VANCOUVER ISLAND SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

Short film festival looking

for island’s best talent

The Vancouver Island Short Film Festival is looking for local filmmakers.

Filmmakers have until December 1st to enter the third annual Vancouver Island Short Film Festival, a showcase of original films by local filmmakers. Last year’s festival was a huge success, with a sold out crowd enjoying seventeen incredible short films.

“Things went incredibly well,” said Johnny Blakeborough, VISFF co-coordinator. “We expected a lot of support for the festival in our second year, but things went even better than expected. Some of the filmmakers said it was the best short film festival they had ever been to, not only for the great audience turnout, but for the quality of the short films. This year, we are holding back-to-back screenings of the films to compensate for the huge turnout last year. We want to make sure as many people as possible have the opportunity to see Vancouver Island’s brightest film talents.”

The VISFF will hold film screenings on January 18 and 19, 2008, at the Malaspina University-College theatre in Nanaimo. While the festival is taking part in Nanaimo, filmmakers from all across Vancouver Island are encouraged to enter and showcase their work.

“Our goal is to be as inclusive and as fun as possible,” said Blakeborough. “This festival is for people who love to make movies and love to watch movies. We’re accepting old films that people have made, even if they have been collecting dust for a few years. If anyone has a short film they’ve made and want to enter it, they can. Everyone has a chance to take part.”

Entries came from all across Vancouver Island in 2007, from Campbell River, Courtenay and Comox to Qualicum, Nanaimo and Victoria. While entry is not limited to Vancouver Island residents, the focus will always be on Vancouver Island filmmakers.

Deadline for entries into the festival is December 1, 2007, with the shorts screenings taking place on January 18 and 19. Tickets to the festival will be available in January at the Nanaimo Arts Council Gallery in Rutherford Mall, Nanaimo, as well as other locations yet to be announced.

The festival will include two screenings of the 15-20 selected films, an intermission, food, music, an awards ceremony at the second screening for best films and prizes for winning filmmakers. Last year’s prizes included $500 for best film and $250 for awards in other categories. This year’s awards promise to be even bigger than last year, with actual amounts to be announced in the coming months.

All types of short films (comedy, documentary, animation, etc.) will again be accepted for consideration into the festival. Films can be up to 10 minutes long including credits. The festival will not accept films longer than ten minutes, no exceptions. Films previously submitted to the festival will not be considered.

Submissions must be on Mini-DV, DVD or VHS and labeled with the film title, running time and contact information (name, email and phone number.) Mini-DV is preferred. Entrants may enter more than one short film, as long as each film includes a separate entry form with entry fee and is on a separate Mini-DV, DVD or VHS tape. Mail or drop off entries to the Vancouver Island Short Film Festival c/o the Nanaimo Arts Council at #259, 4750 Rutherford Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 4K6, by December 1, 2007.

Information on the Vancouver Island Short Film Festival, entry forms and festival guidelines are available at www.visff.com. The Nanaimo Arts Council is organizing the festival as part of its mandate to support and promote all of the arts in our region.

For more information, contact admin@visff.com