DRIFF: Alumni Spotlight 2025

Last year was the most recent year of DRIFF and the final spotlight of the series.  In this spotlight we would like to honor Nadine Jin for winning the Best Student Film award for her film JUK and Eva Thomas for winning the people’s choice award for her film Nika and Madison. 

  After showing JUK at DRIFF, Nadine’s work has been recognized by La Cinef, of the Cannes Film Festival.  Her film was chosen as one of ten out of over 3000 other films in the running from film schools around the world to be awarded with prizes this coming May.  Along with awarding the nominated filmmakers, the films will also be screened at the festival.

Since DRIFF Eva has been showcasing her film across Canada, the U.S., and New Zealand with its theatrical release in Canada this year in March.  As awards season approaches, the film has received nominations for the Writers Guild of Canada as well as two Canadian Screen Award nominations for Editing and Sound Editing.  DRIFF has supported Eva long before her film Nika and Madison by supporting an older film of Eva’s Redlights, so this honorary spotlight is well deserved, and we are proud to honor her journey thus far.  As a personal message from Eva for future filmmakers, she would like to share that it is important to stay persistent and open to learning because over time it will help you find your voice in your path.