2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Summer & Its Rain

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Summer & Its Rain

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Joshua Simon's short film Summer & Its Rain as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best International Film.

Colour Couch Surfing

*****

The Official Final Deadline of the YoungCuts Film Festival was June 15th. While we will only announce our full selection of our Top 100 around July 15th and while there is still an opportunity for films that we haven't received yet to trickle in after the deadline, we thought that we would begin announcing some of the films that we know will be included in our Top 100.


These won't be announced in any kind of order and they should not be interpreted as any kind of ranking, just that we have all the material for this particular film and that we do consider it one of the Top 100 short films by filmmakers 25 and under that we have seen (and will see) out of more than a thousand films that we have screened from more than 30 countries.

*****

The Eyes Have It!

Summer & Its Rain

Joshua Simon

Directed by Joshua Simon
Written by Joshua Simon and Marjorie Teo

The YoungCuts Film Festival moved to Montreal from Toronto in 2006 and made the move permanent in 2007. Part of the reason for the move was a belief that we could attract more French films and more International films to the Festival based in Montreal - an International French city.

Imagine our delight (and frankly our surprise) receiving a film like Summer & Its Rain. As French as a kiss, and as light as a croissant, this film is a playful experiment that never forgets that story is revealed by character moments.

It seems strange to say it, but the best French film that we see this year may come from Singapore!

*****

A World Where Only Lava Lamps Have Colour

Runtime: 10 min : 35 sec
Completion: 2010
Country of Origin: Singapore
Language: French with English Sub-Titles
Synopsis: In a world that has lost its' color, a young woman uses music to restore vibrancy to her life.

*****

Trapped Between the Black Notes and the White Notes

Filmmaker Statement: Language is like a shade to me. I don't have to stick to one palette. This is not a French movie, it's a movie in French.

I come from little Singapore that has, since its independence, weaved all the other continents together with its embrace of communication, technology and culture.

The decision to have the narrative of Summer & Its Rain in French, was solely driven by the inspiration behind my main character - my cinematographer and music composer. She was extremely passionate about French everything. I'd speak to her and she would hear it in French.

*****

Living in a Black and White World

Filmmaker Bio: Growing up, Joshua Simon was raised by VHS tapes. Today at 21, he lives his everyday life immersed in film, music and dance. "I love writing music, I conceive a lot of scenes in my head that I write and weave into stories. I can't keep still. I love dancing and only last week realized how much I love making little movies. Not gonna stop."

Joshua is a graduate of the Film, Sound and Video program at Ngee Ann Polytechnic in Singapore.

Filmmaker Age: 20

 *****

The 2011 YoungCuts Film Festival will begin on Thursday, September 29th. Screenings will be at the Guzzo Spheretech beginning on Friday, September 30th. Stay tuned for details on how to enjoy the amazing films that we will be presenting including Summer & Its Rain!

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Teddybear

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Teddybear

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Marcus Carlos Liberski's short film Teddybear as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Short Short Film.

Teddybear Poster

*****

The Official Final Deadline of the YoungCuts Film Festival was June 15th. While we will only announce our full selection of our Top 100 around July 15th and while there is still an opportunity for films that we haven't received yet to trickle in after the deadline, we thought that we would begin announcing some of the films that we know will be included in our Top 100.

These won't be announced in any kind of order and they should not be interpreted as any kind of ranking, just that we have all the material for this particular film and that we do consider it one of the Top 100 short films by filmmakers 25 and under that we have seen (and will see) out of more than a thousand films that we have screened from more than 30 countries.

*****

Our hero

Teddybear

Marcus Carlos Liberski

Directed by Marcus Carlos Liberski
Written by Marcus Carlos Liberski and Emily Seale-Jones

A pitch black short film that turns the camera's perspective into a character, Teddybear packs strong acting and writing into a very tight space.

When judging short shorts, we use language that would not be out of place in judging for Olympics Gymnastics, which is to say that the best short shorts (like Teddybear) spike their landing.

