The 29th edition of REGARD – Saguenay’s International Short Film Festival – came to a celebratory close on Sunday 23 March, honouring 15 short films and awarding nearly $130,000 in prizes and services. While the festival featured over 200 titles and welcomed more than 450 guests, it was animated storytelling that emerged as one of the edition’s most powerful and emotionally resonant currents.
Leading the charge was Shadows by Rand Beiruty (France/Jordan), which not only claimed the prestigious Grand Prize but also captured the jury’s admiration for its daring use of animation to tell a harrowing true story. Centred on a teenager forced into marriage and subjected to domestic violence, the film stood out for its stylistic approach. “By choosing animation for this tragic story, the director… finds a powerful way to bring her poignant testimony to life,” stated the jury, highlighting how the medium helped protect the young woman’s identity while softening—but not diluting—the trauma it portrays.
Meanwhile, the Best Animation Short Film award, presented by Rodeo FX and TvPaint, went to Sans voix by Swiss animator Samuel Patthey. Though few details were offered in the official statement, the win underscores the jury’s appreciation for nuanced animated storytelling at a festival traditionally known for its documentary and live-action strengths.
Other animated projects in receipt of awards include Game Rules by Christian Zetterberg (Sweden), recipient of the prize for Best Youth Short Film, and Los Carpinchos by Soderguit Alfredo (France/Chile/Uruguay), which earned a special mention in the same category.
Moreover, Portuguese-French co-production Percebes by Laura Gonçalves and Alexandra Ramires—another animated entry—was singled out with a special mention by the Quebec critics’ jury (AQCC), affirming the medium’s ability to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with live-action storytelling in thematic complexity and artistic execution.
Beyond animation, highlights from the Official Competition included Sarah Seené’s Orbites, which not only won the Canadian Grand Prize but also received the FIPRESCI PRIZE. Other notable victors included the Jury Prize for What if they bomb here tonight by Lebanese director Samir Syriani, and the prize for Best Documentary Short Film for Who Loves the Sun by Arshia Shakiba (Canada).
The Canadian gathering, one of North America’s largest events celebrating shorts and home to the country’s only short film market, ran from 19-23 March. As part of its on-going programming, the festival will screen selected award winners on Sunday at Studio Desjardins, with Quebec-made shorts available for streaming via Télé-Québec’s La Fabrique Culturelle from 24 March to 7 April.
