Two films produced by York University film production students this year have won awards at the Toronto Youth Shorts 2016 festival earlier this month.
Recent York film production graduates Lina Evans and Kristina Wong won the awards. Evans received the Cultural Relevancy Award for My Cradle and Tomb, while Wong won an Audience Choice Award for Tidal Waves.
The films were also selected among the industry's choice recipients; young professionals working in film and media picked three scripted and three unscripted pieces as the best of the fest. My Cradle and Tomb was in the unscripted selection while Tidal Waves was in the scripted selection.
Toronto Youth Shorts completed its eighth annual festival on Aug. 5 and 6, showcasing 44 short films – five produced at York University – by local emerging filmmakers under the age of 30 in the greater Toronto and southern Ontario area.
The main awards are determined by a jury of established professionals. Young professionals working in film, media, and entertainment determined a roster of six short films as the Industry Choice Awards. The attending audience also voted for their favourites.
The main festival awards were determined by a jury comprised of Eric Marchen (film critic), Shaleen Sangha (DHX Media) and Yael Strasberg (eOne Films). Each award comes with a cash prize courtesy of DGC Ontario and the Broadcast Film Critics Association (organizers of the Critics’ Choice Awards).
Cultural Relevancy Award
My Cradle and Tomb
This award is for a film that blends a strong social message and relevant stories for a youth audience, and was given to My Cradle and Tomb, directed by Evans.
The film's synopsis: In Villa Rica, Cauca, Colombia, there is no potable water. Trapped under a hierarchy for access to water, Jota Ramos tries to stand up against his tyrant.
Audience Choice Awards
Tidal Waves
These awards were voted on by the attending audience at the festival. One award was given per screening program. In the second program, the film selected was Tidal Waves, directed by Kristina Wong.
The film's synopsis: Riley is struggling with scoliosis and must come to terms with the fact that she can no longer dance.
For more information, visit the Toronto Youth Shorts website or Facebook page.