2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Foodsploitation

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Foodsploitation

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Adam Bagatavicius' short film Foodsploitation as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Quebec Film.

 Foodsploitation Title Card

*****

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.

*****

Foodsploitation

Adam Bagatavicius

Directed and Written by Adam Bagatavicius

Foodsploitation is the best kind of experimental film.

It tells a coherent story. It's fun and funny. It rather gently satirizes horror films while simultaneously asking a serious question about how much we think about the food we eat and how we prepare it.

Our only mild criticism is that the film is just over one minute too long. Not that it isn't entertaining at 6 minutes, But if it was 5 minutes, it would be one of our 5 nominees for Best Short Short film and have an excellent chance to win the category.

The Chef: Hallway Horror

*****

Runtime: 6 min : 6 sec
Completion: April 2011
Country of Origin: Canada (Quebec)
Ligne du Film: Une fantaisie de nourriture exploitée. Spécialiste de cuisine crue et d'humiliation gastronomique, aucun ingrédient n’est à l’abri du Chef.
Tag Line: A food exploitation fantasia. Specializing in cringe cuisine and gastronomic humiliation, no ingredient is safe from The Chef.

The Chef: The Gripping Hand

*****

Synopsis: Le Chef prend les aliments d’un sac d'épicerie en otage et les pousse au-delà de leurs limites de douleur et de plaisir. Filmé du point de vue de chaque ingrédient, le niveau de l’utilisation fluctue de la terreur à la titillation; la Noix de Coco est empalée, la Carotte subit une circoncision malpropre, l'Oignon pleure à cause du chatouillement torturé et les Bleuets sont écrasés sous une pression extrême.

Présentant Tante Jemima à ses débuts dans le film Blaxploitation et mettant en valeur Le Chef dans son plus grand rôle au retour de son incarcération à la suite de ‘Pains sur le Bunsen Burner', préparez-vous pour une conclusion explosive qui laissera vos yeux avec une infection intestinale et incapable à tout jamais de regarder la nourriture de la même façon. Où a dormi VOTRE épicerie la nuit dernière?

*****

The Chef's Egg Guillotine

Synopsis: The Chef holds a bag of groceries hostage, and pushes them to the furthest reaches of pain and pleasure. Shot from the perspective of each ingredient, the exploitation meter ranges from terror to titillation as Coconut is impaled, Carrot undergoes a sloppy briss, Onion weeps from tickle torture, and Blueberries crack under the pressure.

Introducing Aunt Jemima in her Blaxploitation film debut, featuring The Chef's biggest comeback role since his incarceration following 'Buns on the Bunsen Burner', get ready for an explosive ending that will leave your eyes with gastro, and never able to look at food the same way again. Where did YOUR groceries sleep last night?

*****

Chef the Ripper

Filmmaker Statement: The Chef's Twitter Account

*****

The Chef Decapitates Ginger

Filmmaker Age: 25

*****

The Chef Slices, Dices, He Julienne Fries

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 Foodsploitation!

*****

The Chef's Taste Test

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Snowball

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection 
Snowball

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Eric Bent's animated film Snowball as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Animated Film.

Mission Complete While Under Fire

*****

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.

*****

Snowball

Eric Bent

Directed and Written by Eric Bent

Sometimes simple is best.

It is always tricky to tell a complete story in the context of a micro-short.

Snowball manages this tricky feat using simple animation techniques. (Note that by simple, we don't mean undifficult.)

While not exactly the same technique and used for humour rather than drama Snowball reminded the judges of great dramatic animated films from Montreal done in a similar style - most notably The Street.

Back to the Enemy

*****

Runtime: 1 min: 5 sec
Completion: 2010
Country of Origin: Canada (Quebec)

Synopsis: A young man becomes the target of a snowball thrower while making a snowman. Will he ignore it....or get back at him? (Somewhat based on a real event)

Turning to Face the Enemy

*****

Filmmaker Bio: Eric Bent is an animator, visual artist and (sometimes) musician originally from Aylmer, Quebec but now based in Montreal. He is currently undergoing his final year in the Film Animation Program at Concordia University, but plans to continue making films well after he graduates.

Filmmaker Age: 23

Filmmaker Statement: This film is based on something my older brother did to a neighbour's kid when we were young. I figured it would be a funny idea, and the simplicity of it made it ideal and easy to animate considering the technique (charcoal on paper).

***** 

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 Snowball!

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Nodin (Wind)

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Nodin (Wind)

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Nodin Wawatie's short film Nodin (Wind) as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Short Short Film.

