Discover the next wave of Canadian film talent!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013 – 7:00 pm
The Royal
608 College St. Toronto
Free admission
HomeThe JuryNominees INominees IIAward Winners
Now in its 11th year, CineSiege presents a collection of short films – riveting fiction, cutting-edge alternative works and provocative documentaries – selected by leading lights of the Canadian film and media scene.
Screening one night only, this juried showcase features the best productions of 2012-2013 by York University’s talented young undergraduate filmmakers, chosen from a shortlist of 25 nominees, culled from a total pool of 130 productions.
Jurors are:
- broadcast journalist Garvia Bailey, host/producer with CBC Radio 2 and cbcmusic.ca
- filmmaker Anita Doron (The Lesser Blessed, Late Fragment, The End of Silence)
- experimental filmmaker, film programmer and writer Chris Kennedy, executive director of the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (LIFT)
- Anita Lee, producer, National Film Board of Canada (Stories We Tell, Home Again)
- Ezra Winton, film writer and co-founder and programming director of Cinema Politica
Jurors will be in attendance at CineSiege to introduce the winning films and explain why they were selected.
CineSiege is made possible through the generous support of 
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Garvia Bailey has been a broadcast journalist with the CBC for ten years. She got her start in the world of independent film with the start-up production company Channel Zero – telling stories of social unrest around the world. Currently, she is a host and producer with CBC Radio 2 and cbcmusic.ca. Prior to that, Bailey served as host and producer of “Big City Small World”, a program devoted to Toronto’s vast and diverse cultural scene. She has been a regular contributor to CBC Radio 1’s Metro Morning since 2006, and is a regular presence on CBC TV covering the arts. |
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Anita Doron is a filmmaker and a TED Fellow. Her films have been exhibited at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), South By South West, The Future of Cinema Salon at Cannes and at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Her latest feature film, The Lesser Blessed, premiered at TIFF 2012. Doron received a Canadian Screen Awards nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Lesser Blessed. She is slated to direct Sailor Girl for Markham Street Films and is in development on Thunder Over Kandahar, a feature film based on the award-winning novel by Sharon McKay. |
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Chris Kennedy is an independent filmmaker, film programmer and writer based in Toronto. He programmed for the Images Festival 2003-2006 and the Pleasure Dome screening collective 2000-2006. Currently, he programs two screening series: Early Monthly Segments (which he co-founded with Scott Miller Berry and Kate MacKay) and TIFF Cinematheque’s The Free Screen. Kennedy also serves as executive director of the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto. His short experimental films have screened at more than 100 festivals worldwide and have been featured in solo shows at the Canadian Film Institute, Los Angeles Film Forum, Nam June Paik Art Center, the La Plata Semana del Film Experimental and Pacific Film Archive. He has presented the work of others in Belgium, Egypt, Germany, the US and Canada. |
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Anita Lee is a producer at the National Film Board of Canada. Since joining the NFB in 2005, she has produced a slate of award-winning films including The Bodybuilder and I (Best Canadian Feature Documentary, Hot Docs 2007 and Best Canadian Feature Documentary, Atlantic Film Festival 2007); FLicKeR (Jury Prize for Best Canadian Feature Documentary, Hot Docs 2008; nominated for the 2009 Best Arts Documentary Gemini); and Tiger Spirit (2009 Donald Brittain Award Gemini). As co-producers, her credits include Deepa Mehta’s dramatic feature Heaven on Earth (TIFF 2008 world premiere, selected for Canada’s Top Ten 2008); Late Fragment (TIFF 2007 world premiere, SXSW 2008), an interactive dramatic feature co-produced with the CFC New Media Lab; and Act of Dishonour, a dramatic feature by Nelofer Pazira produced with Danny Iron. Lee’s recent projects include Elle Flanders and Tamira Sawatzky’s film installation Road Movie (TIFF and Berlin International Film Festival 2011); Let the Daylight into the Swamp by Jeffrey St. Jules and Home Again by Sudz Sutherland, both world premieres at TIFF 2012; and Stories We Tell by Sarah Polley (world premiere, Venice Days 2012). She founded the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival in 1997 and continues to serve on its advisory board. |
