Awards & prizes
How winners are chosen
Our Academy members watch the films in each category and score them. The highest-scored films become the Top Nominees, and after a final round the Academy chooses the Lauréat of each category. Some categories, like the Audience Award, are decided by public vote.
The top prize of each section
- Castor d’or: International section
- Érable d’or: National section, for Canadian films
- Prix de l’Île de la Tortue: Indigenous section (working name)
- Trousse d’or: Made by Kids (a kit is a baby beaver)
Prix spéciaux
- Prix spécial du jury: for a stand-out achievement, such as a young performance, an idea or a craft
- Castor du public: the audience award, decided by public vote
- Little Beaver: chosen by a jury of kids
- Mention spéciale: an honourable mention from the jury
What winners receive
- The award trophy, custom-made each year
- A permanent Winner badge on the film page and on the profiles of the credited team
- Possible sponsor prizes, which may include filmmaking grants and funding opportunities, VIP industry networking and mentorship programs, and film distribution and screening opportunities
Top Nominees also keep a permanent Nominee badge on their film and crew profiles. World Focus is a celebration, not a competition, and has no awards.