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).