You Only Die Once

For the past two years, GRFF has been thrilled to partner with the Hospice of Waterloo Region for our annual short film competition, You Only Die Once: #YODOCONTEST

This short film contest calls on filmmakers and storytellers to focus on death as a part of living. We want you to use your artistic expression to create a film of 3 minutes (excluding credits) in length that explores and educates others about the journeys of grief through death, dying and bereavement in a personally unique way that has a positive influence on the community.

You Only Die Once: #YODOContest is about living well until you die. This phrase reminds us that life matters right until the end and that how we live to the end does matter. While death is a natural part of life, many people distance themselves from the topic of death which has created a death-denying culture. This “death denial” causes us to avoid the subject leaving us unprepared to support our family, friends, neighbours and community to live well until the end of life. Hospice of Waterloo Region believes that living well until we die begins by challenging our ”death denial” and igniting the conversation about death, dying and bereavement.
This film competition is open to amateur and professional filmmakers and storytellers aged 20 years and older that currently reside within the Region of Waterloo.

We are proud to announce the 2022 winners who will be screened at this year’s festival

Congratulations to:
1st: A.I. by MarkRamitt
2nd: My Roommate, The Grim Reaper by Amanda Sevigny
Hon. Mention: Our Time With Him by Brayden Morin

To learn more about the contest and the Hospice of Waterloo Region visit  hospicewaterloo.ca/yodo-contest/