The Sundar Prize Film Festival is an IMDb qualifying festival and a proud member of Film Festival Alliance.
The Sundar Prize is a film festival with over $18,000 CAD in cash prizes for the top films in the select categories, plus over $30,000 CAD in film industry prizes.
The selected films will be screened in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada at Simon Fraser University - Surrey Campus and Landmark Cinemas in Surrey, Guildford.
The Sundar Prize Film Festival seeks to recognize films that uplift our world through impactful and informative storytelling about social causes and social issues that have social impact. Sundar means "beautiful" in Sanskrit which is an ancient language of South Asia.
Films with any theme are welcome but we encourage filmmakers who showcase the following communities and causes:
• Human Rights
• Immigrants and Refugees
• Social Justice Issues
• Indigenous Peoples
• People of Color
• 2SLGBTQ+ Community
• Vulnerable and Marginalized Peoples
• Environment and Climate Change
• Educational Films
SHER VANCOUVER
The Sundar Prize Film Festival is an initiative of Sher Vancouver which is a registered charity in Canada. For more information check out: https://www.shervancouver.com/
COMMUNITY PARTNERS (FOUNDING FILM FESTIVAL PARTNERS)
• Vancouver International Film Festival - A Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
• Vancouver Asian Film Festival - A Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
• International South Asian Film Festival Canada - A Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
• KDocsFF - Metro Vancouver's Premiere Social Justice Documentary Film Festival
• Vancouver Queer Film Festival - A Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
• Vancouver Latin American Film Festival - Established since 2003
• DOXA Documentary Film Festival - A Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
• Crazy8s - A short film festival established since 1999
• GEMS - Gender Equity in Media Society Vancouver - A Canadian Screen Award qualifying festival
• Vancouver Island Short Film Festival
SUNDAR PRIZE FILM FESTIVAL
MOTTO
Where cinema meets social change
MISSION
Our mission is to recognize and showcase films that use impactful and informative storytelling to raise awareness and inspire action on critical social causes and issues. We aim to celebrate filmmakers who are committed to creating positive social impact and promoting empathy, understanding, and social justice.
VISION
Our vision is a world where film is a powerful tool for social change, where diverse communities and causes are represented and celebrated, and where impactful storytelling inspires action towards a more just and equitable society.
The selected films for the 3rd annual Sundar Prize Film Festival will be screened in April 2026 in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
• Best Feature Film (Narrative Live Action) - $2000
• Best Short Film (Narrative Live Action) - $1000
• Best Feature Documentary - $2000
• Best Short Documentary - $1000
• Best Short Animation - $1000
• Best Environmental Film - $1000
• Best Spiritual, Health, and Wellness Film - $1000
• Best 2SLGBTQ+ Film- $2000
• Best Youth Film (19 and under) - $500
• Best Student Film - $500
• Best British Columbia Feature Film - $2000
• Best British Columbia Short Film - $1000
• BC Student Film Showcase - $1000, $750, and $500
• Best Emerging Filmmaker Residency Prize sponsored by KDocsFF - $1000
The winners will also receive:
• Official Laurel for the winners, finalists, and official selections
• Digital Certificate for the winners
• Letter of Congratulations for the winners
• Eco-Friendly Trophy mailed to the winners or presented in-person
BEST ENVIRONMENTAL FILM
100% of net proceeds from ticket sales to the Best Environmental Film are donated to a local charity that plants trees.
BC STUDENT FILM SHOWCASE
This category will highlight the best films made by students from across British Columbia. The filmmaker can be a student in any discipline or program. The top three films receive cash prizes of $1000, $750, and $500.
BC FILMMAKER MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Any emerging filmmaker with or without a completed film can apply to be a mentee. Selected mentors are paid an honorarium of $100 CAD per hour per session. Only applicants residing in British Columbia are eligible. For full application submission details go to https://sundarprize.com/mentorship-program/
EMERGING FILMMAKER RESIDENCY PRIZE IN METRO VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA
KDocsFF is offering a filmmaker’s residency program in the KDocsFF Social Justice Lab located on the Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey, BC.
The four-month residency will give the emerging local filmmaker a dedicated workspace with editing equipment and access to the University’s film studies faculty and students as test audiences, as well as consultation and expertise. The residency will also offer consultation with a consulting producer who has worked on an Academy Award nominated film.
The winner will also receive a $1000 CAD cash prize.
Please note only emerging filmmakers with less than five professional credits who are willing to reside in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada are eligible to apply. Please note applicants need to be a Permanent Resident or have Canadian Citizenship.
Submissions from BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, Indigenous, and marginalized communities are strongly encouraged.
The KDocsFF Filmmaker’s Residency will be awarded at the inaugural Sundar Prize Film Festival. For more information contact: greg.chan@kpu.ca
FILM REVIEW AND JUDGING PROCESS
Every film submitted to the Sundar Prize is viewed 1 to 3 times.
To ensure a meticulous evaluation, every film is watched by a qualified juror member who is compensated with a living wage. Our jurors possess extensive experience in the film industry, and some of them are also passionate social activists or advocates with diverse community-driven backgrounds. This diverse range of expertise allows us to approach each film from different perspectives, ensuring a comprehensive and insightful evaluation.
Films that are not selected can request feedback after the festival.
OFFICIAL SELECTION
Films that are selected to be screened are Official Selections and will be promoted leading up to the festival.
AWARD WINNER
The award winning film for each category will be announced at the closing ceremony on the last day of the festival.