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Ezra Winton is the co-founder and director of programming of Cinema Politica, the world’s largest grassroots documentary screening network, and is a contributing editor at POV Magazine, Canada’s leading documentary media publication, and Art Threat, a cultural policy and political art blog.Currently completing his PhD in Communication Studies at Carleton University, hi’s research and teaching interests include radical and alternative media, social movements, global cinema and documentary institutions and culture. His dissertation for looks at the cultural politics of documentary as seen through the lens of Toronto’s Hot Docs film festival. WintonRecent publications include a chapter in The Documentary Film Book (BFI Palgrave MacMillan, 2013), edited by Brian Winston and Challenge for Change: Activist Documentary at the National Film Board of Canada, co-edited with Thomas Waugh and Brendan Michael Baker (MQUP, 2010). |
Nominees I – Externally juried 3rd & 4th year productions
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A Family Affair 9:00 min. Director/Writer: Shehrezade Mian Producers: Shehrezade Mian, Vincenzo Bertillo Directors of Photography: Ryan Forneri Editor: Oscar Lao Sound: Nathan AllenPaul has been the victim of overly controlling women for the better part of his life – first his mother, now his wife. With only his meek father to come to his defense, Paul will now be forced to discover what it is that will finally give him a moment of respite from these wretched, yet incredibly alluring shrews. |
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A Friend in the Blues 15:00 min. Director/ Producer: Florencia Martinez Carranza Director of Photography: Zach Garand Editor: Ryan Haas Sound: David Beckett Padbury, Ryan Blanchard, Florencia Martinez CarranzaThe story about how Danny Marks’ success and hardships amounted to a life-long dream he still lives today, as a blues musician and radio personality. |
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Boylesque! 11:20 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Zach Garand Director of Photography: Vincent Pun Editor: Holden Mohring Sound: David Beckett PadburyA glittery introduction to the world of male neo-burlesque performers, brought to you by Barely Legal Leelando and Dr. Tease. |
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Buy.Sell.Trade 9:50 min. Director/ Producer: Kevin Shak Director of Photography: Warren Goodwin Editor: Kevin Badali Location Sound: Yanick Kayembe Sound Editing: Yanick Kayembe and Kevin Shak Sound Mixing: Kevin ShakIn a world of computers, iPhones, and mp3s, why vinyl records? |
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Cat’s Eye 15:15 min. Director/Producer/Editor/Sound: Vincent Pun Writer: Vincent Pun, based on the novel Cat’s Eye by Margaret AtwoodA story about a girl growing up in 1950s Toronto. |
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Conceived 5 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Eui Yong Zong Director of Photography: Perrin Hartke Editors: Dylan MacVicar, Eui Yong ZongEui Yong confronts his parents about the story behind his conception. |
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Drinking Games 10:45 min. Director: Adrian Murray Writers: Adrian Murray, Marcus Sullivan Producer: Matthew Shoalts Directors of Photography: Mark Baluk Editor: Aaron Keogh Sound: Tanner ZurkoskiAn insecure bro navigates the social battleground of a house party while trying to subvert his “friends” hookup plans in this subtle examination of guy behaviour. |
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Elizabeth 7:00 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Eui Yong Zong Director of Photography: Dylan MacVicar Editor: Perrin Hartke Sound Mixing: Akreta SaimElizabeth meant a lot to him. |
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Eve 11:10 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Jill Lefaive Director of Photography: Crystal Basaez Editor: Lester Melado Sound: Kieran SherryEve examines the victimization of women within struggles of power, control and wealth throughout centuries of patriarchy in Catholic communities in France and French Canada. |
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Expired Rain 11:30 min. Director/Writer: Christine Wang Producers: Christine Wang, Caroline O’Neill Director of Photography: Christine Wang Camera Operator: Mark Baluk Sound Design: Andrew BundasThis short alternative film follows a girl’s journey through the process of healing. She battles to overcome torment through a surrealistic struggle. |
