The Sundar Prize Film Festival is an IMDb qualifying festival and a proud member of Film Festival Alliance.

Our film festival offers over $40,000 CAD in both cash prizes and film industry support.

The selected films will be screened in Surrey, British Columbia at Landmark Cinemas Guildford, and Delta, British Columbia at the North Delta Centre for the Arts.

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
• Health and Wellness
• Immigrants and Refugees
• Social Justice Issues
• Indigenous Peoples
• People of Color
• 2SLGBTQ+ Community
• Vulnerable and Marginalized Peoples
• Environment and Climate Change
• Educational Films

SHER PRIDE

The Sundar Prize Film Festival is an initiative of Sher Pride which is a registered charity in Canada. For more information check out: https://www.sherpride.ca/

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 4th annual Sundar Prize Film Festival will be screened in April 22 to 25, 2027 in Surrey and Delta, British Columbia, Canada.

• Best Feature Film (Narrative Live Action) - $1000
• Best Short Film (Narrative Live Action) - $500
• Best Feature Documentary - $1000
• Best Short Documentary - $500
• Best Short Animation - $500
• Best Environmental Film - $500
• Best Spiritual, Health, and Wellness Film - $500
• Best 2SLGBTQ+ Film- $1000
• Best Youth Film (19 and under) - $300
• Best Student Film - $300
• Best British Columbia Feature Film - $1000
• Best British Columbia Short Film - $500
• BC Student Film Showcase - $750, $500, and $300
• 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
• Eco-Friendly Trophy mailed to the winners or presented in-person

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 $750, $500, and $300.

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 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.

NOMINEES AND AWARD WINNERS

The nominees and award winning films for each category will be announced at the closing ceremony on the last day of the festival.

Rules & Terms

The Sundar Prize Film Festival is a project of the Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society (Sher Pride).

REQUIRED SUBMISSION MATERIALS AND OFFICIAL 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, 2025.

Cash Prizes

Cash prizes are issued in Canadian currency only. Payment is made via email transfer or PayPal in Canada, and via PayPal, Western Union, or bank transfer only outside of Canada. Neither Sher Vancouver LGBTQ Friends Society (“Sher Pride”) 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 45 days after the festival.

Cash prizes are for directors. If there are multiple directors then the cash prizes 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

Artificial Intelligence

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your film has to be disclosed and in what capacity it has been used. A percentage estimate of the amount of AI in your film must also be provided.

Film Assets for Official Selections

The official trailer (downloadable file), 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, TikTok, YouTube, and LinkedIn URL as well as the film’s official website by emailing media@sundarprize.com.

Student Films

The film must have been directed by a filmmaker who was an enrolled student at the time the film was completed. The filmmaker may have been enrolled in any discipline or program. The filmmaker does not have to be a student at the time of submission. Open to filmmakers worldwide.

Youth Films (19 and Under)

The film must have been directed by a filmmaker who was 19 years old or younger at the time the film was completed. Open to filmmakers worldwide.

BC Student Film Showcase

The film must have been directed by a filmmaker who was a resident of British Columbia at the time the film was completed. The filmmaker must have completed the film while enrolled at a British Columbia educational institution. The filmmaker does not have to be a student at the time of submission. The filmmaker may have been enrolled in any discipline or program.

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 may result in the entry being disqualified. Upon selection, the entrant grants the Sher Pride, 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 Pride 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 Pride 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 Pride, the festival, sponsors, and community partners. The selected films will be screened before a live audience 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 (Sher Pride) reserves the right to change or modify these rules and regulations at any time without prior notice.
31 Reviews
Overall Rating
Quality
Value
Communication
Hospitality
Networking
  • Tathagata Ghosh

    A brilliant festival that cares about cinema and filmmakers! Incredible communication and the passion of each and everyone involved moved me. I am so honored that our film "If" got such a prestigious award as well! Can't recommend enough!

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Tathagata, congratulations again on your award it is well deserved. You are an exceptional filmmaker please consider us for your future projects.

  • Tristin Greyeyes

    You can count on this film festival to take care of you and your film. It is such an honour to be a part of this year's festival. Thank you for all the hard work that you put into Sundar to make a truly magical experience.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Tristin, congratulations on winning the Best BC Feature Film and thank you for bringing in the indigenous elders and dancers for your pre-screening.

  • Hannah Mangione

    The Sundar Prize Film Festival was everything I wanted it to be and more. Every member of the team was so kind and helpful. Their communication and commitment to the filmmakers was the best I've seen at any festival. The blocks were beautiful collections of films that came from all different backgrounds and perspectives. It was professional, welcoming, fun, and overall an amazing time as both a participating filmmaker and as a viewer.

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Hannah, thank you so much for coming all the way from the United States to attend our festival, you and your parents were a joy to be around throughout the 4 days. Congratulations again on the nomination, please consider us for your future projects.

  • Alice Shin

    I had heard that the Sundar Prize Film Festival truly takes care of its filmmakers, and that turned out to be absolutely true. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to attend in person due to ongoing work commitments, but I was deeply impressed by how thoughtfully the team supports filmmakers and makes them feel welcome.

    They genuinely make an effort to connect filmmakers with one another and create a warm, inclusive atmosphere that feels like home.

    Thank you so much, and I hope to attend in person in the future!

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Alice,

    We missed you, Pearl looked stunning on the big screen and congratulations on your nominations.

    Please consider us for your future projects!

  • Cory Thibert

    For a new festival, only in its 3rd year, the Sundar Prize Film Festival is very well organized. They offer amazing awards for the films, truly support filmmakers - especially in BC and are extremely responsive and easy to communicate with. I was very happy with the screening of my feature Mildlife, and appreciate that they screen short films before features. I will be applying again in the future!

    May 2026
    Helpful
    Response from festival:

    Hi Cory, thank you for this review, congratulations for being nominated twice for Mildlife and great performance as well.

    We would love to have you back please consider us for future projects.