The 27th Vancouver International Film Festival, which concluded its 16-day run on October 10, is pleased to announce the films that were top favourites and runners-up in the public voting for VIFF's audience awards. The winners of all awards, audience and juried, were announced prior to the closing gala film.

The VIFF Nonfiction Feature Award award went to the Mexican documentary BORN WITHOUT directed by the late Eva Norvind. Special Mention was given to Canada's FIERCE LIGHT: WHEN SPIRIT MEETS ACTION directed by Velcrow Ripper. The jury said, "BORN WITHOUT won the Nonfiction Feature Award for challenging our perceptions on being disabled through the life of one extraordinary man propelled by the love of family to live life to the fullest." The jury chose FIERCE LIGHT for special mention "for its power to involve and inspire us with a personal journey that combines spiritual beliefs with relevant social action." Fourteen features were in competition. The jury included Dimitri Eipides, film critic, veteran film programmer and founder/director of the Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival; Stan Fox, a director, producer and educator and director of our predecessor Vancouver Film Festival during the 1960s; and Melanie Friesen, producer and presenter of the monthly Cinema Salon at the Vancouver International Film Centre and former VIFF Forum producer. Juror Dimitri Eipides presented the award.