The Borsos Competition is the main awards program for Canadian feature films screening at the annual Whistler Film Festival.Katherine Monk, "Whistler film festival set to soar". Vancouver Sun, December 3, 2004. The award is named in memory of Canadian film director Phillip Borsos.Alexandra Gill, "Whistler film festival launches Borsos award". The Globe and Mail, December 4, 2004.
Introduced for the first time in 2004, the juried competition presents six awards annually to honour films, actors, screenplays, directors, cinematographers and editors in Canadian cinema. Initially, only films that were having their world premieres at Whistler were eligible for the competition,Katherine Monk, "Whistler film fest to present award". Vancouver Sun, July 9, 2004. although this requirement was soon dropped as the festival had difficulty attracting entrants who were willing to forego larger film festivals such as TIFF or the FNC, and thereafter films selected for competition only had to be a regional premiere within the Western Canada region.
From the award's inauguration until 2015, six films were selected for competition each year, except in 2012 when eight films competed; in 2015, the festival dropped size limits, and since then the competition has typically included between 10 and 20 films per year.
The festival also presents several other awards, which are not part of the Borsos Competition.
Films in competition
2000s Year Film Director Ref 2004 The Papal Chase Kenny Hotz "Film fest feast proves there's more to life than VIFF". WestEnder, December 9, 2004. Better Off in Bed Reginald Harkema Michael D. Reid, "Filmmakers make tracks to Whistler". Montreal Gazette, November 21, 2004. Cable Beach James Head Eighteen Richard Bell Part of the Game Rick Alyea Pink Ludoos Gaurav Seth 2005 Exiles in Lotusland Ilan Saragosti Alexandra Gill, "Documentary takes feature award at Whistler". The Globe and Mail, December 5, 2005. The End of Silence Anita Doron Nicole Fitzgerald, "Borsos Award contenders announced". Pique Newsmagazine, November 11, 2005. Fetching Cody David Ray Love Is Work John Kalangis Six Figures David Christensen The Zero Sum Raphael Assaf 2006 The Secret Life of Happy People (La vie secrète des gens heureux) Stéphane Lapointe Fiona Hughes, "Happy People tops Whistler Fest awards". Vancouver Courier, December 6, 2006. Immigrant Bojan Bodružić "Six Canadian films competing for big prize at Whistler film fest". Vancouver Sun, November 9, 2006. The Point Joshua Dorsey SK8 S. Wyeth Clarkson Steel Toes David Gow, Mark Adam Who Loves the Sun Matt Bissonnette Craft awards: Catherine De Léan (The Secret Life of Happy People) and Andrew Walker (Steel Toes), Best Performance 2007 Continental, a Film Without Guns (Continental, un film sans fusil) Stéphane Lafleur Yvonne Zacharias, "Lafleur takes top prize at Whistler; Continental, A Film Without Guns judged to be best new Canadian feature". Vancouver Sun, December 3, 2007. Amal Richie Mehta Glen Schaefer, "Whistler Film Festival draws fans, artists, deal-makers". The Province, November 1, 2007. Family Motel Helene Klodawsky Portage Sascha Drews, Ezra Krybus River Mark Wihak Walk All Over Me Robert Cuffley Craft awards: Maya Batten-Young (River) and Rupinder Nagra (Amal), Best Performance 2008 3 Seasons Jim Donovan Fred Lee, "Whistler fest shines on Canadian films; Justice gala supports first responders". National Post, December 13, 2008. The Baby Formula Alison Reid "Sutherland oversees Whistler prize judging". The Province, November 5, 2008. Before Tomorrow (Le jour avant le lendemain) Marie-Hélène Cousineau, Madeline Ivalu Girlfriend Experience Ileana Pietrobruno Nurse.Fighter.Boy Charles Officer Who Is KK Downey? Pat Kiely, Darren Curtis Craft awards: Clark Johnson (Nurse.Fighter.Boy) and Carinne Leduc (3 Seasons), Best Performance 2009 Vital Signs (Les Signes vitaux) Sophie Deraspe Marke Andrews, "Quebec director Sophie Deraspe wrote, directed and shot Borsos winner". Vancouver Sun, December 7, 2009. Defendor Peter Stebbings "Flesh-toned movie vies for Borsos prize". The Province, November 3, 2009. Machotaildrop Corey Adams, Alex Craig Skid Love Ryan Arnold The Wild Hunt Alexandre Franchi Year of the Carnivore Sook-Yin Lee Craft awards: Marie-Hélène Bellavance (Vital Signs) and Woody Harrelson (Defendor), Best Performance
2010s