Nodin (Wind)

*****

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.

*****

Nodin (Wind)

Nodin Wawatie

Directed and Written by Nodin Wawatie

Wapikoni Mobile is a group who work with aboriginal youth to help them tell their stories by putting cameras into their hands. We strongly believe in that method and we believe in more strongly in the results, especially when they are great films like Nodin Wawatie's Nodin (Wind).

Nodin is a confessional animated film that confronts the tension between tradition and new cultures, in this case between Hip hop B-boy culture and Anishnabe culture.

Wapikoni Mobile Logo

*****

Runtime: 2 min: 45 sec
Completion: 2010
Country of Origin: Canada (Quebec)
Language: Anishnabe with English sub-titles
Synopsis: Nodin exprime sa fierté d'être anishnabe par la danse Hip hop.
Synopsis: Nodin expresses his Ansihnabe cultural pride through Hip hop dancing.

Bio Cinéaste: Nodin Wawatie vit à Kitigan Zibi, une communauté anglophone de la nation algonquine. Il est, depuis septembre, étudiant au Collège Algonquin d’Ottawa en Animation. Bilingue, il parle couramment l’anglais et l’algonquin. Nodin est également un très bon danseur. Il pratique autant les danses traditionnelles que le Hip hop.

En 2010, il a réalisé deux court-métrages dans le cadre du projet Wapikoni mobile : Nodin et Running Free. Très investi dans ces deux projets co-réalisé avec un ami, il a réussi à créer deux œuvres d’une simplicité mais d’une efficacité surprenante qui ont allumé les regards des jeunes et des moins jeunes. Avec leurs prouesses et leurs touches d’humour, ces films ont donné une bouffée d’air aux spectateurs lors de la projection finale. En plus de développer son regard artistique, ces réalisations lui ont permis de compléter son porte-folio pour accéder au Collège Algonquin d’Ottawa où il étudie actuellement.

Filmmaker Bio: Nodin Wawatie is from Kitigan Zibi, an Anishnabe English speaking community. Since September, he studies in the Animation program, at Algonquin College in Ottawa. Bilingual, he talks both English and Anishnabe. Nodin is also a very good dancer. He practices both traditional dance and Hip hop.

In 2010, he directed two shorts films during Wapikoni Mobile’s stop over in Kitigan Zibi: Nodin and Running Free. Very invested in these two projects which he worked on with a close friend, Nodin directed these two films with an effective simplicity that surprised both young and old. With their professionalism and sense of humour, these films were a breath of fresh air for the audience of the Wapikoni year-end projection. In addition to helping his artistic progress, these two films also helped Nodin complete the portfolio he submitted to Algonquin College in Ottawa, where he is currently studying.

Filmmaker Age: 22

***** 

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 Nodin (Wind)!

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Au Coeur de la Forêt (In the Heart of the Forest)

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection 
Au Coeur de la Forêt (In the Heart of the Forest)

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Katty Yew Ngan Lun's animated film Au Coeur de la Forêt (In the Heart of the Forest) as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Animated Film.

Au Coeur de la Forêt 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.

*****

Au Coeur de la Forêt (In the Heart of the Forest)

Katty Yew Ngan Lun

Directed and Written by Katty Yew Ngan Lun

The Cégep du Vieux Montréal invited the YoungCuts Film Festival this year to come talk to the students about best practices when submitting short films to film festivals and to watch the films by the graduating class. As we have written before, inviting a YoungCuts representative to your year-end screening is always a good idea.

Like many of the great animated films that we have seen this year, Au Coeur de la Forêt is about a trip into the woods where the hero (or frequently as in this film heroine) collides with creatures from nature in unexpected ways.  In style, it somehow magically blends Hayao Miyazaki with old episode of Scooby-Doo.

Like all CVM films, it has a French title but no dialogue, so the story must be told purely visually. (This is a very good idea by the way, it gives all of the films that come out of CVM universal appeal.)

Missing: One Puppy!

*****

Runtime: 1 min: 14 sec
Completion: 2011
Country of Origin: Canada (Quebec)

Synopsis: Une petite fille prénommée Sun-mi colle des affiches de son chien perdu afin de le retrouver. Elle le cherche désespérément dans la forêt où elle a perdu sa trace. Sun-mi aperçoit alors deux yeux bien cachés dans un buisson. En espérant que ce soit son chien, elle s'en approche. Elle se retrouve soudainement dans une situation plutôt inatendue.

