OkotoksOnline/Harrison O'Nyons
The 2025 Okotoks Film Festival (OFF) kicked off on Wednesday, June 5, and the house was packed.
Attendees flocked to Okotoks Cinemas on the event's opening night, with tickets selling out for the first time in OFF history.
The night began with a screening of the short film Finding French 50, followed by the made-in-Alberta feature The Ties That Bind, a harrowing political period piece set in small-town Alberta during the Great Depression.
A Q&A session with members of the cast and crew followed the screenings, including writer, director and stars Ryan Northcott and Rae Farrer.
A Red Carpet Gala was held afterward, after which Festival Director Katie Fournell announced this year's award winners:
Best Youth Film
Counting Sheep - Charlotte Winter
Best Cinematography
Our Last Day As Kids - Art Direction: Taegan O'Bertos, Cinematography: Nik Pilecki
Best Editing
The Fishing Boats of Kayar - Álvaro Hernández Blanco
Best Art Decoration
The Fantastical Millipede - Sarah Hunt
Best Overall Sound
Alarms - Thomas Van Pottelberge, Timothée Bost, and Benjamin Lecuyer
Best Special and Visual Effects
Strangers - Brendan James Boyd, Morgan Ermter, Puppet Stuff Canada and Stacy Wegner
Best Documentary
Bloodhound Dog
Best Animation
FROM THE TOP - Rich Farris
Best Screenplay
Win-Win - Benjamin Clavel
Best Performance
SUPERDUPERMEGAGIGASINGLE - Martin Marki
Best Picture
SUPERDUPERMEGAGIGASINGLE - Håkon Anton Olavsen
The festival runs until Sunday, June 8, and tickets are available on the OFF website.