2026 Reel Pride Short Film Selections
Out of 75 submissions, fifteen short films were officially selected.
POTLHOLE
Filmmaker: Flavien Demeure
While riding his bicycle, Thomas, a young illustrator, learns he got his dream job. A fall injures him, shattering his dream. An encounter with a little girl changes his perspective.
HIKO
Filmmaker: Flavien Demeure
"Hiko" follows the story of an 11-year-old boy, Hiko, who runs away during a neighborhood festival after a disagreement with his mother over refusing to wear makeup. He stumbles upon a mysterious circus tent, where an unexpected encounter challenges his understanding of himself. This magical adventure compels him to confront personal choices and explore the expression of his own identity.
COME TO THE LIGHT
Filmmaker: Eve Rice
Come to the Light is an electronic music single and visual released by Winnipeg artist Vav Jungle (Eve Rice). The release celebrates retro dance inspired videos from the past 40 years with a message about the current state of the world, and features a dance-focused, vibrant fun vibe.
COPPER COINS
Filmmaker: Grace Gordon
Fleeing from their biggest heist gone wrong, Anna and Ruth, outlaws and lovers, must find solace in each other when unable to outrun their grim consequences: Ruth’s fatal wound and the authorities determined to hang them.
PIQUE-NIQUE
Filmmaker: Jeremy Gagnon
Two welders observe an astral phenomenon during their lunch break. Faced with the sublime, they lower their masks.
TTT (Tᄐト)
Filmmaker: kimural byoal lemoine
kimura byol lemoine is a feminist conceptual multimedia artist whose practice primarily encompasses video, pop-art calligraphy, writing, and collaborative projects. Drawing on their lived experience, their work challenges gender binaries and explores perceptions of gender and racial identity, as well as the ways language and meaning can be intentionally or unintentionally “lost” through translation. Their work also examines the commercialization and objectification of the body.
By giving voice and visibility to minority communities, Lemoine uses the archiving of personal and collective narratives as a way of restoring credibility to non-Eurocentric histories and memories of identity.
FADEAWAY
Filmmaker: Brendan Prost
After a hookup text leads to the discovery of a deadly overdose, a closeted bisexual man is confronted by memories of his initial connection with the victim, and an old omen with newfound meaning.
HALF-NAKED
Filmmaker: Ande Brown
Half-Naked is a light-hearted comedy about a trans man who must summon his courage when undertaking his first experience shirtless in public.
THE FRUIT MACHINE: A SPACE OPERA Filmmakers: Lorri Millan and Shawna Dempsey
When a queer little space alien crashes to earth and looks for survival tips, she finds what she needs on television, a ready-made guide to the ins and outs of 20th century conformity. This tale is set against the true history of the Fruit Machine, a test for aberrant sexuality developed by the Canadian government in the 1960s.
A PRIEST WALKS INTO A BAR
Filmmaker: Timothy Lenko
Scandal, grace, and mistaken identity collide when a priest approaches a man day-drinking alone.
TO THE MOON AND BACK
Filmmaker: Amber Ou
A romantic rendezvous between the Ocean and the Moon who meet every night to dance together under the stars. Their time together is never enough as they must part ways again when morning comes.
I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND
Filmmakers: Conor Larsen and Zachary Kornbum
In a dark movie theater, a young boy’s anxiety swells as he debates making the first move—until a small act of courage speaks louder than words.
Find Your Pack
Filmmaker: Cass Gayowski
Explore the lived experiences of queer players within roller derby, showcasing the sport’s unique commitment to inclusivity and community.
LUIS AT HOME
Filmmaker: Francisco
Luis, a Mexican immigrant in Canada reflects on the aftermath of leaving his homeland and coming out as a gay man. Since arriving in Vancouver in 2007, Luis has established himself as a Canadian citizen, yet his experience reveals that the search for happiness goes beyond borders and legal status. In the end, Luis, at Home offers a space to reflect on identity, self-acceptance, and the vital importance of human connection.
The D Word
Filmmaker: Mya Van Kyd
A butch lesbian is accosted by a manifestation of their Catholic-school-going, homophobic, younger self.
Reel Pride 2026 Celebration of Shorts
Rules and Submission Guidelines
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1.1 The submitted short film must be a Canadian production. (Filmed and produced in Canada)
1.2 The film must not exceed 20 minutes in total runtime, including opening and closing credits.
1.3 The film must be of interest to, or reflect the experiences, stories, cultures, or concerns of the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
1.4 The film must have been completed between January 1, 2023, and August, 2026.
1.5 Films that were previously submitted to Reel Pride in 2023, 2024, or 2025, and meet the eligibility requirements, but were not previously selected, may be re-submitted for consideration.
1.6 All submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM CST on Monday, July 13, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.scription text goes here
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2.1 Each online submission may include only one (1) short film.
