Michael Edwards, media studies teacher from University Hill Secondary, looks forward to the Vancouver District Student Film Festival every year.

“Today is my favourite day of the year! There’s something special about watching films that student make. They are beautiful and thought provoking and incredibly absurd in fantastic ways at times!”

There is something magical about the Vancouver District Student Film Festival (VDSF). Held on May 14, 2026 at Vancouver Technical Secondary, captivated audience members could be heard murmuring, “Wow a student made this?” The screenings prompted both laughter and tears, tugging on an array of audience emotions.

Students appreciated the opportunity to share their work.

“It’s great that you get to meet people from different schools, where people who share passions all across Vancouver can kind of meet up in places that they otherwise wouldn’t,” said Naomi from University Hill Secondary.

During intermissions students stopped by to talk about their films and their inspirations behind their projects:

Towards the end of the event, a two-member panel, Oriana Di Nucci and Stephan Renshaw film professionals working in the Vancouver film industry picked their favourite films in each category.

• Best Picture: Starlight
• Best Director: Forgotten
• Best Screenwriting: Starlight
• Best Cinematography: One Look
• Best Editing: Ouroboros
• Best Actor: Fernanda Meza (Final Girls)
• Best Music Video: Bloodstains
• Best Original Song: Men of Fish
• Best Animation: Men of Fish
• Best Production Design: Szleepy Vasiliy
• Best Costume: Szleepy Vasily
• Best Franchise Film: Dan 2
• Auteur Award: Cold Helium (Jude Birdsall)
• Heartstring Award: Reflected
• Special Recognition (Comedy): The Collector

Note: Many movies screened are not (yet) public and some are held back for other festivals.  Here are some additional links to movies that were in the festival:  Go Fish, Coyotes Laughing and additional student films can be found in Templeton Secondary’s film program's website.

Special Thanks: Vancouver Association of Motion Picture Teachers (VAMPT) student film festival has been a tradition for 18 years. The festival would not have been possible without passionate and dedicated teachers.

• Sepideh Saii (Van Tech), Venue Host
• Nick Booker (Lord Byng), Submissions Organizer
• Corin Browne (Templeton), Support Organizer
• Michael Edmondson (U-Hill), Programming and Coordinator

Congratulations to all the students featured at this year’s VDSF. We will most certainly keep an eye out for these emerging talents!