Couch Film Festival
Summer 2026
BEST FILM of the FESTIVAL FINALISTS (JUDGES’ FAVOURITES)
Best Film of the Festival: Tabo is My Everything dir Cheryl Nierves Sunio, Joseph John Sunio (Canada)
1st Runner Up: Bloodhound dir Connie Trivino, Victoria Parker, Jiu Jung (Canada)
2nd Runner Up: The Smile Everyone Loved dir Marky Hugh (Canada)
Honourable Mentions:
Hold Still dir Abby Grace Boyd (Canada)
The Litterbox dir Ross Jr Mendigorin (Canada)
Reconcile dir Konja Liu (USA)
The Loop dir Bence Peter Szabo (Netherlands)
CATEGORY AWARD NOMINEES
1:00-5:00 MINUTES
Winner in RED, Nominees in BLACK
Nominees for Best Animation Canada [Group 1]
Yellow: A Bedtime Story dir Adrian Campbell (Canada)
Our Sandcastle dir Yeji (Graham) Kim (Canada)
Journey To Something Somewhere... dir Isabelle Yu (Canada)
The Megabomb dir Hunter Amos (Canada)
Nominees for Best Animation Canada [Group 2]
Skely Finds A Brain dir Tatiana Alexeeva (Canada)
So-rawr-ity Girls dir Jenna Mayer (Canada)
Belladonna (A Dance Fairytale) dir Nneoma Oguejiofor (Canada)
Nominees for Best Animation USA [Group 1]
Sweet New Suit dir Ashton Fiest (USA)
Between Seasons dir Minseo Kwon (USA)
BRAINROT! (Extended Cut) dir Alex Semenov (USA)
Mommy, Where Did I Come From? dir John Dimes (USA)
Nominees for Best Animation USA [Group 2]
Death & the Maiden dir Tiffany Sun, Dena Fesharaki (USA)
Clementine dir Ren Curry (USA)
Monster Love dir Alexander Plonsky (USA)
Paci-Flyer dir Michelle Sun (USA)
Nominees for Best Animation International
Cuarto para las Ocho dir Axel Yael (Mexico)
Rush Hours dir Álvaro Ignacio Marín Bard (Chile)
The Suitcase dir Nano Bor (Argentina)
Land Art dir Tina Mamali (Greece)
Nominees for Best Comedy
Bar Therapy dir Larry Rosen (USA)
Round the Corner dir Russ Emanuel (USA)
Shower Thoughts dir Josh Rae (Canada)
Salt dir Quentin Hall (USA)
Nominees for Best Dance Film
Solo dir Ysabelle Taylor (UK)
One Light, One Nation dir EunSeo Choi, I-seul Lee (South Korea)
Flow dir Carol Garcia (USA)
Nominees for Best Drama
The 5th of July dir Simon Freitas (USA)
Two Envelopes dir Martin Carter Scholl (USA)
Not So Different dir William Allen Teichner (USA)
Grief of a Broken Child dir Carson Patterson (Canada)
Dent in the Snow dir Carson Patterson (Canada)
Nominees for Best Experimental
No Where to Stay dir Hateful Void (Val Alvarado) (El Salvador)
Reality Red and Black dir Susanne Layla Petersen (Denmark)
Rooms in the Maze dir Susanne Layla Petersen (Denmark)
Adrift dir Amir Pooya (UAE)
Crossing the Rubicon dir Susanne Layla Petersen (Denmark)
Nominees for Best Horror
The Stray dir Tim Teets (USA)
Smooth Operators dir Alan Watkins (USA)
The Mourning Hour dir Dylan Wray (Canada)
Desert Sleep dir Brooke Friendly (Canada)
Who the Hell are Ya? / Té Qui Toué? dir Francis Ouellet (Canada)
Nominees for Best Music Video
Lavender Space: A Parody of Lavender Haze by Taylor Swift dir K. S. Brooks (USA)
Hasta La Raíz dir Jakob Flores Figueroa (USA)
LIMBO - Musical Suggestions dir Roberto Di Vito (Italy)
It's Only Music, Baby dir Kersten Parrella (USA)
Toronto In My Heart dir Fishel Pustilnik (Canada)
Balloon Buddies dir Scott Ackerson (USA)
