YES, Cinema on the Bayou 2021 is now open for submissions! The annual eight-day Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival is an international juried film festival dedicated to presenting narrative, documentary, animated and experimental films and filmmakers with truly original voices in one of the friendliest, most unique cultures in the world here in the heart of Cajun Country. COTB is also committed to promoting both established and emerging filmmakers and the relationship-building that is crucial to their continued work. The dedication and commitment of COTB in this regard continue regardless of the pandemic -- we will have a juried Festival in January 2021, whether in person or, if necessary, on line, or a combination of the two.

We invite all filmmakers to submit to the 16th Cinema on the Bayou Film Festival, January 20-27, 2021, and join us for one of the best regional film festivals in the world.

The COTB 2020 Award winners were:

Best Narrative Feature

Les fleurs oubliées (Forgotten Flowers) - CANADA (Québec) – Director André Forcier in attendance

Director’s Choice Narrative Feature

Philophobia – U.K. – Director Guy Davies in attendance

Special Jury Award Narrative Feature

Pour mieux t’aimer (To Better Love You) - CANADA (New Brunswick) – Co-Director Denise Bouchard and Co-Director Gilles Doiron and Editor Martin Goguen in attendance

Things I Do For Money – CANADA (Toronto) – Director Warren Sonoda, Writer Gary Nolan, Producer Avi Federgreen and Actors Maximilian Aoki and Theodor Aoki in attendance

Inside the Rain – U.S.A. – Director Aaron Fisher in attendance

Best Narrative Short

Unspoken – U.S.A. - Director Andrew Ascough

Director’s Choice Narrative Short

Vieux Revolver (Old Revolver) - FRANCE – Director Shaan Couture and Actor Yamee Couture in attendance

Special Jury Award Narrative Short

All Around Cowboy – U.SA. – Director Cole Brewer; Actor Knut Brekke in attendance

Oksana and Victor - CANADA (Ontario) – Director Mark Datuin and Actors Ekaterina Baker and Nicolas Sampedro-Sillmann in attendance

Juste toi et moi (Just You and Me)– CANADA (Québec) - Director Sandrine Brodeur-Desrosiers

Best Actor in a Feature Film

Roy Dupuis - Les fleurs oubliées (Forgotten Flowers) - CANADA (Québec)

Best Actor in a Short Film

Knut Brekke – All Around Cowboy – U.S.A.

Best Documentary Feature

Des histoires inventés (Imaginary Tales) - CANADA (Québec)- Director Jean Marc E. Roy; Subject André Forcier in attendance

Director’s Choice Documentary Feature Award

Vaillancourt: regard si c’est beau (Vaillancourt: Isn’t It Beautiful) - CANADA (Québec)

Special Jury Award Documentary Feature

Entre mer et mur (A Wall Within) – CANADA (Québec) – Director Catherine Veaux-Logeat in attendance

Que l’amour (When Love Is All You Have) - FRANCE - Director Laetitia Mikles

The Raven and the Seagull – DENMARK – Director Lasse Lau in attendance

Best Documentary Short

Train Hopper – CANADA (Québec) - Director Amelie Hardy

Director’s Choice Documentary Short

Belle-Ile en Acadie - CANADA (New Brunswick) – Director Phil Comeau in attendance

Special Jury Award Documentary Short

L’esprit du violon trad - CANADA (Québec) – Director André Gladu in attendance

Katatjatuuk Kangirsumi (Throat Singing in Kangirsuk) - CANADA (Québec) - Directors Eva Kaukai, Manon Chamberland

Mon père, Elvis (My Dad, Elvis) - CANADA (Québec) - Director Eric Piccoli

Three Seasons of Sarony – CANADA (Québec)- Director Christian Fleury in attendance

Best Animation Short

A Japanese Boy Who Draws – JAPAN - Director Masanao Kawajiri

Special Jury Award Animation Short

Shumshu - JAPAN - Director Ryo Okawara

Best Experimental Feature

Electric Swan – GREECE - Director Konstantina Kotzamani

Vu pas vue (Under the Gaze) - CANADA (Québec) - Mireille Dansereau

Best Experimental Short

Drei Atlas (Three Atlas) - HAITI / CANADA (Québec) - Director Miryam Charles

Special Jury Award Experimental Short

I Am He Who Created Himself / U.S.A. - Director Emma Penaz Eisner

Le Train Bleu Award

Return to Calais / U.S.A – Director Edith Goldenhar in attendance

Inspiration Award

Barefoot : The Mark Baumer Story / U.S.A. – Director Julie Sokolow in attendance

Cinematography Award

When We Kill The Creators / U.S.A. – Director Cynthia Mort and Actor Shelby Lynne in attendance

Audience Award

When We Kill The Creators / U.S.A. – Director Cynthia Mort and Actor Shelby Lynne in attendance

Louisiane-Acadie Award

Phil Comeau

Gilles Doiron