Synopsis: A little girl named Sun-mi is putting up posters of her lost puppy. She desperately searches the forest where she originally lost him. Seeing two eyes peeking out from a bush, Sun-Mi approaches. She suddenly finds herself in a very unexpected situation!

Sun-mi searches for her puppy.

*****

Bio Cinéaste: J'ai toujours eu un interêt particulier pour toute forme de production artisque. En réalisant que les films d'animations me fascinent, je décide d'étudier en animation 2D au Cégep du Vieux-Montréal en 2008. À la fin de mon DEC, je réalise fièrement le court-métrage d'animation 2D Au Coeur de la Forêt. Ce projet m'as permit d'explorer toute les phases de la production d'un film d'animation. Je réalise egalement que l'effort et le plaisir qu'on met dans un projet reflête sur le résutat final. Je plannifie poursuivre mes études en animation 3D afin d'élargir mes connaissances artistiques.

Filmmaker Bio: I have always been particularly interested all forms of artistic expression. Realizing that I was fascinated by animated films, I decided to study traditional animation at the Cégep du Vieux-Montréal in 2008. Having finished my DEC, I proudly completed my 2D animated short film Au Coeur de la Forêt (In the Heart of the Forest). This project allowed me to explore all the phases of producing an animated film. I also realized that the more effort and joy that we invest into a project, the better the final product. I plan to continue my studies at the Cégep du Vieux-Montréal in 3D animation to expand my artistic horizons.

Filmmaker Age: 21

Sun-mi in the Forest

***** 

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 Au Coeur de la Forêt (In the Heart of the Forest)!

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Il Était Encore Une Fois

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection 
Il Était Encore Une Fois (Once Upon Another Time)

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Roxanne Baril-Monfette's animated film Il Était Encore Une Fois (Once Upon Another Time) as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Animated Film.

Il Était Encore Une Fois

*****

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.

*****

Il Était Encore Une Fois (Once Upon Another Time)

Roxanne Baril-Monfette

Directed and Written by Roxanne Baril-Monfette

The Cégep du Vieux Montréal invited the YoungCuts Film Festival this year to come talk to the students about best practices when submitting short films to film festivals and to watch the films by the graduating class. As we have written before, inviting a YoungCuts representative to your year-end screening is always a good idea.

Il Était Encore Une Fois was the first film that we saw at the first of two animation screenings at CVM and we will fell in love with it immediately. Like all CVM films, it has a French title but no dialogue, so the story must be told purely visually.

(This is a very good idea by the way, it gives all of the films that come out of CVM universal appeal.)

Il Était Encore Une Fois takes the traditional Aesop fairy tale of the Fox and his grapes (where the phrase "sour grapes" comes from) and tells a new story built on the old. The animation pays tribute to Tex Avery and Hayao Miyazaki while still being a fresh, original voice.

Maître Corbeau/Mister Crow

*****

Runtime: 1 min: 14 sec
Completion: 2011
Country of Origin: Canada (Quebec)

Synopsis: Il Était Encore Une Fois présente une version revisitée d'une fable populaire qui a bercé l'enfance de maintes générations. Maître Renard, parvenant à obtenir son fromage tant désirée, ne se douta point que Maître Corbeau, cette fois-ci, le lui offrirait dans son emballage métallique.

Synopsis: Once Upon Another Time revisits the classic fable that has been told to children for generations. Mister Fox finally gets his cheese only to find that Mister Crow has encased it in a metal container!

Maître Renard/Mister Fox

*****

Bio Cinéaste: Roxanne Baril-Monfette, née à Trois-Rivières en 1987, a rapidement développé un goût pour les arts visuels et l'animation. C'est par ailleurs au cégep du Vieux Montréal qu'elle y consacrera cinq ans pour produire et animer d'abord son premier court-métrage en dessin animé (Koöngo, 2009), et par la suite en animation 3D (Il Était Encore Une Fois, 2011). Diplômes en main, elle travaille maintenant dans le domaine de l'animation.

Filmmaker Bio: Born in Three-Rivers in 1987, Roxanne quickly developed a taste for visual arts and animation. She has just finished a five year animation program at Cégep du Vieux Montréal. Her first film was the traditionally animated Koöngo (2009) and her follow-up film is the 3D Animated film Il Était Encore Une Fois. Having earned her diploma, she is currently working in the animation field.

Filmmaker Age: 24

A Triumphant Mister Crow Laughs at a Disgusted Mister Fox

***** 

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 Il Était Encore Une Fois (Once Upon Another Time)!

