Canadian International Comedy Film Festival
# Canadian International Comedy Film Festival

The Canadian International Comedy Film Festival (CICFF), formerly the Shärt International Comedy Film Festival (SICFF), is a comedy film festival that takes place in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, each February.

The 10th festival took place on 8 October 2022, at the Cinematheque theatre and the Park Theatre.

## History

The festival was established by Andrew Wall and David Rabsch in 2013 as the Shärt International Comedy Film Festival (SICFF), funded through a grant by a Winnipeg family via the Shärt Foundation. The festival acrimoniously parted ways with the Foundation in 2018 and, following legal proceedings during that year's festival, it was revived in 2019 as the Canadian International Comedy Film Festival.

The 8th festival was scheduled for 29 February 2020, to take place at the Park Theatre, Winnipeg.

## Awards

The awards offered (as of 2022) are:

* Best Canadian Comedy Film Award — Best film from a Canadian filmmaker
* Best International Comedy Film Award — Best comedy film from a country other than Canada
* Best Mockumentary Award — The best comedic documentary-style film
* Peoples Choice Award — Best film as chosen by the audience as well as online voters during the festival
* Rom Com Award — Best romantic comedy film
* The Select Award — "The film most loved by the CICFF board of governors"
* Shorty Award — The best film under 1 minute

In addition to the above, the festival also occasionally gives special awards depending on the film and year.

### Winners

**2021**

| Award | Film | Filmmaker(s) | Country of origin |
| - | - | - | - |
| Select Trophy Award | Meanwhile, at the Abandoned Factory… | Michael Cusack | Australia |
| Best Canadian Film Award | The Date | Taylor Olson (director) Bob Mann (writer) | Canada |
| Best International Film Award | Cash Stash | Martin Darondeau and Enya Baroux | France |
| Shorty Award | Follow | Yoh Komaya | Japan |
| Best Mockumentary Award | Planet Nature World: Muskoka | Josef Beeby (director) Josef Beeby, Leete Stetson, Grace Smith (writers) | Canada |
| Local Hero Award | Mort Through the Looking Glass | Luke Whitmore (director) Luke Whitmore, Tony Hinds (writers) | Canada |
| Spirit Award | That Was Awesome! | Arlen Konopaki (director) Kevin Gillese (writer) | USA |
| Best Rom Com Award | Coffee With Exes | Brett A. Hart (director) Jessica Bishop (writer) | USA |
| Best Stand-Up Award | Story Time with Joey Rinaldi | Louis Kent (director) Joey Rinaldi (writer) | USA |
| Best Electrocution of a Child | Truth Hertz | Shaun Majumder | Canada |
| Best Musical Award | Naked Pictures | Michael Coburn (director) Rhiannon Hopkins (writer) | UK |
| Best Canadian Feature Award | Wharf Rats | Jason Arsenault (director) Robbie Carruthers, Jason Arsenault, Dennis Trainor (writers) | Canada |
| Best International Feature Award | Pretty Men (My Bittersweet Life) | Kim Jung Wook (director) Lee Byoung Hyun (writer) | S. Korea |
| Best Romantic Feature Award | Cream | Nóra Lakos (director) Fruzsina Fekete, Nóra Lakos, Yvonne Kerékgyártó (writers) | Hungary |

**2019**

| Award | Film | Filmmaker(s) | Country of origin |
| - | - | - | - |
| Select Trophy Award | Opening Night | Ryan Glista | USA |
| Peoples Choice Award | Party Animal | Trevor Kristjanson | Canada |
| Best Rom Com Award | Mind F*#k | Sherill Turner & Louise Munro | UK |
| Shorty Award | Quick Thoughts About Rainbows | Ian Johnston | Canada |
| Best Mockumentary Award | The Lightsaber Maker | Jeremy Brown | Canada |
| Best Canadian Film Award | Cahoots | Jon Mann | Canada |
| Best International Film Award | Ladylike | Tel Benjamin | Australia |

**2018**

| Award | Film | Filmmaker(s) | Country of origin |
| - | - | - | - |
| Select Trophy Award | Jim’s a Pineapple | Blake Fraser | Australia |
| Peoples Choice Award | Fun Fun Street | Carter Hadlow & Jared Adams | Canada |
| Best Rom Com Award | Rekindled | Erin Brown Thomas | USA |
