Awards

The DOXA award winners are selected on the basis of three major criteria:

  • Success and innovation in the realization of the project’s concept.
  • Originality and relevance of subject matter and approach.
  • Overall artistic and technical proficiency.

DOXA is very happy to welcome an outstanding group of filmmakers, film critics and industry professionals to the Award Juries this year. Jury members meet during the course of the festival to choose the winning films, as well as award honourable mentions to selected films.

2025 nominees coming soon!

Feature Documentary Award

Films in Competition

To Use a Mountain
Directed by Casey Carter

The Tree of Authenticity
Directed by Sammy Baloji

UNEARTH
Directed by John Hunter Nolan

Mistress Dispeller
Directed by Elizabeth Lo

Sudan, Remember Us
Directed by Hind Meddeb

The Cats of Gokogu Shrine
Directed by Kazuhiro Soda

Direct Action
Directed by Guillaume Cailleau & Ben Russell

HUAQUERO
Directed by Juan Carlos Donoso Gómez

Bogancloch
Directed by Ben Rivers

Sanctuary Station
Directed by Brigid McCaffrey

Songs of Slow Burning Earth
Directed by Olha Zhurba

The Pickers
Directed by Elke Sasse

Coexistence, My Ass!
Directed by Amber Fares

The Thousand and One Days of Hajj Edmond
Directed by simone Bitton

Mr. Nobody Against Putin
Directed by David Borenstein

GEN_
Directed by Gianluca Matarrese

Free Party
Directed by Fabianny Deschamps

Colin Low Award for Best Canadian Director

Presented by the Directors Guild of Canada - National Directors Division (DGC)

Director's Guild of Canada

In Competition

Aisha's Story
Directed by Elizabeth Vibert & Chen Wang

Have You Heard Judi Singh?
Directed by Baljit Sangra

Nechako  - It Will Be A River Again
Directed by Lyana Patrick

Among Mountains and Streams
Directed by Jean-François Lesage

Archeology of Light
Directed by Sylvain L'Espérance

Paul
Directed by Denis Côté

Eastern Anthems
Directed by Matthew Wolkow & Jean-Jacques Martinod

Saints and Warriors
Directed by Patrick Shannon

Bedrock
Directed by Kinga Michalska

Spare My Bones, Coyote!
Directed by Jonah Malak

DOXA Short Documentary Award

$500 Award 

Films In Competition

in retrospect
Directed by Mila Zhluktenko & Daniel Asadi Faezi

如你所愿 (Correct Me If I'm Wrong)
Directed by Hao Zhou

Citizen-Inmate
Directed by Hesam Eslami

This Dissonance
Directed by Christophe Katrib

Pidikwe (Rumble)
Directed by Caroline Monnet

Paris to Pyongyang
Directed by Helen Lee

Messengers
Directed by Jeffrey Zablotny

Semi-precious
Directed by Kara Ditte Hansen

Entretierra
Directed by Emanuel Licha

No Past To Long For
Directed by Monica Cheema

Burcu's Angels
Directed by Özgün Gündüz

a flower not a flower
Directed by Tanakit Kitsanayunyong

Goat Fish Snake Sparrow
Directed by Abhradeep Ganguli

Al Basateen
Directed by Antoine Chapon

You May Laugh at Me a Little
Directed by Yuula Benivolski

qatŝ’ay
Directed by Jeremy Williams & Trevor Mack

Talking Walls
Directed by Marcellus A.

Nigel Moore Award for Youth Programming

DOXA is extremely proud to present the Nigel Moore Award for Youth Programming, first launched in 2013. Named in memory of Nigel Moore, a young man whose passion for knowledge, exploration and advocacy found a home in his love for documentary film.

For younger audiences, documentary has particular relevance. The world in which they’re growing up is an increasingly complex place. Documentary not only captures this complexity, but also has the capacity to act as a catalyst for social change, and fundamentally alter people’s behaviour.

 

Films in Competition

#skoden
Directed by Damien Eagle Bear

They are sacred
Directed by Kim O’Bomsawin

King Arthur's Knight
Directed by John Bolton
 

The award will be adjudicated by a youth jury, who will choose the film that best exemplifies the qualities of compassion, social engagement and spirit in which Nigel lived.

Vancouver Film Studios Award for Best BC Director

In competition:

Coming soon!

 

Nigel Moore Award for Youth Programming Jury

Olivia Moore 2025

Olivia Moore

Olivia Moore is a student at UBC, finishing her final year studying International Relations before beginning a Masters in Public Policy this fall. Olivia is passionate about climate action, social justice, and learning about other people’s life experiences. As Nigel’s younger sister, she is very proud to follow in his footsteps, with a love of documentary film and storytelling.

Anna Hetherington, a woman with long brownish-blonde hair wearing a navy blue dress, stands against a grey stone backdrop and smiles at the camera.

Anna Hetherington

Anna Hetherington is a Chartered Professional Accountant who currently works in the commercial real estate industry. She has been a juror for the Nigel Moore Award since its inception and grew up with Nigel from the time they were born. Anna is an avid traveller and has volunteered and studied all over the world. She enjoys spending time on the ocean, reading memoirs and watching documentary films.

Emily Ash Cutajar 2025

Emily Ash Cutajar

Emily Ash Cutajar  is a recent graduate from UBC and now works as a baker. Emily is passionate about baking and pastry, sustainability, and community organizing. In her free time she enjoys swimming, spending time with friends, and watching films, especially while supporting independent theatres around the city. This is her second year joining the jury and she is looking forward to experiencing more documentary films.

Darius, a man with dark hair wearing a cream hoodie and white jacket, stands smiling in front of a blossoming cherry tree.

Darius Darabi

Darius Darabi is a kinesiologist who graduated from UBC with a major in Kinesiology and a minor in Commerce. As a lifelong film fan, Darius is thrilled to be returning to the jury this year. In his spare time, Darius enjoys fishing, playing sports, and learning new things.

 

Feature Documentary Award Jurors

Colin Low Award for Best Canadian Director Jurors

DOXA Short Documentary Awards Jurors