2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection: Onion Skin

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
Onion Skin

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Joseph Procopio's short film Onion Skin as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Teen Film.

Onion Skin

*****

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.

*****

Our Heroine

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 
Phillip Bernardino-Gomez' MeJohn 

*****

With Friends Like These...

Onion Skin

Joseph Procopio

Directed and Written by Joseph Procopio


While maybe just a touch long, Onion Skin is an incredibly mature film from such a young filmmaker.

(Of course since this is Joseph's 10th film, he has a bit more experience than most 16 year old directors.)

The film is incredibly well-filmed and well-framed with a touch of magic realism.

Our judges especially liked the way that the friends of the two main characters acted as a disapproving opinionated Greek chorus.

*****

... Who Needs Enemies?

Runtime: 12 min: 27 sec

*****

The Rise of Thumbs...

Completion: March 2011

*****

The Death of Romance

Country of Origin: Canada (Ontario)

*****

Our Hero

Synopsis: A high school student turns heads when he decides to avoid text-messaging a girl in this comedy-turned-romance about the power of letter writing.

*****

The Note

Filmmaker Bio: Onion Skin is 16 year old Joseph Procopio's 11th film - a 10-minute narrative romantic short about the power of letter writing. Following a Casting Working Workbook Talent search in Toronto, Joseph discovered 5 new performers that he directed for Introduction to the screen in Onion Skin. He also hired seasoned character performer Jacqueline Tarne for the role of Wisdom.

*****

Wisdom

Onion Skin was produced with the help of a beginner high school/college crew and extras from 7 schools across Ontario. Joseph is currently writing his feature film directorial debut, while hoping that Onion Skin will help secure representation or the interest of a theatrical distributor. Joseph has been directing without pause, directing 11 short films since his debut at the age of eight with his film, Nine Times Eight. To date Joseph's 10 films have received 36 First Prizes and have screened at over 100 festivals worldwide.

*****

Making Eye Contact

Production Notes: Pre-production of Onion Skin began with a full screenplay beak-down, production strip-board, and an official Casting Workbook announced audition courtesy of Susan Forrest Casting. Film Office Location Permits and Front Row Insurance was then secured for a six day shoot on location at Villanova College in King City, and at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

*****

Eye to Eye

Filmmaker Age: 16

*****

Fireworks

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 Onion Skin! 

*****

Connection

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: The 36

2011 YoungCuts Film Festival Selection
The 36

The YoungCuts Film Festival is pleased to announce that it has selected Nic Weinfeld's short film The 36 as one of our Top 100 International Short Films for 2011. The film is also shortlisted for consideration as Best Teen Film.

*****

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

*****

The 36

Nic Weinfeld with Cast and Crew

Directed and Written by Nic Weinfeld


The 36 is an earnest, well-executed story of human decency and bravery.

The judges admired the acting by the entire cast and the well-framed cinematography.

The black and white aesthetic gives the film historical gravitas.

*****

Touching Up

Runtime: 6 min: 48 sec
Completion: June 2011
Country of Origin: USA (Maryland)
Tagline: The best of us act humanely no matter the circumstances.

Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of hate and religious persecution in the Spring of 1945, an old Polish woman is given the opportunity to do nothing, or the right thing, when a young Jewish girl is attacked outside her window.

*****

Checking the Script

Filmmaker Bio: Nic currently attends boarding school at Interlochen Arts Academy. There, he majors in Motion Picture Arts, taking an array of film classes: everything from lighting to film genres. When at home, Nic is constantly collaborating with local professionals and holds an internship position at Discovery Communications. He believes his expertise to be in directing and cinematography. His passion for the art continues to grow.

Filmmaker Age: 17

*****

The 36 Behind the Scenes

Director’s Statement: "I was inspired by the “Lamed vav Zaddkim” a concept in Judaism that the fate of the world rests, at any given time, in the hands of 36 righteous people. They are put on earth to perform the healing of the world. They do not know they are one of the 36, nor does anyone else. They just go about their everyday lives, doing what is right and good. They go unnoticed because of their humble nature and commonplace vocations. They will always be among us. 

My film is set in 1945 Poland, after the Holocaust camps were liberated and WWII came to an end. The protagonist of the story is an older, Aryan, Polish woman who witnesses the harassment of one liberated Jewish woman passing through her town. She must make the decision whether to bring a Jew into her home despite the common prejudice that her neighbors hold towards them. Her actions towards this Jewish woman in her time of need was a rare act of kindness representative of that of the righteous 36.”

*****

Jennifer Weil

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 The 36!

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: 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!