Storyteller's Contest
Calling Emerging Storytellers who are 16+!
Submit your film treatment or project outline to bring compelling social justice concepts to life – showcasing creativity, purpose, and impact. For more information on content requirements and how to submit, keep scrolling down this page!
Please note this contest is only for BC Residents.
Filmmaker Mentorship Prizes
First Prize: $300
Second Prize: $200
Third Prize: $100
About the Youth Storytelling Contest
The BC Youth Storytelling Contest is an initiative of the Sundar Prize Film Festival Luminaries Program. Its purpose is to identify and support young creators who are passionate about storytelling and filmmaking. By providing mentorship, learning opportunities, and public recognition, the program helps youth develop both their creative voice and their confidence.
Winners of the 2025 BC Youth Storytelling Contest
Grand Prize Winner
Kexin (Coco) Chen, “Facade”
Vancouver, BC, 18 years old
A society where people wear masks to survive, to perform, and to achieve. But when the mask becomes a burden, the cost is losing oneself. Told through the lens of animation, this story stood out for its universal message and creative potential.
Second Prize Winner
Jane Ifunanya Diokpo, “Crash and Deliver”
Burnaby, BC, 23 years old
A burned-out motivational speaker accidentally becomes the leader of a movement he never intended to start, colliding with two gig workers whose chaotic love story reshapes his journey. The narrative impressed the jury with its originality, depth, and fresh voice in the dark comedy and romance genres.
Third Prize Winner
Wendy Shenglin Zhang, “The Name I Choose” Vancouver, BC, 16 years old A Chinese-Canadian girl reinvents herself at a new school, only to face ridicule over her cultural lunch. Forced to confront identity and belonging, she must choose whether to blend in or stand proudly in who she is. The story addresses a familiar challenge in multicultural school settings with heart and courage.
The grand prize winner received a $300 award and a mentorship with a local filmmaker. The second prize winner received $200, and the third prize winner received $100. All three winners will be offered mentorship opportunities and will be honoured during the Sundar Prize Film Festival Awards Ceremony in April 2026.
“The talent and vision shown by these young creators reaffirm why we launched the Luminaries Program,” said Sundar Prize Co-Founder and Sher Pride Founder Amar Sangha. “When youth have the chance to be seen, supported, and celebrated, they rise in remarkable ways. Their stories remind us of the power of courage, imagination, and lived experience in shaping the future of film and storytelling.”
Content Requirements
- Anonymous Submission: Do not include your name, email, or address on the script. The title page should contain only the project title.
- Document Length: Maximum 2 pages
- Format: PDF, Microsoft Word, or Google Docs
- Must be an original concept (no adaptations unless you own the rights)
Include the following:
- Project Title
- Log Line: A short genre-based summary (40 words or less)
- Genre, Format, Length, Language, and Target Audience (e.g., Short Documentary / 10 minutes / English / ages 14+, educational/festival circuit)
- Synopsis or Treatment: Introduction of characters, subjects, setting, and location
- Story arc, key moments, and emotional turning points
- Resolution, conclusion, or call to action
- Style and creative vision (e.g., camera techniques, tone, music, sound design)
- Optional: up to 3 images
- Please put “Storytellers Contest Submission – YOUR NAME” as the email subject
Multiple Entries: Allowed, but each must be submitted separately.
Jury for the 2025 BC Youth Storytelling Contest
Sidartha Murjani
Filmmaker | Writer | Director | Actor
Originally from Bali, Indonesia, and of Indian descent, Sidartha Murjani’s cinematic journey began with a full scholarship to the prestigious Vancouver Film School, where he honed his craft in acting and storytelling. Inspired by his grandfather’s wisdom-driven narratives, he founded Timeless Stories Films in 2016, a production company committed to creating stories that transcend time and resonate across generations.
Read Sidartha's Full Bio
Acting Career:
Sidartha‘s acting career includes a role in the television series Legion (2017), created by Noah Hawley, where he portrayed Wild Rusty Combs in the pilot episode. He also starred as Isaac Maffoud in Imposter (2023), a short film directed by Rafael Millán, which was featured at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. His early work includes a supporting role in The Specials (2015), which won Best North American Short at the International South Asian Film Festival (ISAFF), a Canadian Screen Award Qualifying Festival. He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Coffee at Laundromat (2016).
