the aesthetic quality and cinematography of the submitted documentaries, with a view to balancing art and social engagement.
SIX AWARDS FOR THE SHORT FILM SECTION
The short film program is divided into 3 categories: Quebec programming, Canadian programming and International programming. A jury composed of animation professor will award prizes from among the films in competition. During our evening of award winning short films, we will unveil the winners of our competition and present filmmakers with their prizes.
Punchline Award – given in the Quebec Programming category to the film that stands out for its strength of expression. Prize of $3000 in services given by Vidéographe and $2500 in services given by SLA Location.
✨ Way out by Jeremy Taylor.
Cinematography Award – given in the Quebec Programming category to the film that stands out for its cinematographic qualities and artistic direction. Prize of $2000 in production services awarded by Main Film and $1500 in services awarded by Bande à part.
✨ It will always end in the end by Nancy Pettiniccho.
Best Emerging Filmmaker Award – awarded in the Quebec Programming category, the award will be given to a first-time director. A $10,000 residency at Paraloeil.
✨ Después del silencio by Matilde-Luna Perotti
Best Canadian Short Film Award - given in the Canadian Programming category. $500 cash prize awarded by the Documentary Network and $500 cash prize awarded by Les Films du 3 Mars and an annual Pro subscription worth $225 from DOC Québec.
✨ Saturday by Jessica Hall
Best International Short Film - awarded in the International Programming category. Prize of $300 in cash, awarded by Tënk.
✨ Gan Tan, the Lake by Tianming Zhou
Student Favorite Award, in the Quebec Programming category, will be awarded by a jury of students. A $2,500 service award presented by Royal Photo.
✨ Después del silencio by Matilde-Luna Perotti
The trophies awarded to the winners will be forged by Forges de Montréal.
Thanks to our various partners, Le Cinéma sous les étoiles will be awarding prizes with a total value of more than $20,000.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS!
Professionnal jury
mathilde capone is a documentary filmmaker and popular education facilitator. They hold a master’s degree in social anthropology. A feminist, anti-colonial, lesbian, and queer activist, they are involved in collective initiatives that spark reflection. Their independently produced feature film La fabrique du consentement: regards lesbo-queer was screened at Rendez-vous Québec Cinéma and Image+Nation. Eviction, their second feature documentary, which chronicles the expulsion of a queer housing collective, premiered at the Montreal International Documentary Festival (RIDM) and won the Audience Award. La maison des rebelles, their upcoming film, follows the opening of the first lesbian retirement home in Montreal / Tiohtià:ke.
Yvon D. Ranger is an anti-capitalist activist, journalist, and filmmaker. From 2002 to 2014, he coordinated the independent satirical monthly Le Couac, while directing around twenty short films, five feature-length documentaries, and a web series — all with a political edge. He is the co-author, with Bruno Dubuc, of the book Our Brain at All Levels: From the Big Bang to Social Consciousness.
Dalie Giroux is an essayist, professor, and union activist. She has been teaching political theory at the University of Ottawa since 2003. Her recent publications include A Civilization of Fire (Mémoire d’encrier, 2023) and The Master’s Eye. She is a member of the editorial board of Spirale magazine and heads the Terrains vagues collection at the Presses de l’Université de Montréal.
Students jury
Samira Houari-Laplatte is a French journalist and documentary filmmaker. She focuses particularly on the forgotten stories of history. Her work has been featured in outlets such as Ouest-France, Mediapart, Slate, Radio France Internationale, and Jeune Afrique. She also co-directed a 52-minute documentary titled The Story of My Life: Women in the Algerian War. This project, born out of necessity, became much more than a film — an intimate encounter with wounded yet resilient memories. Today, after completing a documentary filmmaking program at EMCV (Quebec), she continues along this path: telling stories differently, where words sometimes fall short. Between reporting and audiovisual creation, she enjoys bringing together perspectives and challenging norms.
Marguerite Ranger is a Quebec-Vietnamese artist whose practice revolves around video art, analog photography, and drawing. After beginning studies in art history and cinema at Concordia University, she ultimately pursued a bachelor's degree in film production at UQÀM. Through her carefully crafted and immersive visuals, Marguerite explores the echoes of childhood, identity duality, and art as a therapeutic tool. Her work centers on retrospection as a driver of transformation and growth. Her first docu-fiction is titled Oski Koule Nan Koukouy (The Flow of Fireflies).
Oscar Ruiz Navia is a Colombian director, screenwriter, producer, and director of photography. He holds a degree in social communication and journalism from Universidad del Valle (Cali, Colombia). In early 2006, he founded CONTRAVÍA FILMS, one of the most recognized independent film production companies in Colombia, collaborating with countries such as France, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Canada, and Argentina. He participated in the Cannes Cinéfondation Residency in 2010. His films have been selected for festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, Venice, San Sebastián, Locarno, and Rotterdam, among others. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in film arts at the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema at Concordia University.