Where Canadian Films Are Heading - Tomorrow's Brightest Newcomers Shine

As June winks at us (yes, already) it seems the right time to unveil some of the films Canada's brightest new film-making stars have been working on.

In an effort to combine all the work from across the country, unfurling it one city at a time, the fine people at TIFF have built a consortium of film schools from coast to coast and picked their top 10 films.

The first presentation premiered last night in Toronto and the next, and only other chance, will showcase in Vancouver this upcoming Saturday (May 26) at the VIFF Centre. Here's the rundown of the films and where in the country they're from.

APRIL DOESN’T HURT HERE – Matthew Yim (University of Regina) – Hometown: Regina, Sask.

ERASERMEN – Jeff Garneau (York University) – Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta

THE GREAT MALDINI – Lee Ventura (Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning) – Hometown: Waterloo, Ont.

IN HERE – Roman Tchjen (Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning) – Hometown: Toronto, Ont.

LIFE DOESN’T FRIGHTEN ME – Stephen Dunn (Ryerson University) – Hometown: St. John's, Newfoundland.

LINGO – Bahar Noorizadeh (University of British Columbia) – Hometown: Vancouuver

OPEN INVITATION – Jae Woo Park (OCAD University) – Hometown: Seoul, Korea

SAX – Dean Heezen (Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning) 

SWIFT – Kristen Campbell (Emily Carr University of Art + Design) 

TAM – Toan Nguyen (Emily Carr University of Art + Design) – Hometown: Surrey, BC

Established in 2001, the Film School Consortium has grown into a collaborative network of 17 film schools from six provinces and currently consists of the following establishments: Capilano University, Concordia University, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Langara College, Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, OCAD University, Queen's University, Ryerson University, SAIT Polytechnic , Sheridan Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Regina, University of Toronto, University of Windsor, and York University.

Tickets are currently on sale; the programme runs approximately 90 minutes. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit TIFF Bell Lightbox located at Reitman Square, 350 King Street West, Toronto, Ont., call 416.599.TIFF(8433) and 1.888.599.8433 or visittiff.net/studentfilmshowcase. Vancity Theatre is located at 1181 Seymour Street, Vancouver, B.C.; visit viff.org/theatre for tickets and details.

Canadian #Shortfilms enjoy banner spring; Seattle, Cannes, #LeoAwards

Spring has sprung in the Canadian Short Film scene with an abundance of our country's best work getting noticed in more corners that this little blogger can cover.

Loyal readers already know about the upcoming CBC Short Film FaceOff and our films selected for Cannes, not to mention the showcase Canada has invested in at the Cannes Marketplace.

Now, Seattle International Film Festival has revealed their program and includes a number of Canadian short films, including a Shorts Report favorite, A Paris Quintet in Practice Makes Perfect. Other SIFF highlights from their selections include, Tyler Funk's hilarious FTW.

Josh Levy's The Immigrant has a stellar comedy cast; Scott Thompson, Dave Foley, Michael Cera, Margaret Cho, Will Forte.

Certainly not one to be missed, and this is just a taste of SIFF's schedule.

I make a point of attending their ShortsFest program every year. Last year, I was honored to get to be on the jury.  This year, I'll return to enjoy their weekend long celebration of the best in short films.  Can't wait!

Right here in BC, the Leo Awards announced their nominees this week. The Leo's (BC's cinematic achievement awards) have struggled for legitimacy for years and it seems they might be finally starting to get some headway.

Perhaps this is due to a higher quality of jury who have better taste?  Anyway, whatever they've done to change things this year, they've done it right.

Nominees in the Shorts category include popular Joanna Makes a Friend (most nominated short film and seemingly on everyone's list lately!) as well as Shorts Report favorites Alchemy & Other Perfections, The Provider and At Lunchtime; A Story of Love.

Seems no doubt to me now that the world of Short Films in Canada is beyond exploding. It is thrilling to witness this expansion in the last three years.  More to come as the year unfolds.  Keep up the good work everyone!

More #CdnFilm #Shortfilms Cannes-bound thanks to @Telefilm_Canada

Renowned Canadian film programmer Danny Lennon has made his selections, and those lucky short films will now travel with him to the Cannes Film Festival market.

In what has become an annual event, Lennon's Telefilm Canada funded programming Not Short On Talent  makes up the exclusive entry representing Canada's newest cinematic voices, in the markets' international short film showcase.

Drawing from a cross section of films in every province and territory (and including the Canadian films chosen for competition at Cannes), this program proves the robust and vibrant climate of film making that is bursting out of every region of our country.

The film going to the Cannes Marketplace are:

A River In The Woods by Christian Sparkes, produced by Away Films

Amelia by Andrew Silke, produced by Silke Productions

Anata O Korosu by Philippe David Gagné and Jean-Marc E. Roy, produced by Jean-Marc E. Roy

With Jeff (Avec Jeff, à moto) by Marie-Ève Juste, produced by Voyous Films

Barefoot by Danis Goulet, produced by Treeline Pictures

Bydlo by Patrick Bouchard, produced by the National Film Board of Canada

Herd Leader (Chef de meute) by Chloé Robichaud, produced by La Boîte à Fanny and Les Films de la meute 

Doubles With Slight Pepper by Ian Harnarine, produced by Ian Harnarine, Jason Harnarine and Ryan Silbert

Gephyrophobia by Caroline Monnet, produced by Caroline Monnet

Goths! On The Bus! by Karen Asmundson and Jaimz Asmundson, produced by Jaimz Asmundson

Joanna Makes a Friend by Jeremy Lutter, produced by Broken Mirror Films and Like Minded Media

Kaspar by Diane Obomsawin, produced by the National Film Board of Canada

Late by Jason Goode, produced by Jenkinson / Goode Productions

The Near Future (Le futur proche) by Sophie Goyette, produced by Sophie Goyette

Margo Lily by Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart, produced by Lithium Studios Productions and Dark Hope Entertainment

Keep A Modest Head (Ne crâne pas sois modeste) by Deco Dawson, produced by Endstop and Elsewhere, and Microclimat Films

Ne pas reculer by Dominique Laurence, produced by Kino

Not Far From The Abattoir by Kyle Thomas, produced by North Country Cinema

Board (Planche à l'œil) by Ian Lagarde, produced by Annick Blanc and Ian Lagarde

The Horse Latitudes by Duncan McDowall, produced by Antler Films

The Tape by Matt Austin Sadowski, produced by Spontaneously Combusted Films

Throat Song by Miranda de Pencier, produced by Northwood Productions

Everything Is All Right (Tout va mieux) by Robin Aubert, produced by Lynx Films

We Refuse To Be Cold by Alexander Carson, produced by North Country Cinema

When You Sleep by Ashley McKenzie, produced by Grassfire Films

Canadian #ShortFilm chosen for competition at Cannes.

And so it begins, the official 2012 Film Festival season kicked off today with the announcement from Cannes Film Festival of their short films in competition.

Most exciting, Quebec's 24 year filmmaker Chloe Robichaud's latest short film Chef de Meute has been plucked from the thousands of international submissions to compete.  Already a veteran filmmaker, Robichaud now joins the rare ranks of Canadians representing at the most prestigious film festival in the world.

Congratulations Chloe, thanks for kicking off the 2012 festival journey for us Canadians!

For a full list of Short Films competing in Cannes in 2012, go here.