Cinema on the Bayou Film Society will present "Best of the 21st Cinema on the Bayou Film Fest" film screenings and discussions at Cite des Arts beginning on July 22, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. with the presentation of the documentary feature R. Roussil, From the Ground Up," winner of the 2026 COTB Director's Choice Award. For more information and tickets go to https://cinemaonthebayou2026.eventive.org/schedule/best-of-the-21st-cinema-on-the-bayou-fest-r-roussil-from-the-ground-up-6a331b59b04c43199f1b55db
Film submissions for COTB 2027 are now open through FilmFreeway. The 22nd Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival will be held on January 20-27, 2027. For more information on how to submit a film, go to https://filmfreeway.com/CinemaontheBayouFilmFestival
CINEMA ON THE BAYOU 2026 ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS
The 21st Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival opened on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at Cité des Arts, 109 Rue Vine, Lafayette, Louisiana, with the United States Premiere of R. Roussil, From the Ground Up with award-winning, Montreal-based director Maxime-Claude L’Écuyer in attendance, and closed on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, with a celebration of Japanese cinema with Tokoyo-based filmmaker Taichi Ishikawa in attendance. Over 80 filmmakers and film professionals from across the United States and Canada as well as Japan participated in the eight-day Festival. Thank you to all who attended and to all our wonderful volunteers, audience members, and supporters!
Below is a list of this year's Festival "goujon caille" award winners:
Director's Choice Award: R. Roussil, From the Gound Up / Canada / Maxime-Claude L'Ecuyer, Dir. (in attendance)
Best Narrative Feature Award: 1+1+1 Life, Love, Chaos / Canada / Yanie Dupont-Hebert, Dir. (in attendance)
Narrative Feature Special Jury Award: Hallelujah Station / U.S.A. / Christian Walker, Dir. (in attendance)
Best Documentary Feature Award: Florent Vollant - INNU / Canada / Isabelle Longnus, Dir. (in attendance)
Documentary Feature Special Jury Award: Ville Jacques-Carton / Canada / Jean-Marc E. Roy, Andre Forcier, Dirs.
Best Narrative Short Award: 10 Days to Eternity / Japan / Kenji Qurata, Dir.
Narrative Short Special Jury Awards:
Come Back / Ireland / Helen O'Reilly, Dir.
Aventure FM / Canada / Martin C. Pariseau, Dir.
The Shore of Empathy / Japan / Taichi Ishikawa, Dir. (in attendance)
Best Documentary Short Award: Goodbye, Hunter / Canada / Emile Dontigny, Dir.
Documentary Short Special Jury Award: The Heir and The Hare / Canada / Benoit Masse, Dir.
Best Animated Short Award: The Girl Who Cried Pearls / Canada / Chris Lavis, Maciek Szczerbowski, Dirs. (a 2026 Academy Award Nominee for Best Animated Short)
Best Experimental Short Award: Women of Water / Austria / Editta Braun, Dir.
Best Louisiana Narrative Film Award: Hey, Juniper! / U.S.A. / Emily Slaughter Carver, Dir. (in attendance)
Best Louisiana Documentary Film Award: Delacroix / U.S.A. / Keely Kernan, Dir.
Le Train Bleu Award: Notes from a Poet / Canada / Simon Garez, Dir. (in attendance)
Inspiration Award: Le Grand Vide / Canada / Jessy Dupont, Dir. (in attendance)
Audience Award: Hey, Juniper! / U.S.A. / Emily Slaughter Carver, Dir. (in attendance)
