Our Short Film Competition received a record-breaking number of entries this year! The Short Film Showcase will present a selection of films curated by our panel of judges, and all will be eligible for the Simcoe Audio Video People’s Choice Award. Ballots for voting will be available at the screening and all of the awards will be announced directly following at the Filmmakers’ party. This event is truly a festival highlight, presenting films submitted by regional, national and international filmmakers. A very big thank you to all those who submitted their work!
Film Line up:
Please note this program is unrated and may contain some coarse language and mature subject matter.
Confused Rendez-Vous
Directed by Marianne Champagne, Patrick Walsh, Marianne Dimabogti | 8:19 | High School | CanadaIn this contemporary black and white pantomime we find a wife suspicious of her husband's recent questionable behaviour. Is the husband being unfaithful to his loving wife or is it truly just one big misunderstanding.
Dog Park Bark
Directed by Taylor McNulty | 5:28 | Open Category | USA A girl brings her dog to the dog park, expecting a quiet moment away from the world in New York City. What she finds, gives her chills under her skin.
O+AB-
Animation | Directed by Reza Hadiani | 3:30 | Open Category | Iran The circle of blood between little blue fish and huge red fish.
Pretty Dangerous
Directed by Dan Laera | Produced by Jeff Reynolds | 8:42 | Simcoe County Division This intimate portrait of Seleziya "Sparx" Esho finds the pro wrestler confronting a personal obsession and the strain it puts on both her body and her family.
California Dreaming
Directed by Sahirr Sethhi | 9:53 | Open Category | USA John is about to win a multi-million dollar lottery draw in a diner, when two robbers barge in for a stick-up!
His First Time
Directed by Angel Violet | 6:17 | High School | Canada A young man always remembers his "first time". First time being truthful that is. Watch as he learns a valuable life lesson from his girlfriend... sometimes it IS best not to tell the truth.
A Cascadian Metal Adventure
Directed by Brendan Hiles | 9:47 | Simcoe County Division | Canada Lars is trying to get a big concert his band is performing in. Along the way he breaks up with his girlfriend, gets shot at, and meets a couple of eccentric characters.
Flaws
Directed by Anthony Bradley | 1:00 | Open Category | USA A woman and a man reveal their insecurities after their first time sleeping together.
Lonerism
Directed by Ben Elhav | 5:08 | High School | Canada A short film heavily based on the Tame Impala album of the same title, and inspired by my own experiences with extroversion, self-esteem, and total isolation.
Ruth's Great Escape
Directed by Thomas Bangert | 9:16 | Open Category | USA Her quiet nursing home has turned into a prison: 85-year-old Ruth needs to break out. She has the perfect plan - but will she be able to outsmart her nemesis, senior citizen Makowski?
Platonic
Directed by Mitch Graszat | 9:39 | High School | Canada A lonely teen discovers there's more to life than just solitude when an unexpected visitor shows up at his door.
Thank You For Calling
Directed by Matthew Read, Produced by Jeff Reynolds | 9:38 | Simcoe County Division THANK YOU FOR CALLING is a dark comedy that follows Leonard as he attempts to blackmail the Yiddish mafia after overhearing a murder plot at the Call Co. Call Centre where he is employed. Leonard hates his job and his co-workers too but he is always out to make a quick buck no matter how dangerous the situation.
Love At First Light
Directed by Caroline Grace-Cassidy | 1:00 | Open Category | Ireland The morning after the night before reveals itself.
The Offer
Directed by Winnifred Jong | 10:00 | Open Category | Canada Richard (Hugh Dillon) wakes up to find his life has been packed into boxes, but before he can sort out what is going on, Gabe (Sergio Di Zio) a door-to-door salesman, charms his way in. Gabe offers up a set of encyclopedias and Richard discovers they might be exactly what he needed.
The Title Shorts Sponsor is Gluskin Sheff
People’s Choice Award sponsored by Simcoe Audio Video
Simcoe Awards sponsored by Dr. Michael Dove