Nominees for Best Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Static Hours dir Stefano Francella (Canada)
Bestia dir Alejandro Ogaz Rodriguez (Canada)
Signs dir Leandro Monsieur (Brazil)
Stay in the Car dir Max Slocum (USA)
Nominees for Best Original Story
Skip dir Kayla Cache, Jemima Park (New Zealand)
Is This My Purpose? dir Nathan Shilaimon, Miguel Baltazar (USA)
We Were Here dir Marky Hugh (Canada)
Nominees for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Supernatural
Behind the Door dir Leonardo Valenti (France)
Alkaline Boss dir Ryan Hildebrandt (USA)
Static Hours dir Stefano Francella (Canada)
Stay in the Car dir Max Slocum (USA)
Nominees for Best Student Film
Dinner At The Millers dir Holly Haines (Canada)
Oh, God! dir Lilou Maillot (Canada)
In The In-Between dir Qi Zheng (China)
Strawberry Boy Forever dir Alyssa Valdivia (USA)
Nominees for Best Actor
Sergei Epishev - A Single Applause (Russia)
Leonardo Valenti - Behind the Door (France)
Vladimir Dolinsky - Petrovich (Russia)
Nominees for Best Actress
Abby Plomondon - It's Only Music, Baby (USA)
Ora Pichon - The Night Time Show (Canada)
Avery Simpson - The Mourning Hour (Canada)
Nominees for Best Cast
The Last Gasp dir John Angell Grant (USA)
We Were Here dir Marky Hugh (Canada)
Oh, God! dir Lilou Maillot (Canada)
Nominees for Best Cinematography
Brooke Friendly - Desert Sleep (Canada)
Onno Weeda - We Were Here (Canada)
Jack Wiley - Salt (USA)
Nominees for Best Writer
Trevor O'Neal - Hit Me (USA)
Tegan Dobrich - The Night Time Show (Canada)
Tim Teets - The Stray (USA)
Nominees for Best Director
Alvin Kean Wong, Nick Sgaglione - The Strangers (Singapore)
Marky Hugh - We Were Here (Canada)
Max Slocum - Stay in the Car (USA)
5:01-20:00 MINUTES
Nominees for Best Action
The Lady & The Hound dir Ernest Emmanuel Peeples (USA)
Liyabuya dir Bronwin October (South Africa)
The Last Pop dir Austin Boggs (USA)
Nominees for Best Animation
Moving Day dir David Ehret (Canada)
Look at Me dir Fabrice Garcia-Carpintero (France)
Apple and The World Eater dir Sarah Chen (USA)
Hoodoo dir Bellopropello (Switzerland)
Becky and the 4th Wall - The Body Swap Episode dir Jack Clifford Parnell (Canada)
Nominees for Best Comedy Canada
Roadkill & Dirtbag dir Christian Arsenault (Canada)
Man Versus Cyclekart dir Gabriella Gee Stewart (Canada)
The Rattening dir Alex Lee (Canada)
The Thanksgiving Spill dir Mandana Mehrghorbani (Canada)
Fossil Record dir Karla Weber (Canada)
Nominees for Best Comedy International
Pocket Candy dir Beyla Khabenskey (USA)
A Steep Revival: Hot Springs Rising dir Lee LaMarche (USA)
The Imprint of God dir Christos Blichas (Greece)
Nominees for Best Documentary
You Say We Aren't Objects... dir Eden Haley (Canada)
Remnants of a Heartbeat dir Sadie Duarte (Spain)
Trunyan - The Village of Silent Souls dir Damien Lafon (France)
Generations dir Daniel R. Daggett (Canada)
Christine Sinclair: Kind of a Big Deal dir Eoin Duffy (Canada)
Nominees for Best Drama Canada
Memoriam dir Beryl Ethanmax Costantini (Canada)
Soft Serve dir Ethan Cabal (Canada)
Two Ways To Let Go dir Roshan Krishnan (Canada)
RePast dir Stanislav Petruk (Canada)
