Award Selection Teases Hottest New Ski Movies of 2026, From Big Names to Breakthrough Amateurs
The International Freesports Film Festival, better known amongst action sports film enthusiasts as iF3, has released its film picks for the 2026 awards season. In the pro category, more than 40 films made by some of the best production companies and featuring top-level skiers and snowboarders have been selected.
A panel of esteemed judges, including skiers Will Wesson, Jess Hotter, and podcast host Xavier Mayrand, will choose winners across categories. In the Amateur category, Film and Skier of the Year will be awarded. Female, Male, and Breakthrough Skier of the Year will also be chosen for skiers.
Lastly, the pro film category will have awards for Best Short Movie, Best Street Segment, Best Backcountry Segment, Best Storytelling, Jury’s Pick (which will be dedicated to Kai Smart), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, and Film of the Year.
The list of nominees is pretty sizeable, so there are more than a few exciting films in there that we’ll definitely be watching when they’re released. Some of skiing’s most acclaimed production companies like Blank Collective, CK9 Studios, and Matchstick Productions all have films nominated. Blank Collective’s last feature film, Cold Calls, was pretty excellent, as is just about everything Nelson-based CK9 has ever made (How Did We Get Here?, Yours Truly, Passage, Over Time, Nerve).
Matchstick Productions has been a staple in the world of ski films for more than three decades. While generally ski media has somewhat moved away from the annual-film-huck-fest model, Matchstick’s consistent films have been a staple of the fall season for this long for a reason, and we can’t wait to see what they come up with next.
Some of the most talented skiers around also have projects on the list of 2026 nominees. Craig Murray has two films on the list, Cody Cirillo has a film called Alto up for nomination, which is sure to have some kind of epic in it, and Manon Loschi has a project in the mix.
The full list of nominees can be found on iF3’s website. The awards will be presented in Whistler, BC from October 21-24.
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