2.2 There is no submission fee.
2.3 Each film selected as an Official Selection will receive an honorarium. No additional screening fees will be paid.
2.4 Films containing AI-generated content (visual, audio, or narrative elements created using generative AI tools) must disclose that use at submission, or risk disqualification.
2.5 Films should be submitted via Film Freeway. https://filmfreeway.com/ReelPrideInternationalFilmFestival
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Jury Choice Awards
Best Short Film
Best Manitoba Short Film
Emerging Short Filmmaker Award
Sponsored by the Directors Guild of Canada, Manitoba District Council2SLGBTQ+ Storytelling Award
Audience Choice Award
The Audience Choice Award will be determined through audience voting during the in-person screening event.
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4.1 Reel Pride reserves the right to amend or modify these rules and guidelines at any time. Any changes will be posted on the Reel Pride Celebration of Shorts webpage.
4.2 By submitting a film, entrants grant Reel Pride a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to publicly exhibit the film during the festival and to use submitted materials, including still images, excerpts, trailers, and promotional clips, for festival marketing and promotional purposes.
4.3 Reel Pride reserves the right to disqualify, withdraw, or remove any submission at its sole discretion.
4.4 The Celebration of Short Films will take place on the afternoon of September 19th, at the Canadian National Museum for Human Rights. Tickets will be available on Eventbrite.
For additional information or questions, please direct your enquiries to:
Canada’s longest running 2SLGBTQ+ Short Films Celebration received hundreds of submissions over its’ 21 years from various locations in the Provinces and Territories.
Filmmaker’s Shorts most often reveal stories that mirror the life of the Canadian 2SLGBTQ+ culture and their friendships, personal growth, dynamic relationships, and their personal struggles for societal understanding.
Email any questions or concerns to shorts@reelpride.ca
Check out the previous award winners
2025 Official Selections
Anita Louise and the Wild Women
Arena Alamino, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
Anita Louise Martinez photographed Nova Scotia's queer and trans community in an exploration of the Wild Women Don't Get the Blues on lesbian camping weekends.
Jury Choice Award
Best Community Reflection
Becoming Ruby
Quan Luong, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
Becoming Ruby follows Ruby Chopstix (Alex Nguyen), the Asian Pop Princess of Winnipeg and Canada’s first drag artist-in-residence at Rainbow Resource Centre, as they navigate the complexity of being an underrepresented drag performer while creating a special showcase to create space for other queer BIPOC performers.
Comphet
Evan Rivard, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
Using found footage from her wedding and exploring the complicated emotions, Gin tells the story of how she realized she might be attracted to girls.
Jury Choice Award
Best Short Film
Cruising in Gomorrah
Coby Friesen, Filmmaker
Rating: 18A Can contain nudity, implied sex, violence
Childhood friends Chris and Alex reunite on a camping trip at a haunted creek as Chris’ deep Christian faith clashes with Alex’s worldly desires when a dark gay presence awakens their unconscious desires and forces them to reckon their sexualities.
First Shave
Ande Brown, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
Anticipation and apprehension abound as a trans man prepares for his first hot towel, straight razor shave.
Audience Choice Award
Best Short Film
Jury Choice Award
Manitoba’s Best Short Film
Oh My Doctor
Robert Macklin, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
A young man (JAKE) goes for a physical to find the attending doctor (GORDY) is someone he already has a romantic interest.
Private Flowers
HAUI, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
Private Flowers captures male love with poetic intimacy and reclaims a hidden chapter of queer heritage going back to 1832 when Private Flowers, a Canadian Infantryman was hanged for making love with another man.
Ramen Boys
Jason Sakaki, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
Kevin finally takes a chance to connect with James, the lifeguard he's admired from afar, leading to an extremely expected first kiss and a summer of love and laughter in a gay Asian rom-com.
Remembering the Struggle for the Legitimacy of Same-sex Desire in the 1970s
Clark Nikolai, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
Don Hann was involved in Gay activism in Vancouver in the 1970s as he remembers those times when he celebrates his birthday at Vancouver’s clothing optional Wreck Beach.
The Reveal
Jackie Hoffart, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
Stevie struggles to support their sister’s gender reveal party, while harbouring a gender update of their own as this charming comedy centers on joy, connection and acceptance while shining a whimsical light on the stumbling, imperfect, yet loving ways families show up for one another.
Jury Choice Award
Best Emerging Filmmaker
Trigger
Alen Xhafa, Filmmaker
Rating: 18A: Can contain implied sex and violence
After a gruelling one-on-one session with an established film director casting for his next leading man, the aspiring actor Drake gets the opportunity to audition for the executive producer the very next day.
Wing Story,
Clara Eleanor Fielding, Filmmaker
Rating: 14A: Theme or content may not be suitable for all children
An atmospheric story about a woman who grows wings and loves them, only to have her new sense of self shattered by the reactions, and perceived reactions, of those around her.