Vaughan International Film Festival marking milestone in 2017
Scholarship program now open to Grade 12 students provincewide

Yorkregion.com
By Adam Martin-Robbins
Dec. 12, 2016

Vaughan’s annual celebration of short films has expanded its reach every year since its inception, and 2017 is no different.

“Going into our fifth year feels like an anniversary to us,” said Mark Pagliaroli, co-founder, along with Antonio Ienco, of the recently rebranded Vaughan International Film Festival.

“When we tell people how long we've been around, most people say, ‘Wow, I feel like it's been longer.’ We definitely feel the same way. With everything we've built over the last five years, especially having come from nothing, we look at this as something of a milestone.”

To help mark that milestone, the festival is expanding its scholarship program for “up-and-coming artists” to students provincewide.

Now Gr. 12 students at any Ontario high school with at least two arts or technology credits (visual arts, music, dance, drama, film, photography, fashion, technological design, construction technology) and an over 80 per cent grade average in their current arts or technology course, can apply to win one of three $1,000 scholarships.

Alternatively, teachers can nominate a student from their Grade 12 arts or technology program.

Expansion of the scholarship program follows last year’s decision to accept student film submissions from across Ontario.

The deadline for scholarship applications and film submissions is Jan. 31.

This year’s festival runs four days, from May 15 to May 18.

As always, there will be two days of film screenings, an industry seminar day and an awards ceremony to close things out.

As for the international film segment, submissions are pouring in with more than 60 already received from countries around the world including Australia, France, India, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Turkey, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.

“Since we see VFF 2017 as a milestone, there's a pressure we're putting on ourselves to make this the biggest festival yet,” Pagliaroli said. “We're telling people to expect the unexpected. There will be new venues with more dynamic elements integrated into the events, there will be familiar faces of special guests from previous years and new faces who look to grow with us in the coming years.”

To find out more, visit www.vaughanfilmfestival.com.