Vaughan Film Festival rolls out 2014 lineup

Vaughan Weekly
March 5, 2014  
By Angela Gismondi

 

 

Just one day after the Oscars, Vaughan Film Festival (VFF) organizers announced the 2014 film lineup for this year’s festival.

Michelle Beilhartz, from Season 1 of the Bachelor Canada hosted the event at Cineplex Colossus Vaughan Cinemas.

“Whether you’re an artist or not, there is something about film that inspires us, that brings something out in each and every one of us,” said Beilhartz.

Also in attendance for the announcement were festival sponsors, dignitaries and members of the community.

The second annual festival will take place this year from April 2 to 4. The VFF,  a non-profit organization founded by Mark Pagliaroli and Antonio Ienco, is hosting the three-day event showcasing short films by up and coming international filmmakers. The goal of the festival is to provide local and international artists with a platform to showcase their talent.

Last year, the VFF organizers received 50 submissions. This year there were just under 100  films to choose from.

“To decide on the 25 films we picked for this year’s festival was a difficult task – there are films from right around the globe,” said Ienco just before presenting the list of films featured in this year’s festival.

Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua, a member of the Vaughan Film Festival Advisory Board, thanked Pagliaroli and Ienco for bringing the film festival to Vaughan. He recalled when the festival was in its very early stages.

“I remember them coming to my office and we had a chat about this dream of theirs,” said Bevilacqua. “They’re the ones who planted to seed for this incredible film festival we have right here in Vaughan. It’s a wonderful project that began very small but it’s already growing.”

Besides promoting the City on an international level, the film festival also serves another important purpose.

“It gives our City culture, promotes the arts and gives an international flavour,” said Bevilacqua.

He encourages everybody to become an ambassador for the film festival and spread the word.

In addition to announcing the film lineup, winners of two initiatives in the Vaughan community which were sponsored by the festival were also announced Monday.  The VFF, along with event sponsor Royfoss Woodbridge put out a challenge to the high schools in Vaughan to create an art project which will be displayed at the festival. Father Bressani Catholic High School in Woodbridge won the contest, including $2,000 in prize money. Students created a giant film reel out of Styrofoam and aluminium foil.

“Thank you for giving our students the opportunity to connect beyond our school and beyond the classroom with the greater Vaughan community,” said Eugene Pivato, principal of Father Bressani.

Another contest sponsored by VFF challenged people to take unique photos with the VFF logo.  Fabiana Romeo’s unique interpretation, creating a hang man with the logo, won her a pair of all access passes to the festival.

Jason Polsinelli of Scotiabank, one of the presenting sponsors for the film festival, said he was proud to be part of such a  unique festival.

“The Vaughan Film Festival isn’t going to just be unique because it’s in Vaughan,” said Polsinelli. “They (Antonio and Mark) have created a niche for themselves in short film. They’re not going to compete with the big film festival in Toronto, they’re going to set their own stage and make their own mark going forward. We want this to become the most premiere short film festival in all the world. That’s our goal.”

Beilhartz concluded by letting people know that tickets for the film festival are now on sale.

“There’s definitely going to be a lot of talent, passion and art to take in at this year’s film festival,” said Beilhartz.

Film screenings will take place on April 2 and 3 at Colossus Vaughan Cinemas located at 3555 Highway 7 in Vaughan. The VFF Awards will be handed out on April 4 at Riviera Parque Banquet Centre located at 2800 Highway 7 in Vaughan.

For more information or to purchase  tickets visit www.vff.ca.

Vaughan Film Festival 2014 lineup

Block 1 – Student Films
April 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Colossus Vaughan Cinemas

• White and Nerdy (Vaughan-3 mins-Music Video)
• Pain of Progression
(Vaughan-2 mins-Documentary)
• Chapliancy (Vaughan-6 mins-Documentary)
• Doors (Vaughan-6 mins-Sci-Fi)
• Brainwash (Vaughan-8 mins-Sci-Fi)
• Slender (Vaughan-3 mins-Horror)
• Wooden Figure (Vaughan-6 mins-Drama)
• Short Horror Movie (Vaughan-2 mins-Horror)
• Short Skate Movie
(Vaughan-2 mins-Music Video)
• Drama Movie (Vaughan-3 mins-Drama)
• Beautiful Day for a Bike Ride
(Vaughan-1 mins-Comedy)
• Unforgettable (Vaughan-10 mins-Drama)
• Two Million (Vaughan-7 mins-Documentary)

Block 2  – International Films
April 2 at 8 p.m. at Colossus Vaughan Cinemas

• Initium (France -5 mins-animation) –
Nominated Best Animated Film
• Diagnostic (France-8 mins-comedy) –
Nominated for Best Cinematography/Best Actress
• 75 Pianos (USA-11 mins-documentary)
• Ramus (USA-2 mins-animation)
• Elidi (Canada-2mins-animation)
• L’entrepot (France-3 mins-sci-fi) –
 Nominated for Best Cinematography
• Grandma’s Not a Toaster (USA-10 mins-comedy)– Nominated for Best Director/Best Film
• How to Count Sheep
(United Kingdom-6 mins-animation)
• Singer Not the Song (China-16mins-drama) – Nominated for Best Actor/Best Film

Block 3   – International Films
April 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Colossus Vaughan Cinemas

• Legacy (USA-5mins-animation)
• Margo Lily (Canada-8 mins-drama)–
 Nominated for Best Actor
• Brother (USA-3 mins-animation)
• Isaiah (Canada-15 mins-drama)
 Nominated for Best Actor
• Changing Batteries (Malaysia-6 mins-animation)
• Dystopia (USA-13 mins-drama)
• AST-23 (Germany-2 mins-animation)
• The Great Maldini (Canada-9 mins-comedy) – Nominated for Best Director/Best Film

Block 4   – International Films
April 3 at 8 p.m. at Colossus Vaughan Cinemas

• Load (Denmark-6 mins-animation) –
Nominated for Best Animated Film
• Spookslayer (Canada-15 mins-horror/comedy) – Nominated for Best Actress/Best Director
• Slug Invasion (Denmark-6mins-animation) -–Nominated for Best Animated Film
• Roadkill Redemption (USA-3 mins-animation) – Nominated for Best Animated Film
• Bad Mother****** (Russia-5 mins-action) –
Nominated for Best Cinematography
• The Reward (Denmark-9 mins-animation)
• Serial Taxi (USA-2 mins-animation)
• Long Branch (Canada-14 mins-drama) –