Filmmaking Career:
Transitioning into filmmaking, Sidartha wrote, directed, and starred in The Interview (2019), a drama exploring the pursuit of happiness, which won Best Short Film at ISAFF. In 2020, he created Gratitude, a heartfelt comedy that won Best Comedy. The following year, he co-directed, co-produced, and acted in the heist-comedy Remnants (2021), which played to a sellout crowd at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival. His animated short, Embrace (2021) was also selected for the festival, addressing men’s mental health through a creative lens.
In 2023, Sidartha expanded his international footprint with Tarian Tresna (Dance of Love), shot in Bali, Indonesia. The film, currently in post-production, follows a 12-year-old girl who believes she is the reincarnation of the goddess Sita. He also completed Chaturanga, a thriller inspired by his love for chess and strong visuals, serving as a proof of concept for his first feature film. Chaturanga has been recently selected for CAAMFest, the largest showcase for Asian American media in North America, and the Emerging Lens Cultural Film Festival, a Canadian Screen Award Qualifying Festival that highlights culturally diverse filmmakers.
Industry Involvement:
Beyond his filmmaking endeavors, Sidartha is deeply involved in the festival circuit. He serves as the Executive Director and Senior Programmer of the Sundar Prize Film Festival and the Director of Feature Programming at the Vancouver Asian Film Festival, championing diverse voices in cinema. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, further showcasing his commitment to supporting multicultural storytelling.
Currently, Sidartha is developing his debut feature film and a TV series, continuing to create thought-provoking, visually rich, and culturally resonant stories.
Ian Frayne
Actor | Writer | Festival Assistant
Ian Frayne was raised in Canada on the unceded territory of the Kwantlen, Semiahmoo, Matsqui and Katzie nations. He is a descendent of Celtic and Germanic settler-colonials and seeks a career in storytelling and education. He values curiosity, diligent work, and socially conscious endeavours. He aspires to share his curious mind and open heart while learning to be an active ally.
Read Ian's Full Bio
Ian first began to seek a career in storytelling from a young age leading his local community in games. As he grew, he learned more about the world through the pursuit of an acting career and quickly rose in the ranks at his community theatre. At his high school in Walnut Grove, he achieved one of the positions as top student in his writing class. After secondary school he wrote, produced, and started in numerous short films around Vancouver where he also works as a professional actor in TV. Ian recently graduated from Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s BA of Creative Writing and English program with distinction and now is studying to achieve his Masters in Classic and Contemporary Text at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
During that time, he had been studying acting part time across Metro Vancouver and with Deborah Aquila at the Aquila Studio. His work in the indie film world led him to become a founding member of the Sundar Prize Film Festival, where he currently assists as a juror and coordinator of the Student & Youth Luminaries program.
His credits cover his community theatre experience (2010-2016) that led him to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (2016) and Beauty and the Beast (2017) at WGSS. Ian’s professional TV credits include Sacred Lies (2019), Riverdale (2020), and Animal Control (2023), along with indie community films as an actor, writer, and producer. Most notably, Ian stared in Nightswimming (2021), co-wrote for RunNGun (2022), and is the creative lead of the Kingkiller Fanfilms (2020-2025).
Ian’s full CV can be found on his website: ianfrayne.com
Karen Wong
Karen Wong is the Executive Director of Moving Images Distribution, a non-profit dedicated to supporting Canadian media artists and connecting their works with audiences in educational, community, and cultural spaces. A passionate advocate for independent creators, Karen brings extensive experience in the arts and media sector.
Read Karen's Full Bio
Karen is deeply committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion, consistently championing underrepresented voices and ensuring that independent artists have the opportunity to share their stories. Her work reflects a respect for artists and a belief in the power of film to inspire dialogue, foster empathy, and spark meaningful social change. Through her role at Moving Images, Karen continues to create space for Canadian media artists to thrive, while helping audiences engage with stories that matter.
Swann Tsai
Swann Tsai was placed as a practicum student with the Sundar Prize Film Festival through the Kwantlen Polytechnic University ARTS program. She is in the final year of her undergraduate degree, studying English and Creative Writing. Alongside her academic work, Swann has taught and professionally trained as a competitive Hip-Hop choreography dancer since 2018.
Eryn Sakakibara
Eryn was a KPU practicum student.