Empty Frames dir Marky Hugh (Canada)
Nominees for Best Drama International
Master Planner dir Damilola Ayoka Arokoyo (Nigeria)
Wish In One Hand dir Cosimo Raffaele Solazzo (USA)
David's Story dir Ope Dimowo (Nigeria)
The Callback dir Latham Gaines (New Zealand)
Remorse dir Daniel David Johnson (USA)
Nominees for Best Experimental
Children at the Rooftop Cinema dir 侑紀 刷場 (Japan)
Lakefront Property dir Jill Kolodka (Canada)
Bananas dir Max Panahi (Canada)
Super Turbo Jet Boats - We Love Danger dir Daniel Stuelpnagel (USA)
Hollow Wren dir Robin Skye Farr (Canada)
Between Grit & Joy: Celebrating Our Ways of Moving dir Andrew Heule (Canada)
Nominees for Best Horror
Pythoness dir Sara Beebe, Kimberly Locke (USA)
Quarantine dir Russ Emanuel (USA)
REM dir Nansi Love, Brandon Jenkins (UK)
FANGS! The Musical dir Daniel Krastek (USA)
Deadly Entwined dir Tianna Reynolds (Canada)
Nominees for Best Mystery/Suspense/Thriller
Lights Out dir Tari Kristine Robinson (USA)
Nero dir Jordan Balzan (Canada)
Run Next Door dir Brenton Eason (USA)
Form dir Jacquelyn Crichton (Canada)
Nominees for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Supernatural
Where We Left Off dir Benjamin Lavoie (Canada)
Duelo dir Sebastian Barnes (Argentina)
Sunny dir Ruslan Miru Vorobev (Russia)
Nominees for Best Student Film
Family Ties dir Brooklyn Browne (USA)
My Salvation dir Nate Bodenham (Canada)
Thank You for Donating dir Holden Anthony Worsley (Canada)
Hold Still dir Cameron Morin (Canada)
Lifeless - Alyssa Bradley (Canada)
Nominees for Best Actor
Riddissh M. Mistry - Within (UAE)
Simon To - Suppers (Hong Kong)
Ariel Alud-ud - Empty Frames (Canada)
Tristen Watts - Hold Still (Canada)
Nominees for Best Actress
Victoria Gallant - Deadly Entwined (Canada)
Senzenina De Freitas - Thank You for Donating (Canada)
Jessica Chin King - Two Ways To Let Go (Canada)
Victoria Koen - Form (Canada)
Nominees for Best Cast
Personal Record dir Mackenzie Rowe (USA)
The Imprint of God dir Christos Blichas (Greece)
Where We Left Off dir Benjamin Lavoie (Canada)
Lifeless dir Alyssa Bradley (Canada)
Nominees for Best Cinematography
Jimmy Blanco - Personal Record (USA)
Onno Weeda - Empty Frames (Canada)
Damien Lafon - Trunyan - The Village of Silent Souls (France)
Kyle Noble - Generations (Canada)
Nominees for Best Writer
Alyssa Bradley - Lifeless (Canada)
Bryan Patrick Moore - The Last Pop (USA)
Roshan Krishnan - Two Ways To Let Go (Canada)
Ethan Cabal - Soft Serve (Canada)
Nominees for Best Director
Eden Roth - The Grand Deception (Canada)
Isaac Oxley - Second Wind (Canada)
Stanislav Petruk - RePast (Canada)
Bronwin October - Liyabuya (South Africa)
20:01-45:00 MINUTES
Nominees for Best Long Short Animation
In Half dir Jorge Morais Valle (Spain)
Commedia Fantasia dir Gina Lori Riley, Peter Freele (Canada)
The Rainbow Quilt dir Josh Heineman (USA)
Nominees for Best Long Short Documentary
Thoughts on Art and Love dir Alexander Carlo Buckley (Japan, UK)
The Great Sasuke vs The Blue Shark with Dance | Pro Wrestling The Movie Vol.2 dir Kenji Ogusu (Japan)
An Italian Journey dir Andrew Wakeman Proctor (USA)
Nominees for Best Long Short Narrative
