Gringa directed by EJ Foerster and Marny Eng which received its Canadian Premiere at the festival, has been voted the winner of the Audience Award of 22nd edition of the Whistler Film Festival.

Gringa features Steve Zahn (White Lotus) starring as a well-meaning yet clueless father coaching a ragtag women’s futbol team in rural Mexico. He reunites with his almost grown-up daughter Marge, played by Jess Gabor, after the death of her nearly perfect mother (Judy Greer). The film takes viewers on a heartwarming journey as they learn that a family can be put back together, even if all you have are missing pieces.

A close runner-up as an audience favorite is Buffy Sainte-Marie: Carry It On, directed by Madison Thomas. The subject of the documentary, Canadian singer-songwriter Buffy Sainte-Marie, was also honoured at the festival with a Luminary Award, presented to an outstanding individual who has achieved international success in their career, inspiring and lighting the way for others. Thomas, the film’s director, is an alumna of the Whistler Film Festival Indigenous Filmmaker Fellowship program.