CineSiege 2009, York University’s eighth annual juried film showcase, brings outstanding student productions to Toronto’s Royal Cinema on Oct. 20.
Sharing the silver screen will be the top picks in each genre – short fiction, provocative documentaries and cutting-edge alternative works – selected by five leading lights of the Canadian film and media scene. The winning titles will be announced at the event.
The jurors for this year’s program are Scott Miller Berry, executive director of the Images Festival; film and television producer Sandra Cunningham (Fugitive Pieces, "Triple Sensation", Being Julia, Possible Worlds); documentary filmmaker Min Sook Lee (My Toxic Baby, Tiger Spirit, Hogtown: The Politics of Policing); filmmaker, writer and actor Daniel MacIvor (Whole New Thing, Marion Bridge, Past Perfect, Wilby Wonderful); and CBC film critic Jesse Wente.
The jury made their selections from a short list of 22 nominees, chosen from a pool of 173 films produced last season by undergraduate students in York’s Film Department. In addition to genre winners, recognition is also given to exceptional achievement in specific creative and technical crafts of filmmaking such as cinematography, sound and editing.
"CineSiege is an important event in the life of our department each year,” said York Film Department Chair Amnon Buchbinder. "We not only showcase some of the best of the hundreds of films our students make each year, we welcome five very accomplished jurors from the film and television world to recognize these students’ exciting accomplishments."
Jurors will be on hand at the screening to introduce the CineSiege picks and explain why they were chosen.
Many York student productions launched at CineSiege have gone on to screenings and honours at festivals around the world. Among tne success stories:
- The School (2003) by Matthew Miller and Ezra Krybus has played at more than 25 international fests and picked up numerous awards, including best Canadian short at the Atlantic Film Festival and the gold plaque for best student narrative at the Chicago International Film Festival.
- Hugh Gibson’s Hogtown Blues (2004) screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and Palm Springs International Short Film Festival and took home the audience award at the 46th Bilbao Film Festival in Spain.
- Tess Girard’s Benediction (2005) won a special jury citation at the TIFF Group’s national Student Film Showcase and the National Film Board’s Norman McLaren Award for best overall production at the 36th Canadian Student Film Festival in Montreal.
- Joyce Wong’s Banana Bruises (2006) was shown at the Hong Kong International Film & Video Awards, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival and the closing night gala of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.
- Jamie Cussen’s Rock Paper Scissors (2007) won Outstanding International Short at the Beijing International Student Film & Video Festival and was screened as an official selection at the Austin and Atlantic international filmfests.
- Pouyan Jafarizadeh Dezfoulian’s Morning Will Come (2008) played at the Los Angeles and Montreal film festivals and won the audience vote for the Vtape Award for Best Student Video at the 2009 Images Festival.
Nominees
 |
After Director: Mark Pariselli Three teenage boys idolize and fantasize about an older teenage football player until they witness his death. |
 |
The Architect Director/Writer: Joshua Demers An aspiring architect has to convince his wife and employer that he is not blind after suffering a workplace accident. |
 |
Beneath the Cracks Director/Director of Photography/Producer/ Editor/Sound: Danielle Hebscher Why does an individual need to commit a crime in order to gain access to adequate mental health care? |
 |
Broken Wood Director: Vu Van (Franco) Nguyen A young boy enters a card game and is forced to grow up. |
 |
Chasing Writer/Director: Alix Eve Step into the world of Emily, a messed-up girl who wanders the highway aimlessly. |
 |
The Durian Experience Director/Writer/Production Designer: G.P. Fantone When a sudden discovery surfaces, insecurities set in between two boys that test the strength of their friendship. |
 |
Even Flowers Wake Up In The Morning Filmmaker: Tara Khalili Only memories stay. |
 |
Film Concerto in Hanging Major Director/Writer/Producer/Editor: Meelad Moaphi A useful guide into the most effective ways. |
 |
The Golden Pin Director/Editor: Cuong Ngo Long, an avid swimmer, finds himself caught between the expectations of his Asian family and the demands of his heart. Is love more powerful than fate? |
 |
Ground Floor Director: John Hooper The real origin of Rochdale College in ’68 can be read between the lines of history. |
 |
Henry Director/Writer/Producer: Howard Shefman Some guys have it all: looks, luck and charm. Henry, not so much. |
 |
Keep Older Director: Tess Marie Garneau Adrienne describes living, dying and what it means to grow old. |
 |
Make Me Legal Director/Editor: Oliver Lomeli An exploration of the relation between illegal labour in Canada and globalization. |
 |
Our Future is Bright Writer/Director/Editor: Rebecca Gruihn A young woman struggles with the pressure to reproduce in a post-apocalyptic setting. |
 |
Pine Away Director/Writer/Producer: Jesse Parnell A short excerpt of a teenager’s relationship with his grandfather. |
 |
Radwan Director/Writer/Producer: Mahmoud El Safadi Radwan opens a falafel stand in busy downtown Toronto and learns a few lessons about life and immigration. |
 |
The Thirty Thing Director: Michael Mazzuca As if turning 30 and still living with your parents isn’t enough! |
 |
This is Our Land Director: Kirk Holmes It’s the only planet we have, and when it comes to uranium there are no second chances. |
 |
Unalaska Writer/Director: Ariana Andrei Explore the metaphysical place where ideas are born while you travel through a mind reincarnated as a building. |
 |
Welcome to Holland Director: Lizz Hodgson The reality of family, and the uncharted healing power of love. |
 |
Whatever That Is Writer/Director/Producer: Inga Dievulyte A peek at the secrets lurking behind the facade of ordinary life. |
 |
Whisperwalk Director: Elli Weisbaum An unexpected coupon changes the daily routine of a retired woman in Florida. |
CineSiege is made possible through the generous support of Cinespace Film Studios. The event runs one night only, Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 7pm at the Royal Cinema, 608 College St., Toronto. General admission is $10 or $5 for students.
For more information, visit CineSiege 2009 or call 416-736-2100 ext. 33592.