*****

Our happy couple (and friend)

Runtime: 4 min : 9 sec
Completion: 2010
Country of Origin: U.S.A./Denmark
Synopsis: A young couple is struggling with the consequences of having a baby. While the father is constantly tending to his own needs the mother tries to hold the little family together. This results in traumatic events with the baby as the center point and victim of the parents reckless behavior.

*****

Marcus Carlos Liberski

Filmmaker Bio: Danish filmmaker Marcus C. Liberski first found out he wanted to be a filmmaker the day he began a new job as an AC on the BAFTA-winning, EMMY-nominated Danish TV-show The Killing. Since then he has dedicated his time to achieving his goals of making personal and entertaining films. Now based in NYC Marcus occasionally shoots videos for fashion magazines while
working on his first feature script.

Filmmaker Age: 25

*****

Our hero (and friend)

The 2011 YoungCuts Film Festival will begin on Thursday, September 29th. Screenings will be at the Guzzo Spheretech beginning on Friday, September 30th. Stay tuned for details on how to enjoy the amazing films that we will be presenting including Teddybear!

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Diaspora

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Diaspora

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Aadhi Vive and Aaraniyan Vive's short film Diaspora as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Canadian Film and for Best Editor.

Diaspora Poster

*****

The Official Final Deadline of the YoungCuts Film Festival was June 15th. While we will only announce our full selection of our Top 100 around July 15th and while there is still an opportunity for films that we haven't received yet to trickle in after the deadline, we thought that we would begin announcing some of the films that we know will be included in our Top 100.


These won't be announced in any kind of order and they should not be interpreted as any kind of ranking, just that we have all the material for this particular film and that we do consider it one of the Top 100 short films by filmmakers 25 and under that we have seen (and will see) out of more than a thousand films that we have screened from more than 30 countries.

*****

Arrival

Diaspora

Aadhi Vive

Written by Aadhi Vive

Directed by Aadhi Vive and Aaraniyan Vive

There is a lot to admire in Diaspora.

It tells a story from a very specific community and tells it well - in the process becoming a universal story.

It tells its story purely visually, a choice that takes guts to attempt and an uncommon combination of creativity and technique to pull off.

Finally, it is edited to a razor's edge. You would be hard pressed to find an unnecessary frame in its 390 seconds.

*****

Unpacking

Runtime: 6 min : 30 sec
Completion: 2011
Country of Origin: Canada (Ontario)
Synopsis: Hard work, a good education and a big dream sound like the sure ingredients for success in starting a better life in a new country. But are they?

Diaspora is a visual piece that gleans over the lifespan of an immigrant family, witnessing their times of struggles, joys and departures over the passing years.


Nasser Younis Khan has a highly respectable degree from a top school in England and a career in architecture that is quickly blossoming in Asia. Filled with confidence and optimism for a better future for himself and his family, he moves them all to Canada. He is soon quick to realize that starting a new life in a foreign country demands more than just a good degree and a big dream.

*****

Diaspora Behind the Scenes

Filmmaker Bio Aadhi Vive: Aadhi Vive was born in Ceylon and began writing and making films when he moved to Toronto, at the age of 12. In 2006 he co-created "Just Another Wave", a documentary on the devastating 2004 tsunami, that was distributed by TV5, and then in 2009, he went on to graduate from Vancouver Film School, in Visual Arts and design studies. He has been working as an Editor and Motion Designer in both Toronto and Vancouver. Some of his work can presently be seen on "Unscripted", a biography show on Vision TV and on his website, www.aadhivive.com. He is currently producing his first feature film "Merchants and Beggars".

Filmmaker Age Aadhi Vive: 24

***** 

Comfort

Filmmaker Statement Aaraniyan Vive: “While attending McMaster University and studying in the field of Commerce, I have a profound interest in work related to media. I try to juggle both the university work and my contributions to the endeavors of ViveBros to the best of my ability. Working with my broth- ers, alongside wonderful friends and intriguing new co-workers is the real pleasure in capturing the ideas and stories that were thought of in the basement of our Toronto home.”