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Fifty Bucks 9:45 min. Director/Producer: Steffi Tupe Writers: Steffi Tupe, Rodrigo Herrera Directors of Photography: Thaddeus Eng Editor: Alisha Vander Ahe Sound: Andrew BundasA day in the life of a young couple struggling to make ends meet and love one another. |
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Good Grief 8:45 min. Director/ Producer: Jenn Paul Director of Photography: Jill Lefaive Editor: Gabrielle Bleyendaal Sound: Sara Ann Brown, Ben SkinnerOne man’s reflection on love, life and death. |
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The Good News 13:25 min. Director: Matthew Shoalts Writers: Thaddeus Eng, Matthew Shoalts Producer: Alisha Vander Ahe Directors of Photography: Mark Baluk Editor: Aidan Jeans Sound: Aaron Keogh”The song of life has two paths: one of tradition, one of love.” |
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Into the River 17:00 min. Director/Writer: Gabrielle Dupuis Producers: Gabrielle Dupuis, Ingrid Fish Director of Photography: John Palanca Editor: Rebecca Lugo Sound: Tanner Zurkoski”I have been loved by something strange and it has abandoned me.” |
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Lather and Nothing Else 13:45 min. Director: Jeff Hamill Writers: Jeff Hamill (screenplay) Hernando Tellez (short story) Producer: Gabrielle Bleyendaal Director of Photography: Zach Healey Editor: Zach Healey Sound: Kieran SherryIn 1950s Colombia, a quiet barber secretly working as a revolutionary faces a life-changing decision when a ruthless army captain comes in for a shave. |
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Leave Them Unbroken 10:22 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Sara A. Brown Post Sound Mixer: Omie CradenAn experimental documentary examining the collective past of a family, and why they stay together despite error and pain. |
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The Master and the Movie Doctor 12:15 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Nikissi Serumaga-Jamo Director of Photography: Scott Johnson Editor: Nathanael Richards Sound: Moses Bwayo (location), Tanner Zurkoski (post)In Kampala’s cinemas, live translators excite audiences through a shrewd combination of TVs, piracy and dogged entrepreneurialism. In the underbelly of the capital, “The Movie Doctor” investigates the galvanization of Ugandan cinema. |
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Naughty or Nice 14:00 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer/Sound: Jessica Gilbert Director of Photography: Jill Lefaive Editor: Nathan AllenA dramatic comedy following Erin, a teenage girl who wants to break tradition by spending Christmas with a recent fling’s family instead of her own. |
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Northern Lights 4:50 min. Director/Writer/Producer/Director of Photography/Editor: Caroline O’Neill Production Manager: Christine Wang Sound: Steve Munro, freesound.orgA girl tries to find the mysterious place she went in her dream. |
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On the Shore 17:00 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: John Palanca Director of Photography: Mati Kuld Editor: Earl Oliveros Sound: Matt Dailey, Tanner ZurkoskiOne weekend in the life of a family, gathered together when the spirit of the deceased father returns home. |
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Penelope 12:00 min. Director: Gabrielle Bleyendaal Writer: Lucas Guignard Producer: Jenn Paul Director of Photography: Jillian Dobson Editor: Jeff Hamill Sound: Jill LefaivePenelope Blue, 17 and determined, has dreams of becoming an actress in New York. The only thing standing between her and the stage is her stepfather. |
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Pertaining to Youth 18:00 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Victoria Long Director of Photography: Alec McKay Editor: Louisa Pang Sound: Kevin ShakAn anti coming-of-age film. |
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Razones 16:40 min. Director/ Sound: Milad Alamkhany Writer: Rodrigo Hererra, Milad Alamkhany Producers: Milad Alamkhany, Steffi Tupe, Mark Baluk, Vibhuti Ratho Director of Photography: Steffi Tupe Editor: Mark BalukEsteban woke up this morning just like any other morning. With one slight difference: today he found his broken VHS camera from long ago. |
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Torontopia 10:40 min. Director/Producer/Editor: Sam Alex Kay Directors of Photography: Veronica Ladico, Sam Alex Kay Sound: Andrew Bundas, Spencer CreaghanAn unlikely but curious suburban immigrant discovers Canada’s great city |
