Film submissions for COTB 2027 are now open through FilmFreeway. The 22nd Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival will be held on January 27-31, 2027. For more information on how to submit a film, go to https://filmfreeway.com/CinemaontheBayouFilmFestival
Thank you to all who came to see "Pointe Noire" over the last two weeks and for supporting Cinema on the Bayou through your ticket purchases and donations!!!
Cinema on the Bayou presented four screenings of Pat Mire's latest narrative feature film "Pointe Noire" in Lafayette on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at Cite des Arts, 109 Vine, Downtown Lafayette, LA. Additional screenings were held on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.; Saturday, February 28th at 7:00 p.m.; and Sunday, March 1st at 2:00 p.m.
Pat Mire and his co-screenwriter Rebecca Hudsmith were in attendance for all film screenings and Q&A's afterwards, along with several local actors and crew. All ticket proceeds and donations will benefit Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival.
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)