The Gender Equity in Media Society (GEMS) has announced the recipients of its annual awards at the 20th GEMFest, held in Vancouver from March 5-9, 2025.
The festival, which highlights the outstanding achievements in film and television by women and gender-diverse creators, featured a selection of 32 films from nine countries. Canadian productions made up a significant portion of the lineup, including 11 projects from British Columbia. In addition to screenings, the festival hosted industry discussions and networking events focused on gender equity in film and television.
Among the award winners, Jasleen Kaur’s Poisonous was recognized as Best Feature in the screenplay competition, while Young Hags, written by Corina Bizim and Maddy Hillis, took the award for Best TV Pilot.
In the short film category, Florence Fauquet’s Karateka won the Impact award. Carmen Sylvestre received Best Performance for her role in Lumen, and cinematographer Nina Wells was recognized for her work on Vivie. The editing award went to Grace Zhang for Lovin’ Her, while Geneviève Tremblay and Milla Cummings were named Best Directors for Passageways. Emily Clark’s Is Gay Marriage Next? was selected as Best Short.
The festival’s Best of BC awards acknowledged regional filmmaking, with honors going to February Sixteenth Nineteen Forty-Seven by Jessica Miinguuaqtii, Little Miss Sleepy by Jenny Lee-Gilmore, and NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film by Jules A. Koostachin.
In the feature film category, Thea Loo’s Inay (Mama), with cinematography by Jeremiah Reyes, received the Impact award. Olunike Adeliyi was named Best Performance for Village Keeper, and Negin Khazaee won Best Cinematography for One Must Wash Eyes. The award for Best Musical Score went to Melody McKivor for Singing Back the Buffalo, while Anna Chiyeko Shannon was recognized for her editing work on Inay (Mama). Sepideh Yadegar was awarded Best Screenplay for One Must Wash Eyes. Tasha Hubbard’s Singing Back the Buffalo received Best Documentary and Best Direction, and Village Keeper was named Best Feature.
Several industry awards were also presented. The late Tracey Friesen was posthumously recognized for her contributions to advancing equity in media. Doaa Magdy received the Emerging Changemaker Award, while Sharon McGowan was acknowledged for her work in education. Jules A. Koostachin was honored for artistic achievement.
Continue reading below for the full list of award winners:
SCREENPLAY COMPETITION AWARDS:
- Best Feature – ‘Poisonous' by Jasleen Kaur
Prize provided by: Rephrase Filmworks - Best TV Pilot – ‘Young Hags' by Corina Bizim and Maddy Hillis
Prize provided by: Firecracker Department
SHORT FILM AWARDS:
- Impact – Short – ‘Karateka' (Director: Florence Fauquet)
Presented by: North Shore Studios - Best Performance – Carmen Sylvestre in ‘Lumen'
Presented by: Lucas Talent - Best Cinematography – Nina Wells for ‘Vivie'
Presented by: ICG 669 - Best Editing – Grace Zhang for ‘Lovin' Her'
- Best Direction – Geneviève Tremblay & Milla Cummings for ‘Passageways'
- Best Short – ‘Is Gay Marriage Next?' (Director: Emily Clark)
Presented by: ACFC West
BEST OF BC AWARDS:
- Best of BC (Award 1) – ‘February Sixteenth Nineteen Forty-Seven' (Director: Jessica Miinguuaqtii)
Presented by: Vancouver Film Studios, prize provided by Sparky’s Grip & Lighting - Best of BC (Award 2) – ‘Little Miss Sleepy' (Director: Jenny Lee-Gilmore)
Presented by: MBS Equipment Co. - Best of BC (Award 3) – ‘NiiMisSak: Sisters in Film' (Director: Jules A Koostachin)
Presented by: Cinelease
FEATURE FILM AWARDS:
- Impact – Feature – ‘Inay (Mama)' (Director: Thea Loo, DP: Jeremiah Reyes)
Presented by: CMPA - Best Performance – Olunike Adeliyi in ‘Village Keeper'
Presented by: UBCP/ACTRA - Best Cinematography – Negin Khazaee for ‘One Must Wash Eyes'
Presented by: Keslow Camera - Best Musical Score – Melody McKivor for ‘Singing Back the Buffalo'
- Best Editing – Anna Chiyeko Shannon for ‘Inay (Mama)'
Presented by: Canadian Cinema Editors - Best Screenplay (Festival) – Sepideh Yadegar for ‘One Must Wash Eyes'
Presented by: Chandler Fogden Lyman Law - Best Documentary – ‘Singing Back the Buffalo' (Director: Tasha Hubbard)
- Best Direction – Tasha Hubbard for ‘Singing Back the Buffalo'
Presented by: The Directors Guild of Canada, BC - Best Feature – ‘Village Keeper'
Presented by: Telefilm Canada
INDUSTRY AWARDS:
- Lifetime Achievement in Advancing Equity:
Tracey Friesen (posthumous) - Emerging Changemaker Award:
Doaa Magdy
Presented by: Creative BC - Leadership in Education Award:
Sharon McGowan - Artistic Achievement Award:
Jules A. Koostachin
Presented by: IATSE 891