Filmmaker Age Aaraniyan Vive: 21

*****

Diaspora Behind the Scenes

Filmmaker Q&A:


Where did you get the idea?
Aadhi - Aara and I started working in factories, fast food chains and various other blue collar workplaces, where we met with many South Asian immigrants who became motivators and mentors. Most of these men and women were well educated and had a successful career in their native country(ies). We based Nasser on one of these men. Surya is just another friend of ours. We have too many friends like him. Indhu was inspired by listening to gossip of classmates in highschool during the MSN era. We mixed up a bunch of characters and wrote the story.

 *****

Exploring

What was the most difficult part about making this film?
Aadhi - Casting people of young and old, then figuring out the make up and then rewriting the story to suit the technical details. Pauline Wong organized in such a way that there were no flaws. Working in one location helped a lot. We had to change the set as time passed in the story. Our production designer, Allen Legacy was quick with ideas and we did magic.

*****

Diaspora Behind the Scenes

How has new technology and special effects helped you tell the story in this film?
Aaraniyan - First off, we needed a high quality image at a lower budget, we settled on a DSLR camera that shot HD video. We love technology. Aadhi and I are tech-geeks however we know that technology is taken for granted nowadays in the indie film production world. When we started making films, we had to beg and borrow cameras, buy super-8 stock, shoot on VHS tapes and use AV cables and capture cards to transfer the footage into a computer. Nowadays people are going to sleep as Accountants or Social Workers and waking up wanting to be filmmakers or photographers, because the technology is so cheap.

*****

Conflict

How is working with the award-winning composer, Patrick Haggart Ippersiel?
Aadhi - Patrick and I have a wonderful work relationship. We have supported each other on our careers. I am his number 1 fan. I think he is going to replace Deadmau5 or Kaskade or any other electronic musician out there right now. As a composer he is amazing. We always wanted to have him score Diaspora and any of our future projects, unless he becomes too famous too fast.

*****

Diaspora Alternate Poster

What are you currently working on?
Aaraniyan - We are at pre-production stage of our first feature “Nightingale of Serendip”. A magical-realism styled movie telling the story of a young boy who learns the art of barbering and Sculpting as his blindness engulfs him slowly. We are also keen on producing films for other directors and content makers whose stories and ideas adhere to our mandate.

 *****

The 2011 YoungCuts Film Festival will begin on Thursday, September 29th. Screenings will be at the Guzzo Spheretech beginning on Friday, September 30th. Stay tuned for details on how to enjoy the amazing films that we will be presenting including Diaspora!

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: K.O.

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
K.O.

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Dan Basone's short film K.O. as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best U.S.A. Film.

Kelly Boxing.

*****

The Official Final Deadline of the YoungCuts Film Festival was June 15th. While we will only announce our full selection of our Top 100 around July 15th and while there is still an opportunity for films that we haven't received yet to trickle in after the deadline, we thought that we would begin announcing some of the films that we know will be included in our Top 100.


These won't be announced in any kind of order and they should not be interpreted as any kind of ranking, just that we have all the material for this particular film and that we do consider it one of the Top 100 short films by filmmakers 25 and under that we have seen (and will see) out of more than a thousand films that we have screened from more than 30 countries.

*****

Don with an opportunity.

K.O.

Dan Basone

Written and Directed by Dan Basone

You might think that since two of the Festival's judges (including the Festival Director) are involved in wrestling that films about the fighting arts would have an easier path to getting into the Festival.

In fact, the experts tend to be harder on these films, more alert to the cliches, more critical of moments that ring false.

K.O. tackles the unwillingness of athletes to retire and give up on their dreams even when they know that they are no longer able to compete. It does so with honesty and grit and then throws a left hook out of nowhere that gives this film a resonance that few boxing films reach.
 

*****

The Bridge

Runtime: 15 min : 23 sec
Completion: May 2011
Country of Origin: U.S.A. (Connecticut)
Synopsis: Kelly Olmeda a former boxer, now trainer has experienced plenty of pain in the sport that he loves. Never reaching his potential due to mental and physical problems derived from boxing, Olmeda will have to overcome a lot more than preparing for the main event to fully understand his problems.

