2026 Festival - 7-23 Aug.
15 DAYS OF FANTASTIC FILM ... CELEBRATE WITH US

FESTIVAL AWARDS

Audience; Shorts; The Gibson

The Voting

Every year the Chichester International Film Festival audiences vote for their favourite films in four categories: 'Premieres, Previews & New Release'; 'Documentaries'; 'Retrospectives/Classics'; and 'Short Film, however this is not an audience award in our traditional sense, but rather a jury of 10 audience members who have voted. Below you will find the top ranked in each section.

The scores are calculated after each audience member gives the viewed films a score from 1 to 5. These votes are then revised according to how many people saw the film, with films attracting less than 10 votes not considered.

For the second year, we have also included The Gibson Award, which is voted by the two people who between them have programmed every Chichester International Film Festival (Roger Gibson and Walter Francisco).

THE GIBSON AWARD

An Award judged by Roger Gibson (Founder of the Festival and Chichester Cinema) and Walter Francisco (Festival Director) which is given to the film which best embodies the qualities that Chichester Cinema and the Chichester International Film Festival have championed in film since 1979.

Traits include (but not limited to): Innovative - Authentic - Culturally Significant - Technically Excellent - Challenging - Original

The 2nd Annual Gibson Award goes to:

OSLO STORIES TRILOGY (Nor)
Dag Johan Hagerud

BEST FEATURE FILM - AUDIENCE AWARD

1st: SOULEYMANE'S STORY (Fra)
2nd: SANTOSH (Ind)
3rd: DIAGNOSIS DISSENT (Ukr)

THE FLOOD
YOUNG HEARTS
CIELO
AICHA
THE TASTERS
RED PATH
BETTER DAYS (Surprise Film)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM - AUDIENCE AWARD

1st: CARAVAGGIO (UK)
2nd: LISTEN UP: THE LIVES OF QUINCY JONES (USA)
3rd: I WILL REVENGE THIS WORLD WITH LOVE (Arm)

FALLS THE SHADOW
SAFFRON ROBE
THIS IS YOUR CAPTAIN SPEAKING
THE GOLDEN SPURTLE
LAGUNARIA
JAPANESE AVANT-GARDE PIONEERS
MOTHER VERA

BEST RETROSPECTIVE FILM - AUDIENCE AWARD

1st: SUNRISE (USA)
2nd: THE DRESSMAKER (Aus)
3rd: LEE (USA)

BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN (PET SHOP BOYS SCORE)
THE LUNCHBOX
THE ODD COUPLE
THE READER
THE APARTMENT
HONEYSUCKLE ROSE
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

SHORT FILMS - AWARD

1st: PEREGRINE (UK)
2nd: FROM MOTHER WITH LOVE (UK)
3rd: ALL WE HAVE (UK)