2014 Toronto Film School Festival of Films hits the big screen Aug. 28 at Cineplex
After an intense 18-months in one of the most rigorous film school’s in the country, there is no greater reward than to see your work on the silver screen.
“There is nothing more exciting than to see your film for the first time on a big screen,” said Rick Bennett, Chair of Toronto Film School. “For that moment you feel like you’ve made it. There is nothing better.”
A selection of newly minted filmmakers, actors and writers from the Toronto Film School will get their big screen debut on Aug. 28 at the annual Toronto Film School Festival of Films.
“The idea is to reward the students work, to view the students work and to have a venue to see the best student work,” Bennett explained.
The Festival of Films takes place at the Cineplex Odeon VIP Theaters at Yonge and Dundas Streets in the heart of downtown Toronto, beginning at noon on Aug. 28. There are about 40 screenings of short films averaging about 10 minutes each, Bennett said.
That evening there is an awards ceremony where about a dozen awards are handed out for things like best director, best film, best actor and best actress. Winners receive an attractive trophy and a prize. Prizes include things like a $1,000 from CG&B Group Inc or time at Technicolor’s Post Production house in Toronto, movie tickets from Cineplex and memberships to the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.
For many of the students this festival is a launch pad for other festivals and Bennett said they have had students go on from this festival to show their film at festivals all over the world.
“This is the first big chance they have to be seen,” Bennett said. “And we invite a lot of industry members and they come to see whose here.”
The festival exposes students from the Acting for Film, Television and Theatre, Film Production and Writing for Film and Television diploma programs. Students from all of these programs can submit their film to the festival and the faculty and staff at Toronto Film School select the films that will be shown on Aug. 28. A number of the films chosen for this festival are likely to go on to festivals in Berlin, New York and even the Toronto International Film Festival, Bennett said.
“On a broader scope this festival is a promotion of the Canadian film industry itself,” Bennett said. “These are the film makers of tomorrow.”
The public is welcome to attend the Toronto Film School Festival of Films. Tickets are free and are available here.
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