CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival (WSFF) announced the winners of the Festival’s 2011 awards. Nine awards and over $90,000 in cash and prizes were presented to Canadian and international filmmakers.
One of only four Canadian festivals accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences®, WSFF Canadian award winners are eligible for Genie Awards, while winners of the awards for Best Live-Action Short and Best Animated Short become eligible for the Academy Awards®. “The jury was stunned by the talent and originality found in this year’s competitive programming,” said Eileen Arandiga, Festival Director. “With 95 films in competition, this year’s race for these prestigious awards was more rigorous than ever before.”
The Bravo!FACT Award for Best Canadian Short and a cash prize of $5,000 was captured by director Martin Thibaudeau for COLD BLOOD (SANG FROID) (Canada). The jury remarked: “This deftly-scripted emotional family drama doesn’t waste a single frame and caused the jury’s hearts to beat faster, and eyes to water.”
The Deluxe Award for Best Live Action Short was awarded to Rudi Rosenberg’s AGLAÉE (France) garnering him $2,500 in cash and eligibility for next year’s Academy Awards®. The jury remarked: “This stand-out teenage drama captivated the jury with its outstanding young performances and its truthful portrayal of adolescence, in all its beauty and ugliness. A film directed with brio that is unsettling and above all else, refreshing.”
The Kodak Award for Best Cinematography in a Canadian Short was presented to Cinematographer Ian Lagarde for Annick Blanc’s film NOWHERE ELSEWHERE (AU MILIEU DE NULLE PART AILLEURS) (Canada) long with $2,000 in 35mm stock. The jury remarked: “The film transported us to a world where anxiety meets the naïveté of childhood thanks to a remarkable cinematography which gives a very specific tone to this cinematographic gem.”
The Panasonic Award For Best Documentary Short went to Susan Koenen’s I AM A GIRL!, (Netherlands). The jury remarked: “The winner of Best Documentary Short is a film that tackles a teenager’s challenging transformation, using an effervescent approach to its music, cinematography and symbolism to portray a femininity and innocence that is unexpectedly accurate.” The prize package includes a Camcorder, LCD television, Blu-ray player and a digital stills camera (total package $5,000).
The Best Animated Short honour and a Panasonic digital video camcorder (and Academy Award eligibility) went to Iain Gardner for THE TANNERY (UK). The jury remarked: “This lovely parable about the mysteries of the cycle of life is as beautiful as it is touching. A film that will stay with you long after viewing.”
The Best Experimental Short honour along with a Panasonic digital video camcorder went to Kiitos, Hannes Vartiainen and Pekka Veikkolainen for THE DEATH OF AN INSECT (ERÄÄN HYÖNTEISEN TUHO) (Finland). The jury remarked: “This particular short engaged the jury by its use of various innovative audio and visual techniques which evoked curiosity, wonder, disgust and fascination.”
The Screenplay Giveaway Prize, a package of goods and services worth over $70,000 was awarded to David Widdicombe for his script WAKE.
The TELUS Audience Choice Award honour and a $5,000 cash prize went to Jacob Schuh and Max Lang for THE GRUFFALO (UK, Germany). Chosen out of 275 films in the festival, The Gruffalo captured people’s attention.
This year’s WSFF brought some of the best and most creative short films I’ve seen in a long time. Hope some of you got to see these award winners along with other great films.
