Thank you to everyone who submitted to this year’s KISS.

Professional Awards

1st | The Yoga Teacher, directed by Jason Foui
2nd | The C.I.eh, directed by Ryan Weichel
3rd | The Line, directed by Simon Ryder

Amateur Awards

1st | The Box, directed by Abhinanth Kiliyalankandy Chalil
2nd | Into the Snow, directed by Charlie Napcolors
3rd | Pickle Girl, directed by Ryder Dobson

Youth Awards

Youth Prize | The Void in Space, directed by Logan Gauley

Audience Awards

Professional Audience Award | The Yoga Teacher, directed by Jason Foui
Amateur Audience Award | Pickle Girl, directed by Ryder Dobson
Youth Audience Award | My Bedroom Ate My Homework, directed by Lochlan Lemire

Special Jury Prize

Best Possessed Bedspread | My Bedroom Ate My Homework, directed by Lochlan Lemire

Scholarship

$5,000 Scholarship from the College for Arts and Technology | Trolley, directed by Elijah Jotie

TNFC Awards

TNFC Award | The C.I.eh, directed by Ryan Weichel
TNFC Lottery Prize | “Wandering” classical guitar solo, directed by Sean Luciw

The Kamloops Independent Short Shorts (KISS) Festival showcases 5-minute films by independent, professional, amateur, and youth filmmakers from the Thompson Nicola Regional District at a FREE public event. Presented during the annual Kamloops Film Festival by the Kamloops Film Society, with support from the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission.

Subscribe to the KFS newsletter to learn when KISS 2027 is open for submissions.

YOUTH, AMATEUR & PROFESSIONAL

We have three categories this year.

Definitions: ‘Key Cast’ and ‘Key Creative Crew Member,’ refers to roles such as Director, Screenwriter, Producer, Lead Performer/Main Subject, Director of Photography, Production Designer, Music Composer, Key Animator, or any other role that may reasonably be considered a primary creative contributor to the production.

Youth

The Youth category is specifically for submissions where the primary filmmaker (Director or Screenwriter) is 17 years old or younger at the time of the submission deadline.

A youth filmmaker may have received guidance or support from adult mentors, teachers, or parents; this does not preclude them from entering the Youth category.

However, if an adult fills a Key Creative Crew Member role (as defined above) in a capacity that exceeds mentorship and is considered the primary creative driver of that role (e.g., an adult Director of Photography who has worked professionally), the film should be submitted under the Amateur or Professional category, based on the adult’s experience.

Amateur

The Key Cast (main actors) and Key Creative Crew Members must be the amateurs. A person is an amateur if they “have not been paid as a filmmaker in a key cast or key creative crew member role” for an extended period.

A single, non-creative, entry-level, or temporary paid job, like working as a “Production Assistant (PA)” one summer, is generally not enough to disqualify the filmmaker from the amateur category. A PA role is administrative/support, not a “key creative crew” position.

Professional

Professional Filmmakers create films/videos for a salary, fee, or commercial profit. Filmmaking is their career and primary source of income. E.g., they may have worked as a First A.D. on a number of films.

Additionally, if the budget for the film budget was more than $2,000, then it is to be entered under the Professional category regardless of the experience of the filmmakers involved.

• *College for Arts and Technology is proud to award this year’s winner of the Kamloops Independent Short Shorts (KISS) Film Festival’s Amateur category a scholarship worth $5,000.
  This filmmaker’s work will be recognized for its creativity, storytelling, and technical skill. The award will support the filmmaker’s continued education and creative development within the filmmaking industry.

• TNFC Award – $250 (For the best representation of the TNRD.)
• TNFC Lottery Prize – $50 (Drawn randomly from all entrants who have not won a Juried prize.)
• Up to 2 Special Jury Prizes – $200 Each (Can be for anything. Cinematography, writing, acting, best sequel, etc.)

Prizes will be awarded by the KISS Jury, assembled by the Kamloops Film Society, with the exception of the Audience Award in each category, which will be voted on by the attendees. Award sponsors include the Kamloops Film Society and Thompson Nicola Film Commission.

Please contact us at [email protected] should you have any questions about your eligibility.

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This form is currently closed for submissions.