*****

Kelly is skeptical of Don's offer.

Filmmaker Bio: Daniel Basone is an American filmmaker from New Canaan, Connecticut. He graduated from Fairfield University in 2011 with a bachelor of arts and sciences in New Media Film. He is currently working on his first feature film with his older brother Mike which is being shot in Connecticut. K.O. was Dan's first directorial debut.

Kelly getting advice.

Filmmaker Age: 22

*****

Kelly considers his future.

The 2011 YoungCuts Film Festival will begin on Thursday, September 29th. Stay tuned for details on how to enjoy the amazing films that we will be presenting including K.O.!

Kelly by the Ocean

 *****

The larger mandate of the YoungCuts Film Festival is to find and create paying opportunities for young filmmakers. We mainly do this through our sister site MyFilmmaker.com. Filmmakers who submit to the Festival receive the equivalent of a paid subscription to the site for free. We have already been able to find Dan a paying gig in his home state of Connecticut for a project for TextbookVideos.com and we hope to be able to find more projects for him in the future.

Cue "Final Countdown"

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Switching Worlds

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Switching Worlds

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Francesca Abbondanza-Bergeron's short film Switching Worlds as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Teen Film, Best Short Short Film and Best Quebec film.

So Cute!

*****

The Official Final Deadline of the YoungCuts Film Festival was June 15th. While we will only announce our full selection of our Top 100 around July 15th and while there is still an opportunity for films that we haven't received yet to trickle in after the deadline, we thought that we would begin announcing some of the films that we know will be included in our Top 100.


These won't be announced in any kind of order and they should not be interpreted as any kind of ranking, just that we have all the material for this particular film and that we do consider it one of the Top 100 short films by filmmakers 25 and under that we have seen (and will see) out of more than a thousand films that we have screened from more than 30 countries.

*****

The Artist at Work

Francesca Abbondanza-Bergeron

Switching Worlds

Written and Directed by Francesca Abbondanza-Bergeron

YoungCuts started in 2001 as the Toronto International Teen Film Festival and while we changed our name and expanded our age limits to 25 and under in 2005, we have kept a place for teen filmmakers in our Festival. It is sometimes a little bit harder to find a gem amongst the pile of Teen films, but when you do find one like Switching Worlds...

WOW!

The best teen filmmakers have absolutely no fear and accomplish the impossible because no one told them that it couldn't be done.

Take Francesca. Her story combines animation with live action with deceptive ease. Her story is told with economy and grace.

Our only minor quibble is evidence of her skill: the entire film has maybe five words of dialogue. Francesca came within an unnecessary sentence from telling her story purely visually.

And from what we can tell, most of the work was completed before she turned 19. No one tell her that she is not supposed to be this good this young.

*****

The Artist Hard at Work

Runtime: 5 min
Completion: 2011
Country of Origin: Canada (Quebec)
Synopsis: Switching Worlds follows the story of a young man obsessed with the women depicted in mangas and animes (Japanese cartoons). He spends most of his time locked in his room making drawings of them. However, he gets more than he bargains for when one of his own sketches comes to life.

*****

It's always a little scary when your art takes a life of its own.

Filmmaker Bio: Francesca Abbondanza-Bergeron is a new filmmaker and scriptwriter. She just graduated from John Abbott College’s Creative Arts, Literature and Languages (Media Arts) program.
Interested in using her films to question the boundaries between reality and fiction, she explores the human’s understanding of his own imagination. Her latest film, Switching Worlds, follows the story of a young man obsessed with women depicted in mangas and animes (Japanese cartoons). However, he gets more than he bargains for when one of his own sketches comes to life. Recently, Abbondanza-Bergeron has worked as an assistant editor for the making of Parabola Films’ À St-Henri, le 26 août. She will be pursuing her studies in the field at Concordia University next Fall.

Filmmaker Age: 19

*****

So Dangerous!

The 2011 YoungCuts Film Festival will begin on Thursday, September 29th. Stay tuned for details on how to enjoy the amazing films that we will be presenting including Switching Worlds!

