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 third 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 3rd Annual Gibson Award goes to:

BERLIN HERO (Nor)
Wolfgang Becker

BEST FEATURE FILM - AUDIENCE AWARD

1st: BERLIN HERO (Ger)
2nd: JUST AN ILLUSION (Fra)
3rd: SANTIAGO: THE CAMINO THERAPY (Fra/Spa)

THE MONEY MAKER
A TIME IN ETERNITY
QUEEN AT SEA
THE PORTUGUESE HOUSE
THE YELLOW TIE
THE SUMMER BOOK
EVERYBODY DIGS BILL EVANS

BEST DOCUMENTARY FILM - AUDIENCE AWARD

1st: THE CYCLE OF LOVE (UK/India)
2nd: LIFE SUPPORT (UK)
3rd: AMERICAN DOCTOR (USA/Palestine)

THE STORKS OF CHERNOBYL
BRUNELLO: THE GRACIOUS VISIONARY
AMR: DYING TO CHANGE THE WORLD
DON’T FORGET ME
GLASTONBURY THE MOVIE
VIVE LE PUNK
MOTHER VERA
BETTER GO MAD IN THE WILD

BEST RETROSPECTIVE FILM - AUDIENCE AWARD

1st: THE WAY WE WERE (USA)
2nd: LA GRANDE ILLUSION (Fra)
3rd: THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (Fra)

A LATE QUARTET
AFTERIMAGE
LE BOUCHER
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
LA FEMME INFIDÈLE
THE TRUTH
I'M STILL HERE

SHORT FILMS - AWARD

1st: MEET FRANKIE (UK)
2nd: DROPPING (UK)
3rd: BETWEEN THE PIERS (UK) (tied)
3rd: KING KARNO (USA) (tied)