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.

Awards & Prizes

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.

Rules & Terms

REQUIRED SUBMISSION MATERIALS AND RULES

Entry Fee

Entry fees are not refundable.

Multiple Entries

Multiple entries are permitted in all categories as long as the film has been released after May 1, 2024.

Cash Prizes

Cash prizes are issued in Canadian currency only. Payment is made via email transfer or PayPal in Canada, and via PayPal or Western Union only outside of Canada. Neither Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society (“Sher Vancouver”) nor its affiliates are responsible for any government taxes or withholdings related to the allocation of prize money; such responsibility is solely that of the prize winner. The funds will be transferred within 30 days after the festival.

Cash prizes are for directors and screening fees are for producers. If there are multiple directors and producers then the cash prizes and screening fees are equally split amongst them.

For films with distributors, we will offer payment on a case-by-case basis.

Decisions made by the jury are final and are not open to arbitration.

Films

All films must be uploaded to FilmFreeway. Filmmakers with official selections must provide download access of their film on FilmFreeway. A download link to the film can also be emailed to media@sundarprize.com.

Subtitles

All films must have burned in English subtitles

Film Assets for Official Selections

The official trailer (YouTube link preferred), official poster, synopsis, and producer and director bio and photo, as well as 3 photo stills must be emailed to media@sundarprize.com for marketing and promotion purposes.

Social Media and Website

Please also send your film’s social media handles for Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, as well as the film’s official website by emailing media@sundarprize.com.

Student Films

The director must currently be a student or submit a student film that was released after May 1, 2024. The student can be enrolled in any discipline or program.

Youth Films

Films submitted in the Youth category must be directed by a youth 19 years or younger.

Submission Feedback

All filmmakers that are not selected can request feedback after the festival by emailing programming@sundarprize.com

Copyright

All entrants must ensure that appropriate clearances for copyright and personal rights required for public exhibition, marketing, and promotion of the official trailer and submitted film have been obtained. Failure to do so will result in the entry being disqualified. Upon selection, the entrant grants the Sher Vancouver, and its sponsors, supporters, community partners, and festival partners, the right to utilize publicity materials related to the film (i.e., press kits, posters, filmmaker profiles, stills, trailers, preview tapes, and to edit festival trailers, etc.) for promotional purposes in all mediums, including broadcast, print, and internet. By submitting a film, you indemnify Sher Vancouver and its affiliates, directors, officers, sponsors, community partners, festival partners, and other related persons from any and all liability resulting from your failure to comply with this section or any other such breach of the rights of a third party. Furthermore, by submitting to the Sundar Prize Film Festival you release Sher Vancouver from all risk and liability in the event of theft or breach of copyright of your materials while on Festival premises. The official trailer and clips from the film may be used in media interviews and other marketing and promotion of Sher Vancouver, the festival, sponsors, and community partners. The selected films will be screened at Simon Fraser University - Surrey Campus and/or Landmark Cinemas in Guildford in Surrey, British Columbia before a live audience over three days or online.

The film has been submitted for consideration with the knowledge and consent of the Producer(s) and/or rights holders listed in the submission.

Participation in the Sundar Prize Film Festival implies an understanding and acceptance of these regulations.

Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society reserves the right to change or modify these rules and regulations at any time without prior notice.

The Sundar Prize Film Festival is a project of the Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society.
17 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Asit Vyas

    It was an absolute pleasure to be part of the Sundar Prize Film Festival. Sid and the team curated an inspiring lineup and created a space where stories with meaning and soul could shine. Communication was prompt, clear, and thoughtful throughout, and the passion behind the festival’s mission was evident in every detail. Highly recommend submitting and attending if you have the chance!

    April 2025
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Hi Asit, what a movie Paper Flowers was and considering it was our opening night film, we were very fortunate to have your film.

    The Q and A was so engaging that we had to remind the audience that there was food waiting for them, that is how powerful your film was.

    Paper Flowers will go very far and please consider us for your future projects.

  • Rashmi Rustagi

    In just two years, the Sundar Prize Film Festival has accomplished what many festivals take years to achieve—offering world-class exhibition screens, seamless screenings and discussion panels, and social media coverage rivaling that of multimillion-dollar festivals. It was an absolute joy to have my feature film, Designed by Preeti, premiere in Canada at this unforgettable festival! A heartfelt congratulations to Alex, Sidartha, Vinay, Susan, and the entire team for organizing such a remarkable event! Your passion for filmmaking and commitment to social good truly shone through. The professionalism and consistent communication from the staff made the experience seamless and enjoyable. I highly recommend the Sundar Prize Film Festival to fellow filmmakers. There was a genuine sense of care, not just for the films, but for the people behind them. The top-notch organization, combined with exceptional outreach and marketing support, ensured each project received the spotlight it deserved. What stood out most was the warm, inclusive atmosphere and the festival’s dedication to showcasing thought-provoking stories that spark meaningful conversations. I feel incredibly proud to have been part of this powerful celebration of cinema. Thank you to the Sundar Prize team for an unforgettable experience!

    April 2025
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Rashmi thank you for your response, congratulations on your feature Designed for Preeti, such an important story and congratulations for the nomination for the Best Feature Category.

    You attending the festival in person meant a lot, also your insights during the panel was invaluable to the audience.

    Please consider us for your future projects.

  • Ben Cox

    We absolutely loved our experience with Sundar Prize film festival. They provided amazing communication and a really welcoming environment.

    We were lucky enough to have our film's contributors attend the festival and they were raving about it for weeks after. They felt celebrated and taken care of.

    10/10!

    April 2025
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Hi Ben, congratulations on winning the Best Environmental film and Rogers Group of Funds Best Canadian Documentary.

    Tea Creek is a special film and an important one, thank you, Jacob and Ryan for making it.

    Please consider us for your next film

  • Jhanvi Motla

    They were actually really really sweet and I wrote a review to submit but couldn’t figure out where to post it on film freeway
    Should I text you my review?
    I had the pleasure of attending the 2025 Sundar Film Festival, where two of the films I acted in were screened. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but from the moment I arrived, everyone was so warm and welcoming. The festival felt intimate, inclusive, and full of genuinely kind people.

    What stood out most was how intentionally they uplift underrepresented voices within the South Asian diaspora—it was powerful and deeply affirming. Huge thanks to Alex and the team for creating such a thoughtful space. I’m so grateful I got to be part of it, and I can’t wait for the next one. - Shavya Samala

    April 2025
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Hi Shavya,

    You wrote your review at the right place :). Congratulations on being in two films selected for the festival. Mirage and Designed for Preeti.

    Thank you for attending and gracing our red carpet. While we have a focus on the South Asian Diaspora, our festival is for everyone.

    Thank you!

  • Rippin Sindher

    Sundar Prize Film Festival is truly something special—an intentional, deeply thoughtful space that not only showcases films, but uplifts the voices behind them. It was an honor to share "FLIGHT 182" in a setting that fostered such meaningful conversation and genuine community. You can feel how much the festival values storytelling and stands behind the filmmakers. I'm incredibly grateful to have been part of it.

    April 2025
    Helpful
    Logo
    Response from festival:

    Rippin, we are glad we got you before you win your Oscar! Thank you for your film, such an important story executed brilliantly.

    You are a powerhouse and generous compassionate human. Sundar Prize will always have a home for you.

    Thank you!