*****

As a quick follow-up, we should maybe explain how we ended up finding Switching Worlds. The Festival Director Michael Ryan was invited to lead a discussion about Best Practices for Festival Submissions during the Concordia Film Festival on the Thursday afternoon that the festival started. This lead to an invitation to take part in a panel early that Saturday morning during the festival about the future of short film. One of the other panellists was Daniel Schorr who teaches animation at CEGEP John Abbott. He invited me to attend their end-of-year screening that was taking place at Cinema du Parc that Sunday evening.

We mention this as a tip to student filmmakers and their teachers. If you are doing an end-of-year screening, invite film festivals like ours to come. If we can send someone to watch the films we will. And we will frequently tell young filmmakers on the spot what films we are interested in (and sometimes what films need more work.)

It does help to give us more than 24 hours notice though!

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: La Combi Borracha (The Drunken Bus)

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
La Combi Borracha (The Drunken Bus)

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Luis David Rojas Guerrero's short film La Combi Borracha (The Drunken Bus) as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best International Film.

The Drunken Bus

*****

The Official Final Deadline of the YoungCuts Film Festival was June 15th. While we will only announce our full selection of our Top 100 around July 15th and while there is still an opportunity for films that we haven't received yet to trickle in after the deadline, we thought that we would begin announcing some of the films that we know will be included in our Top 100.


These won't be announced in any kind of order and they should not be interpreted as any kind of ranking, just that we have all the material for this particular film and that we do consider it one of the Top 100 short films by filmmakers 25 and under that we have seen (and will see) out of more than a thousand films that we have screened from more than 30 countries.

*****

Postcard for The Drunken Bus

La Combi Borracha (The Drunken Bus)

Luis David Rojas Guerrero

Written and Directed by Luis David Rojas Guerrero

We always love getting International submissions at the Festival especially when they are as funny, well-done and wise as The Drunken Bus from Mexico.

In many ways, this film has a tough job, keeping you interested in a story that is very confined two-hander, but the film keeps you engaged with some very smart but subtle camera choices.
 

*****

Loading up the Bus

Runtime: 19 min : 25 sec
Completion: 2010
Country of Origin: Mexico
Language: Spanish with English Sub-Titles
Synopsis: Alexis drives the 'Drunken Bus', a service that provides transportation for young inebriated party-goers, with the purpose of preventing them from driving under the influence.The problem arises when Alexis meets Miguel, the most obnoxious, perverted and hilarious drinker. Together they will experience a hysterical night full of adventures, setbacks and predicaments, that will make them reflect on their own personal stories: alcohol, wheel, party and friendship.

*****

Waiting for the Party to End

Filmmaker Bio: Luis David Rojas Guerrero, commonly known as “Wisapol”, was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on June 25, 1985. He attended the Jesuit school Instituto de Ciencias from grade school to junior high. Even at early age, he was always interested in the world of art. At 14 he formally started his musical studies in saxophone and piano.

Later on, Luis David finished high school at the Colegio Victoria, where he got the opportunity to get involved in theater as an actor. His work there is especially highlighted by two plays: “Nora” and “Un domingo en la ciudad” in which he took on the leading role.

Our Hero

During this same stage in his career, he led and represented a rock n’ roll – surf band called “Los Cokos”, in which he also played the tenor and alto saxophone.

 At 19 he enrolled in the Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Occidente (ITESO) in the city if Guadalajara to pursue a degree in communication sciences. Here he practiced all kinds of cinematographic activities.

Alternate Postcard for The Drunken Bus

At this stage, he formed part of the “mezcal” university jury during the 24^th edition of the Festival Internacional del Cine en Guadalajara. At the same time, he worked in multiple professional cinematographic productions with the film production company Cinema Estudio.

Currently, at 25, Luis David Rojas Guerrero works as a freelance media producer and writer. During his spare time he plays jazz in his saxophone, writes, goes to the movies, and enjoys life surrounded by his dearest friends and family.

