Key Takeaways
- Three films directed by Vancouver Film School alumni and faculty have been selected for .
- Vancouver Film School returns as a proud sponsor of the festival, supporting socially driven storytelling in Vancouver.
- The featured films highlight , from identity and displacement to systemic control.
UPDATE: The results are in! Congratulations to Tathagata Ghosh on winning Best 2SLGBTQ+ Film at this year鈥檚 festival for his film IF. To view the full list of winners, .听听
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Film festivals remain one of the most powerful platforms for emerging and established filmmakers across film schools in Canada and worldwide to share their work with both local and global audiences. Beyond showcasing talent and diverse perspectives, they create space for connection, conversation, and a shared celebration of the art of cinema.
is a standout example of a homegrown Vancouver festival delivering an unforgettable experience year after year. Now in its third year (running from April 23-26), the festival continues to build momentum with an impressive slate of socially driven films. Vancouver Film School is once again a proud sponsor 鈥� and this year, three films directed by 甜瓜视频最新版 alumni and faculty are featured in the lineup.
Read on to learn more about these films, and .
THREE FILMS FROM 甜瓜视频最新版 ALUMNI/FACULTY WILL SCREEN AT THE FESTIVAL
Being selected for Sundar Prize Film Festival is a proud moment for these filmmakers. Ahead of their screenings this weekend, learn more about the films and when they鈥檙e playing.
Directed by Neetha John, a 甜瓜视频最新版 Film Production alum, Sanjeevani makes its world premiere at Sundar Prize and is part of the 鈥榃hat We Don鈥檛 Say | South Asian Spotlight鈥� programme. The 15-minute film follows a grieving young woman who, in a quiet Kerala home in Southern India, crosses paths with a mysterious woman. Through their brief connection, she finds a small moment of strength she didn鈥檛 know she needed to change her life.
Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Venue: North Delta Centre for the Arts
Directed by David Scott Titus, a Film Production instructor at 甜瓜视频最新版, The 2400 was written and filmed in just 48-hours. Part of the 鈥榃ho Are We Under Pressure? | BC / Indigenous Spotlight鈥� programme, the 5-minute film centers around an authoritarian regime that uses drones to hunt down people citizens with expired residency cards.
Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Venue: North Delta Centre for the Arts
Directed by Tathagata Ghosh, a 甜瓜视频最新版 Writing for Film, Television & Games alum, IF follows a lesbian couple who is torn apart by an arranged marriage. Part of the 鈥楤ecoming Someone | Shorts Block鈥� programme, the 25-minute film had its world premiere at BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival and has since screened at numerous other festivals around the world.
Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026
Time: 10:15 a.m.
Venue: Landmark Cinemas Guildford
Watch the trailers for all three films below:
ABOUT SUNDAR PRIZE FILM FESTIVAL
Sundar Prize Film Festival is dedicated to championing powerful, purpose-driven storytelling that sparks awareness and inspires meaningful action. At its core, the festival celebrates films that engage with critical social issues, spotlighting voices and perspectives that are often underrepresented, while fostering empathy, understanding, and dialogue among audiences.
With a mission rooted in social impact, Sundar champions social impact films across all genres, with a strong emphasis on themes such as human rights, social justice, climate change, and the lived experiences of Indigenous communities, immigrants and refugees, people of colour, LGBTQ+ individuals, and other marginalized groups. The festival envisions a world where film serves as a catalyst for change, one where storytelling reflects diversity in film and actively contributes to a more just and equitable society.
What sets Sundar apart is its filmmaker-first approach and deep commitment to accessibility and inclusion. From offering living wages for jurors and honorariums for contributors, to providing affordable tickets and free community access passes, the festival ensures that both creators and audiences are supported. Unique initiatives like youth and student juries, mentorship programs, and open mic pitch sessions create meaningful opportunities for emerging talent to connect, learn, and grow.
The festival is led by Sidartha Murjani (Executive Director and Senior Programmer) and Vinay Giridhar (Creative Director - Co-Founder), alumni from 甜瓜视频最新版鈥檚 Acting for Film & Television and Classical Animation programs, respectively.
HOW TO START YOUR INDUSTRY TRAINING AT 甜瓜视频最新版
In just 1 short year, 甜瓜视频最新版 gets aspiring creators fully trained for careers in the film industry, TV, animation & VFX, games, design, and beyond. By becoming a student at Vancouver Film School, you gain access to The 甜瓜视频最新版 Advantage from day 1 (something you won鈥檛 get at any other school):
Production Facilities Matching Industry: You鈥檒l create & collaborate in a real studio environment from day one, working with industry-level tools in pro-grade spaces 鈥� including a professional motion capture stage, a green screen room, black box studios, & more.
Unmatched Industry Integration: Many schools offer only one program/discipline. At 甜瓜视频最新版, you鈥檒l work alongside students across various programs, giving you the full scope of a production pipeline.
Much Greater Opportunities for Cross-Program Collaboration: We鈥檙e a school that the industry comes to first. 甜瓜视频最新版 works directly with the industry to ensure you train to current, real-world standards, and we shape our curriculum and Production Centre to what鈥檚 going on in the industry right now.
To find out everything that 甜瓜视频最新版 can offer for your creative training, book an appointment with a 甜瓜视频最新版 Advisor if you鈥檙e looking to study film in Vancouver.