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Déboires (Setbacks)

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Déboires (Setbacks)

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Delia Gunn's animated memoir Déboires (Setbacks) as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Animated Film and Best Short Short Film.

Deboires: A True Story - Honestly Told

*****

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.

*****

Déboires (Setbacks)

Delia Gunn

Directed and Written by Delia Gunn

Wapikoni Mobile is a group who work with aboriginal youth to help them tell their stories by putting cameras into their hands. We strongly believe in that method and we believe in more strongly in the results, especially when they are great films like Delia Gunn's Déboires.

The film tells a short, funny and heart-cracking story of a weekend lost to booze and bitterness. It's a true story, honestly told and in its narrative flow and artwork it reminds us of the best work of confessional graphic novelists like Chester Brown and Joe Matt.

Wapikoni Mobile Logo

*****

Runtime: 3 min: 1 sec
Completion: 2010
Country of Origin: Canada (Quebec)
Synopsis: Les mésaventures de Delia un soir de fête.
Synopsis: The misadventures of Delia on one shining night.

Bio Cinéaste: Née à Kitcisakik, Délia participe aux activités du Wapikoni Mobile dans sa communauté depuis 2007. Son premier film Je cache, est poème sur ce qui se cache dans son cœur, ses souhaits, ses peurs et le pardon. Celui qui aimait l’eau portait sur la mort d’un ami cher. En 2010, elle signe la réalisation de Déboires qui porte sur l’arrêt de consommation de sa sœur et d’elle-même.

Délia est une fille rieuse, dynamique, impliquée, fiable. Elle aime les arts en général et le dessin aux pastels. Elle a un rêve : voir grandir son fils dans un environnement sain. La naissance de Jocelyn est une double fierté, celle d’avoir mis au monde un magnifique garçon et celle d’avoir, depuis, complètement arrêté de boire.

Filmmaker Bio: Born in Kitcisakik, Délia first participated in the Wapikoni Mobile’s activities in her community in 2007. Her first film Je cache is a poem about what is hidden in her heart, her wishes, her fears and learning to forgive herself. Celui qui aimait l’eau is the cinematic portrait of the death of an important friend. In 2010, she directed Déboires (Setbacks) the story of why she and her sister stopped drinking.

Delia is a funny, dynamic girl, involved in her community and worthy of trust. She like the arts in general and drawing in pastels in particular. Her dream is to watch her son grow up in a healthy environment. She is doubly proud of Jocelyn’s birth: proud to give birth to a magnificent boy and proud to have completely stopped drinking.

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 Déboires (Setbacks)!

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: Le conte de l"orpheline

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Le conte de l’orpheline

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Katerine Lefrançois' short film Le conte de l’orpheline as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Quebec Film.

The Orphan (Madeline)

*****

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.

*****

Her Woods

Katerine Lefrançois

Le conte de l’orpheline (The Orphan's Tale)

Written & Directed by Katerine Lefrançois

Little girls who go into the woods with animals seems to be an early theme of this year's Festival. In this case, the little orphan walks her goat into the woods.

Despite being a film about the art and power of storytelling, this is not a movie that hands you exposition on a platter. It is a film comfortable in its silences (even if those silences are filled with grief.)

It is also about a small community that rallies in the most extraordinary way to bring happiness to a little girl.

Look for more information about when we will screen this film in the months to come. 

*****

Sadly, I have no pictures of her goat

Runtime: 7 min : 14 sec
Completion: April 2011
Country of Origin: Canada (Quebec)
Language: French with English Sub-Titles
Synopsis: After the premature death of her parents, Madeline, an eight- year-old girl, has to live in the country with an aunt and uncle that she barely knows. Lonely and melancholic, the young girl is intrigued by a mysterious music that is coming out of the forest.

Suite au décès prématuré de ses parents, Madeline, huit ans, doit vivre à la campagne chez son oncle et sa tante, deux agriculteurs sans enfant. Seule et mélancolique, la jeune fille est intriguée par une mystérieuse musique provenant de la forêt.

*****

Her Tale

Filmmaker Bio: Katerine Lefrançois is a young artist from the suburb of Montreal. She was Best of Diploma of the cinema program at the Cégep Saint-Jérôme in 2008. She then pursued her studies at Concordia University in film production where she directed two short films. After working on more than twenty productions, she discovered a passion for art direction and research. She is currently working on a documentary project.

Filmmaker Age: 22

*****

Her Band (Technically this picture is a spoiler of a kind.)

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 Le conte de l’orpheline!