Balk dir Zachary Bosley (USA)
Ripples dir Polina Bakuleva, Laura Nagy (USA)
Helene dir Reese Carmen Villella (USA)
Three Days in Summer dir Sarah Kate Foster, Caleb Gales (Canada)
The Sensational Life of Beryl Blanche dir Lynne Newton, Mike Breyer, Julio Leal (USA)
Nominees for Best Actor
John Ricotta - Helene (USA)
Kieran Burton - I Don't Live Here (UK)
Oscar Estrada - Balk (USA)
Nominees for Best Actress
Lynne Newton - The Sensational Life of Beryl Blanche (USA)
Savannah Bangoura - Three Days in Summer (Canada)
Audrey Hui - Helene (USA)
Nominees for Best Cast
The Committee of Five dir Troy Schaffer, Zion Schaffer (USA)
I Don't Live Here dir Jacob Lee (UK)
Fourever dir Vasanth P (Australia)
Nominees for Best Cinematography
Chazz Padilla - Helene (USA)
Jacob Lee - I Don't Live Here (UK)
Mithun Prem - Fourever (Australia)
Nominees for Best Writer
Lynne Newton - The Sensational Life of Beryl Blanche (USA)
Lorenzo Mariotti - Human Compost (Italy)
Zachary Bosley, Mike Oliver - Balk (USA)
Nominees for Best Director
Sarah Kate Foster, Caleb Gales - Three Days in Summer (Canada)
Kenji Ogusu - The Great Sasuke vs The Blue Shark with Dance | Pro Wrestling The Movie Vol.2 (Japan)
Reese Carmen Villella - Helene (USA)
45:01-120:00 MINUTES
Nominees for Best Feature Documentary
High Above – Highlining On Tribulaun dir Tobias Marcotto (Italy)
Alice and Horst dir Kai Reppert (Germany)
Fly with AI — Borderline Kids Rise dir D.I. Lee (Canada)
Nominees for Best Feature Narrative
Hollywood Mouth 2 dir Jordan Mohr (USA)
Aunt Jessica Will Fix Everything For You dir John David Stevenson (USA)
SEEK II: The Unsung Scars dir Shane Kosugi (Japan)
Staycation dir Russ Emanuel (USA)
A Night with Nathan dir Brent Baird (Canada)
Nominees for Best Actor
Cameron Diskin - Aunt Jessica Will Fix Everything For You (USA)
Kansuke Asano - SEEK II: The Unsung Scars (Japan)
Eric Roberts - Holy Father (USA)
Nominees for Best Actress
Julie Stevenson Kurisko - Aunt Jessica Will Fix Everything For You (USA)
Olivia d'Abo - Staycation (USA)
Jacqueline Godbout - A Night with Nathan (Canada)
Nominees for Best Cast
Staycation dir Russ Emanuel (USA)
High Above – Highlining On Tribulaun dir Tobias Marcotto (Italy)
SEEK II: The Unsung Scars dir Shane Kosugi (Japan)
Nominees for Best Cinematography
Tobias Marcotto - High Above – Highlining On Tribulaun (Italy)
Emile Haris - Staycation (USA)
Kai Reppert - Alice and Horst (Germany)
Nominees for Best Writer
Kenji Qurata - SEEK II: The Unsung Scars (Japan)
Brent Baird, Pete Comrie - A Night with Nathan (Canada)
John David Stevenson - Aunt Jessica Will Fix Everything For You (USA)
Nominees for Best Director
Shane Kosugi - SEEK II: The Unsung Scars (Japan)
Shravan Tiwari - Holy Father (USA, India)
Russ Emanuel - Staycation (USA)
15-SECOND STORY
Winner in RED, Nominees in BLACK
Best 15-Second Story: Salmonella dir Yoda Perron, Rachel Muir (Canada)
Nominees for Best 15-Second Story
Apples Apples dir Dominic Asselin (Canada)
Give Way dir Stefan Gordon (UK)
Thief dir Kevin Lucero Less (USA)
Windows to the Soul dir Preston Sky Brown (USA)
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