2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: MeJohn

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
MeJohn

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Phillip Bernardino-Gomez' short film MeJohn as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Teen Film.

MeJohn and Painting

*****

The Official Final Deadline of the YoungCuts Film Festival was June 15th. 

We are in the process of finalizing our Top 100. 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.

This week, we will be announcing some of our favourite Teen films leading to the announcement of all the films that will play in our Teen screening. 

Announced so far as Best Teen films:
Francesca Abbondanza-Bergeron's Switching Worlds
Jeremiah James' Send Me To Babylon 
Nic Weinfeld's The 36 

*****

MeJohn

Phillip Bernardino-Gomez

Directed and Written by Phillip Bernardino-Gomez


This film is a part of Reel Voices, a 12-week summer internship program of the San Diego Asian Film Foundation that empowers local high school students to learn the art of documentary filmmaking, become socially conscious storytellers, learn Final Cut Pro editing, and experience all stages of production and post-production. 

MeJohn is a fine short doc in the tradition of Errol Morris. It neither praises, condemns or judges. It lets MeJohn tell his story and assists him to tell it well. It helps that the director has chosen a fascinating subject for his film.

*****

Runtime: 5 min
Completion: September 2010
Country of Origin: USA (California)
Synopsis: An eccentric man goes through life collecting strange items such as pantyhose, his own brand of miniature cars, and anything else he believes that has a special value to it.

*****

MeJohn's storage room

Filmmaker Bio: I was born and raised in San Diego. I am an aspiring cinematographer. I spend most of my days playing video games, listening to music, reading, playing basketball and watching B horror movies (Yay Thankskilling). Some people think that my life has been hard, but I find my life to be funny. I graduated last year from Garfield High School, which is my 5th high school in 4 years, and I watch MMA religiously. Because of the standards I set for myself, I always wanted to go to USC (dreams do come true sometimes), so I'm going to transfer there from a community college.

Filmmaker Age: 19

*****

MeJohn and his treasures

The 2011 YoungCuts Film Festival will begin on Thursday, September 29th. Screenings will be at the Guzzo Spheretech beginning on Friday, September 30th. The Teen Screening will be on Friday September 30th at 1PM. This will be a free screening presented as part of Les Journées de la Culture (Culture Days). The screening will end with presentation of the award Best Teen film. Stay tuned for details on how to enjoy the amazing films that we will be presenting including MeJohn!

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Send Me To Babylon

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Send Me To Babylon

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Jeremiah James's short film Send Me To Babylon as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Teen Film.

Living in a Post-Material World

*****

The Official Final Deadline of the YoungCuts Film Festival was June 15th. 

We are in the process of finalizing our Top 100. 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.

This week, we will be announcing some of our favourite Teen films leading to the announcement of all the films that will play in our Teen screening. 

Announced so far as Best Teen films:
Francesca Abbondanza-Bergeron's Switching Worlds  

*****

Send Me To Babylon

Jeremiah James

Directed and Written by Jeremiah James

Send Me To Babylon is a compact little story in the Oh Henry tradition dressed in the bloody rags of a post-apocalypse Zombie story.

Done with economy and minimal but real effects, the film is a great example of what Teen filmmakers can accomplish especially when they limit their canvas.

*****

Runtime: 3 min: 12 sec
Completion: November 2010
Country of Origin: USA (Texas)
Synopsis: Only a few humans remain... Who will survive?

Filmmaker Bio: Jeremiah James is a senior at Cypress Ranch High School in Houston Texas. He is hoping to study cinematic arts at USC, UT or FSU. He is the director of Cornerstone Cinema.

Filmmaker Age: 17

*****

Looking for a Meal

The 2011 YoungCuts Film Festival will begin on Thursday, September 29th. Screenings will be at the Guzzo Spheretech beginning on Friday, September 30th. The Teen Screening will be on Friday September 30th at 1PM. This will be a free screening presented as part of Les Journées de la Culture (Culture Days). The screening will end with presentation of the award Best Teen film. Stay tuned for details on how to enjoy the amazing films that we will be presenting including Send Me To Babylon!

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: Oh Hey! - Drunk Driving PSA

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Oh Hey! - Drunk Driving PSA

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Bryce Bladon's short film Oh Hey! - Drunk Driving PSA as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Short Short Film.

Matt Hamilton

*****

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.

*****

Oh Hey! - Drunk Driving PSA

Bryce Bladon

Directed and Written by Bryce Bladon

It is hard enough telling a coherent story in the super short form of a public service announcement.

Making it funny is even tougher.

But making a funny PSA about Drunk Driving?

Bryce Bladon and his team up the artistic ante considerably by telling a surprisingly funny one minute story about the perils of Drunk Driving.

Bryce Bladon

*****

Runtime: 1 min : 15 sec
Completion: January 2011
Country of Origin: Canada (Alberta)
Synopsis:  Two intoxicated men contemplate how to get home.

Connor Gaston

*****

Filmmaker Bio: Bryce Bladon is a man-child who friends and colleagues describe as relatively tall and pleasant-smelling. He’s received awards for his screenwriting and has works professionally in both the public and private sector as a filmographer and writer. He always feels narcasstic writing his own biography, but that doesn’t stop him from embellishing on how incredibly modest he is. Bladon typically writes and directs comedy, but has been known to dabble in drama, action, horror, and romantic-comedy/torture-porn.

*****

Bryce Bladon

Filmmaker Statement: Love. Passion. Anger. These are just three words that in no way relate to Bryce Bladon’s PSA on the dangers of drunk driving. Oh Hey is a rarely-seen comedic attempt on an otherwise serious topic.

*****

Connor Gaston Again

Filmmaker Age: 22

*****

Max Sussman

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 Oh Hey! - Drunk Driving PSA!

*****

Megan Russell

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: How the Coyote Got His Cunning

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
How the Coyote Got His Cunning

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Claire Niebergall's animated short film How the Coyote Got His Cunning as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Animated Film.

The World is Created

*****

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.

*****

Coyote Thinks He is Clever

How the Coyote Got His Cunning

Claire Niebergall

Directed and Written by Claire Niebergall

Simple and elegant, How the Coyote Got His Cunning tells an old story using traditional designs filtered through modern animation technology.

One of our judge's remarked that it reminded them a little of the work of Coe Hoedeman - like a 2D mash-up of his NFB films Owl and the Raven: An Eskimo Legend and Tchou-Tchou.

It's also comforting to know that the very first all-nighter was not a success! Setting the pattern for all the failed cram sessions held ever since.

Killer Whale

*****

Runtime: 3 min : 20 sec
Completion: May 2010
Country of Origin: USA (Pennsylvania)
Synopsis A fable about the creation of the world, the ranking of all its creatures, and the world's first (failed) all-nighter.

Eagle

Filmmaker Bio: Claire Niebergall is a senior animation and graphic design student at the University of Pennsylvania. Her first animated short, How the Coyote got his Cunning, has been featured in five film festivals across the United States and Canada. She is currently interning at Little Airplane Productions, the New York animation studio behind The Wonder Pets.

*****

Cocky Coyote

Filmmaker Statement: The film is an adaptation of a Native American folktale, where the Coyote schemes to become the strongest of all the animals. The visual style simulates cut-paper and uses the cultural motifs of the Pacific Northwest.

*****

Six Well Rested and Happy Animals

Filmmaker Age: 21

*****

Man Gives Coyote His Bow

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 How the Coyote Got His Cunning!

*****

Cunning Coyote!

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: 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!