Best Feature Film :
The Last Supper — Directed by Maryse Legagneur

“The Jury has decided to award the Best Fiction Feature Film Prize to a work that is essential to the memory of the Haitian people. A successful debut feature that encourages the liberation of speech while celebrating Haiti’s culinary traditions. Congratulations to Maryse Legagneur on her first feature film, The Last Supper.”

— Jury: Guillaume Sapin (President), Charles Binamé, Raymond St-Jean, Rebecca Jean, Élise Labbé

Best Feature Documentary:
Mr. Nobody Against Putin directed by David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin.

“At a time when spaces for critical voices are shrinking, this film reminds us of one of documentary cinema’s great strengths: giving voice to those whom others seek to silence.

By shedding light on the mechanisms of propaganda within an opaque system, and by following a protagonist who turns his camera into a tool of dissent within a school — a space that should remain free — the film reveals the power of the State over its people.

For the courage of its protagonist, and for its ability to wield the camera with humor, irony, and humanity, the documentary feature jury of the 2025 Knowlton Film Festival is proud to honor Mr. Nobody Against Putin.“

– Jury :  Denys Desjardins (president),  Dr Zoe Constantinides , Dr Gregory Brophy, Anik Salas et  Isabelle Phaneuf-Cyr

Lyne Lapointe: L’art et la matière — Directed by Carmen Garcia & Germán Gutiérrez

First Jury Prize:

My memory walls, directed by Axel Robin

“We had a real crush on a film with a distinct voice, where the quality of the bond woven with the protagonist truly shines. The aesthetics serve an emotionally powerful message, and the film forms a harmonious whole. Our jury proudly awards the Grand Prize to Mes Murs-Mémoires by Axel Robin.”

Second Jury Prize :

Le Punk de Natashquan, directed by Nicolas Lachapelle

“For its intriguing and humorous investigative film about an unresolved case, skillfully revisiting an urban legend through the memories and gossip of a community as endearing as the mysterious missing punk himself, the award goes to: Le Punk de Natashquan.”

Best regional film :

Marqueur de temps, directed by Marie-Lou Béland

“For its moving and sensitive perspective on a reality still largely unknown to the general public, the jury awards Marqueur de temps, a beautiful film made with great humanity.”

— Jury: Mike Perreault (President), Mélanie Clériot, Édith Jorisch, Colin Nixon, and Alex Pronovost

Special Mention

I Am 18 (the War), directed by Romane Pilote-Lamontagne

Audience Award :
Tout ce qui gronde, directed by Ève St-Louis

Best Feature Film :
Les Rayons Gamma by Henry Bernadet (director) and Isabelle Brouillette (co-writer)

“For the subtlety of his writing, which finely blends humor and emotion while avoiding any melodramatic deviations; for the remarkable performances of a cast made up entirely of young non-professional actors; for the sensitivity of the humanist view this filmmaker takes of an under-represented community; and for the obvious tenderness he has managed to evoke in us towards all his characters, the jury awards the Best Film prize to Henry Bernadet for Les Rayons gamma.”

Special mention:
David Öllerer – aka Voodoo Jürgens for his role in Rickerl by Adrian Goiginger

“David Öllerer alias Voodoo Jürgens is perfectly named. In RICKERL he casts a spell on audiences in his role as a 40 something ne’er-do-well singer-songwriter struggling to jumpstart his music career and be a loving father to his six-year-old son. Öllerer is magical as a charming Viennese troubadour whose songs are full of heart, but who can’t quite stop from self-sabotaging. Cinematic history is full of movies about rock ’n’ roll dreams dashed or realized. But this story feels more grounded, thanks to Öllerer’s performance. He captures the essence of his lovable rogue character in wry and unsentimental fashion. Erich “Rickerl” Bohacek is often aggravating, but he is also determined to be a better father than the self-centered man who raised him. And that may just be enough. A musician in real life, his acting debut is a revelation and for this the Knowlton Film Festival jury awards David Öllerer with a special mention. “ – Claudia Puig

*Jury members: Claudia Puig (Director of Programming, Santa Barbara International Film Festival), Charles Parisé (Programmer), Kevin T. Landry (Director), Pier-Philippe Chevigny (Director) and Barbara Shrier (Producer).

Best Feature Documentary:
Joan Baez, I am a noise by Miri Navasky, Maeve O’Boyle & Karen O’Connor

“For presenting us, with all her strengths and frailties, this essential artist of the twentieth century. For sharing her epic and essential struggles. For harmoniously integrating the social, cultural and artistic movements of the counterculture of all those years, we award the 2024 Documentary Grand Prize to Miri Navasky, Maeve O’Boyle and Karen O’Connor for their film JOAN BAEZ I AM A NOISE.

Special mention 1:
After Work by Erik Gandini

Special Mention 2:
Any Other Way: Jackie Shane by Michael Mabbott & Lucah Rosenberg-Lee

*Jury members: Pierre-Philippe Côté, (general manager BEAM) (president), Éric Michel ( producer), Carrie Haber (producer), Yves Langlois (director), Katerine Giguère, (director)

La fonte des glaces by François Péloquin (director) and Sarah Lévesque (screenwriter)

First Jury Prize:
Un trou dans la poitrine by Alexandra Myotte and Jean-Sébastien Hamel

Second Jury Prize :
Madeleine by Raquel Sancinetti

Best regional film :
Someone’s trying to get in by Colin Nixon

Audience Award :
Madeleine by Raquel Sancinetti

*Jury members: Ariane Roy-Poirier (general manager of the Festival Plein Écran), (president), Joe Cultrera (founder of the Salem Film Festival), Thomas Corriveau (director), Isabelle Brouillette (actress, screenwriter and producer), Sarah Lévesque (screenwriter).