Filmmaker Age: 25

*****

Our Hero and his Nemesis

The 2011 YoungCuts Film Festival will begin on Thursday, September 29th. Screenings will be at the Guzzo Spheretech beginning on Friday, September 30th. We will present La Combi Borracha (The Drunken Bus) during the screening where we will present an award for Best International Film on Saturday, October 1st at 9PM. Stay tuned for details on how to enjoy all the amazing films that we will be presenting including La Combi Borracha (The Drunken Bus)!

My (Right) Eye Surgery Story

My (Right) Eye Surgery Story

Missing only a trench-coat and an eye-patch!

I had to wait about eight weeks to get my right eye operated on after my left eye was done. It was originally scheduled for four weeks, but the Saturday before my surgery, as I was dripping dry in a Harveys from a rainstorm and trying to figure out what on the menu that I could safely order so that they didn't throw me out the door to float until I found a stray Ark, my cell phone burped so that Dr. Galic's nurse could tell me that I would have to wait some more.

I wasn't terribly surprised. This was my original appointment date for my second surgery. My initial appointment for my left eye had been scheduled and then pushed back three weeks, so I wasn't surprised that history repeated itself, but as I squelched under the withering eye of the Harvey's cashier, I thought to myself that her timing could have been slightly better.

See, I make this patch look good!

While I had one good eye and one terribly bad eye, I found reading and working on the computer very difficult and a bit disorientating because frequently I could read better up close with the terrible cludy eye than I could with the non-cloudy operated on eye.

Finally, came the day of the second operation. I would say that I got up early, but that would imply that I spent a lot of time sleeping the night before. Even though I had gone through the eye operation once before, I was still a bit of a nervous wreck.

Which might explain why I got to the hospital forty minutes early instead of only fifteen minutes early like I did the first time around.

Steve Nash makes this look good too!

The first time, I was the last man in a line of about twenty patients. Even with one clerk at long-term admissions and one at day surgery, it took so long to go through the line that the nurses from the eye clinic were calling to make sure that I was there. This time around there was only one clerk at the long-term admissions, but he processed me while the waiting room gradually filled up.

I was scheduled to be operated on third, but the first and second patients were trapped behind everyone else in the waiting room. I saw them both but by the time they joined me on the 4th floor, I was processed, in a gown and ready to go. That, and the fact that I am diabetic allowed me to jump the line.

The Even Gayer Pirate!

The other thing that made me a bit of Nervous Nellie is that compared to the last time, this time I could actually see where I was going. The time before, the cloudy gauze of cataracts insulated me from my terror a bit. Everything sounded the same, but now I could match images to sounds.

The first time they had sedated me. This time around, they set me up for sedation but never followed through. The surgery itself was unnerving, but not painful. I was soothed a bit by the banality of the conversation between Dr. Galic and his Saudi Arabian assistant who was complaining about having to go back to Saudi Arabia to work for a hospital there, as part of the deal where his government paid for his medical education. To be fair, what he was complaining about wasn't going back to home to serve, but going back to work for a hospital that was only willing to schedule for 4-5 operations in a month, when he was used to doing 4-5 operations before lunch!

Doll-Man: Eye Enemy!

After the first operation, I could see better seconds after the operation was over. This time around I was slightly disappointed that my vision was still fuzzy - if better than before.

Over the next 24 hours, my right eye got stronger and stronger until it was hard for me to tell the difference between my right eye and left eye. I guess after the first operation, the left eye was dramatically better than my cloudy right right away and I never noticed that the left eye got even stronger as that first day wore on.

I mentioned this to Dr. Galic when he was inspecting his handiwork the day after surgery and he grinned and commiserated sarcastically that I could only see 20/20 out of right eye. He gave me a clean bill of health eye wise, two weeks later, so other than a visit in six months to follow-up with him (and keep a preventive eye out for diabetic retinopathy), my eye surgery odyssey is virtually over.

The only hurdle left for me is to go visit my optometrist after my birthday on Canada Day to have her check what kind of reading glasses that I will need. Dr. Galic's assumption (and mine) is that I will probably only need pharmacy reading glasses, but I will still visit my optometrist to be sure. After all, it was her suggestion that started me on my eye surgery odyssey in the first place.

*****