The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival’s Moon, Sun, Water and Land juries have selected winners across film, video, audio and digital media works in 17 different categories for the 2026 Awards Presentation. 

Hosted on June 6 at the TIFF Lightbox, this year’s event was hosted by Saulteaux/Cree comedian Vance Banzo, and award medallions and lanyards were created by Tuscarora WoodWorks and Two Hearts Beadwork, respectively.

The recipients of the annual Awards Presentation have been selected by filmmakers and industry professionals from the festival’s independent programming team and juries, except two Audience Choice Awards voted by festival attendees. 

In addition to the existing categories, imagineNATIVE honoured Métis director, actor, writer, and producer Gail Maurice with the August Schellenberg Award of Excellence (Augie) at the ceremony. A two-time Canadian Screen Award nominee for her roles in Trickster and Night Raiders, and a filmmaker whose debut feature film, Rosie, was one of Toronto International Film Festival’s (TIFF) Top Ten films of 2022 and won the Audience Choice Feature Film Award at the imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, Gail is a generational talent.

imagineNATIVE continues the online festival until June 14 to open the door for audiences from around the world to stream many of the films from the 2026 official selection, including some of the award-winning works.

The 2026 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival award winners

Moon Jury Award
Mangittatuarjuk (The Gnawer of Rocks) by Louise Flaherty

Indigenous Language Production Award
Shaaghan Neekwaii (Two Old Women) by Princess Daazhraii Johnson

After Dark Award
Klee by Gavin Baird

Live Action Short Award
Jülapüin Yonna (The Dream of Dance) by Luzbeidy Monterrosa Atencio

Dramatic Feature Award
Mārama by Taratoa Stappard

Outstanding Performance in a Feature
Mārama by Ariāna Osborne

Outstanding Performance in a Short
Gaza Bride 17 by Saleh Bakri

Sun Jury Award
AKI by Darlene Naponse

New Voice in Storytelling Award
Are You Native? by Victoria Cheyenne

Documentary Short Award
IXIM (el amor no tiene género) by Alex PV

Documentary Feature Award
Aanikoobijigan [ancestor/great-grandparent/great-grandchild] by Adam Khalil, Zack Khalil

Innovation in Storytelling Award
WAT WAS HIE? by Luke De Kock

Animated Short Award
I Duok om I Bohuntung – The Owl and the Rainbow by Jo Luping

New Artist in Digital + Interactive Award
Kinship Table, la taab di li vwaazayn by Robyn Adams

Digital + Interactive Award
Toroa: Skycall by Atawhai Interactive

Experimental Audio Award
Radiant Starlets (Original Soundtrack) | DR3AM ON by Alexander Jeffrey Walker

Narrative Audio Award
Words and Culture | It Takes a Village by Kim Wheeler