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Yugen 9:20 min. Director/ Writer: Rebecca Lugo Producers: Rebecca Lugo, Veronica Ladico Director of Photography: Veronica Ladico Editor: Veronica Ladico Sound: Tanner Zurkoski, Andrew BundasThe beauty found in the motions of mental spaces and turbulent anxiety brings an existential lullaby: the comforting acceptance of existence and meaning |
Nominees II – Internally juried 1st & 2nd year productions
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Bathroom 3:50 min Directors/Producers/Editors: Victor Ostrovsky, Ros MacDonald Writer: Ros MacDonald Directors of Photography: Ros MacDonald Sound: Victor OstrovskyDreamy abstraction of a bathroom from an innocent, yet sinister point of view. |
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The Forbidden Room 9:59 min Director/Writer: Kristina Mileska Producer: Andy Kloske, Kristina Mileska Director of Photography: Andy Kloske Editor: Mathew Murray Sound: Josh DevenyiWilliam is a curious boy with hemophilia. |
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Generations 6:45 min Directors/Producers/Editors: Mathew Murray, Kristina Mileska, Jenn Lund Directors of Photography: Mathew Murray, Kristina Mileska Sound: Jenn LundA short documentary told through a series of interviews featuring people of The Silent Generation (born 1920s -1940s), who pass down their stories and wisdom regarding youth, morality, family, death and our ever-changing world. |
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Noise: BOMB 3:32 min Director/Producer/Writer/Editor: Peter Howie Directors of Photography: Peter Howie, Christian Harrison Sound: Eric Swiatoschik A man who is plagued by night terrors is put through emotional and terrifying paces that never seem to feel routine. |
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The Last Chapter 13:25 min Director/Producer/Writer: Esery Mondesir Director of Photography: Esery Mondesir Editors: Esery Mondesir, Layan Mahshi Sound: Esery Mondesir, Jessica TatWe lose a little bit of ourselves when a bookstore closes, but is the last chapter of the Toronto Women’s Bookstore also the last breath of feminism in the city? |
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Persolus 3:45 min Director: Alanna Smith Producers: Madeleine Patton, Alanna Smith Writer: Madeleine Patton Director of Photography: Alanna Smith Editors: Madeleine Patton, Alanna Smith Sound: Alanna SmithIn an allegory of social anxiety disorder, the last person on earth reflects on the time before the apocalypse. |
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The Redo 4:15 min Directors/Producers: Cristina DiGiulio, Adrian Cheung Writer: Cristina DiGiulio Director of Photography: Adrian Cheung Editor/Sound: Cristina DiGiulioSometimes once isn’t enough. |
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Sit Boy Sit 10:45 min Directors: Julian Papas, Jesse Wyatt Writer: Akash Bansal Director of Photography: Ryan McIntyre Editor: Julian Papas Sound: Imaad BhattyA seemingly ordinary day takes an unexpected turn for two high school friends. |
Award Winners
| Outstanding First-Year Film |
Persolus 3:45 min Director: Alanna Smith Producers: Madeleine Patton, Alanna Smith Writer: Madeleine Patton Director of Photography: Alanna Smith Editors: Madeleine Patton, Alanna Smith Sound: Alanna Smith |
| Outstanding Second-Year Film |
Sit Boy Sit 10:45 min Directors: Julian Papas, Jesse Wyatt Writer: Akash Bansal Director of Photography: Ryan McIntyre Editor: Julian Papas Sound: Imaad Bhatty |
| Best Alternative Film |
Conceived 15:00 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Eui Yong Zong Director of Photography: Perrin Hartke Editors: Dylan MacVicar, Eui Yong Zong |
| Best Fiction Film |
Lather and Nothing Else 13:45 min. Director: Jeff Hamill Writers: Jeff Hamill (screenplay) Hernando Tellez (short story) Producer: Gabrielle Bleyendaal Director of Photography: Zach Healey Editor: Zach Healey Sound: Kieran Sherry |
| Best Documentary Film |
Elizabeth 7:00 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Eui Yong Zong Director of Photography: Dylan MacVicar Editor: Perrin Hartke Sound Mixing: Akreta Saim |
| Best Editing |
Penelope 12:00 min. Director: Gabrielle Bleyendaal Writer: Lucas Guignard Producer: Jenn Paul Director of Photography: Jillian Dobson Editor: Jeff Hamill Sound: Jill Lefaive |
| Best Cinematography |
Eve 11:10 min. Director/ Writer/ Producer: Jill Lefaive Director of Photography: Crystal Basaez Editor: Lester Melado Sound: Kieran Sherry |
| Best Screenplay |
A Family Affair 9:00 min. Director/Writer: Shehrezade Mian Producers: Shehrezade Mian, Vincenzo Bertillo Directors of Photography: Ryan Forneri Editor: Oscar Lao Sound: Nathan Allen |
| Best Sound |
Fifty Bucks 9:45 min. Director/Producer: Steffi Tupe Writers: Steffi Tupe, Rodrigo Herrera Directors of Photography: Thaddeus Eng Editor: Alisha Vander Ahe Sound: Andrew Bundas |
